The digestive system is one of the most important systems in our body. Moreover, It is responsible for breaking down food, absorbing nutrients and regulating hormones. Exercise has many positive effects on digestion – it can improve gut health, decrease inflammation, increase serotonin production which helps with anxiety and depression, regulate blood sugar levels as well as help with weight loss. In this blog post we’ll talk about exercise benefits for your gut health including how exercise enhances gut flora. We’ll also provide you with specific exercises that are great for improving digestion! Apart from this article you can also follow this one get more other information 4px tendered for delivery.
Benefits of Exercise on Gut Health
Gut bacteria, also called as gut flora or gut microbiota, refers to the vast and complex system of bacteria and fungi that play a significant role in the way our bodies function.
Exercise not only helps alleviate stress, itself often a major cause of poor gut health, but also boosts the production of digestive enzymes in the pancreas that help with digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Other major benefits of exercise on the digestive system include:
- Increases blood flow to the gut which is important for preventing leaky gut syndrome – when there are holes in your intestinal lining, food particles pass through into the bloodstream. This can cause major discomfort and even lead to autoimmune disease.
- Exercise helps with weight loss which can decrease bloating caused by water retention – a healthy gut flora usually prevents this from happening!
- Improves motility of the intestines, allowing food to move through your digestive tract more efficiently. This reduces constipation and stomach cramps that are commonly caused by food stagnation.
- Helps with bowel movements and is a natural laxative – when you exercise, the pelvic floor muscles contract and relax which stimulates your bowels to move, which can also prevent constipation.
Exercises for Improved Digestion
Useful exercises include:
- Yoga postures that stretch out digestive organs like twists, shoulder stands or head stands
- Exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles such as Kegel exercises
- Exercise that improves your ability to absorb nutrients including stretching, mobility or breathing techniques.
- Exercises that increase blood circulation like walking or running.
It’s important to exercise after meals, rather than before them. Exercise can make your gut contract and if you’ve just eaten it could cause cramping or bloating from gas caused by fermentation of food in the stomach/intestines. Give yourself at least an hour after eating before exercise.
Exercising in the morning or early afternoons is also recommended, particularly if your digestive system is sluggish. This way, exercise will give your digestion a boost which can help prevent bloating caused by food stagnation.
As well as the benefits for your digestion, exercise has many other positive effects on the body. It helps to reduce anxiety and depression, improves sleep quality, increases serotonin production which can help with any mood swings or cravings you experience, regulates blood sugar levels and can help you lose weight.
If you feel exercise alone is insufficient in helping manage your symptoms, it’s a good idea to take professional advice from experts in gastroenterology near you, who will be able to provide a comprehensive approach to the treatment of your condition.
Other Tips to Enhance Your Digestion
- Eat foods naturally rich in probiotics – these are bacteria that grow naturally in your body and assist your intestines in breaking down food. can include yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, dark chocolate and even sourdough bread & other fermented products
- Eat prebiotic foods – these are carbs (mostly fibers) that humans can’t digest, and are essentially food for the probiotics in your body. You can find these fibers in many fruits, vegetables and legumes
- Avoid food allergens or sensitivities which can cause bloating, gas and stomach cramps
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day! This will help with digestion by flushing out toxins in your digestive system. Also try drinking one glass of warm water before every meal – it works wonders for stimulating peristalsis
- Eat slowly and mindfully to give the body time to tell you that you’re full – this will help prevent overeating which can contribute to weight gain and bloating!
- Investigate any possible food sensitivities or allergies – you may have a sensitivity to certain foods without even knowing it!