If you’ve been experiencing digestive issues lately, incorporating regular exercise into your routine can help alleviate them. Here’s why maintaining a consistent exercise regimen can promote a healthy and efficient digestive system.
There are numerous drawbacks to a sedentary lifestyle. One significant impact is on your digestive system, which can become inefficient without adequate physical activity. If you’re experiencing recent digestive issues, incorporating exercise into your routine can help stimulate and improve digestion.
Here’s the rationale behind why exercise benefits digestion and why maintaining a regular exercise regimen is crucial for ensuring the health and functionality of your digestive system.
Promoting Bowel Function
Exercise helps regulate bowel function, especially during times of emotional stress, by reducing stress levels and promoting regularity.
Effects on Mobility and Motility
Regular exercise increases the movement of colon muscles, aiding individuals who struggle with regular bowel movements. Aerobic exercise, in particular, facilitates the passage of food through the upper portion of the small intestine.
Gastric Emptying
Engaging in regular physical activity accelerates gastric emptying, particularly during moderate-intensity exercise. Contraction of abdominal muscles during exercise speeds up this process compared to rest periods.
Speeding up Digestion
While you can’t control how your body digests food, exercise can enhance the speed and efficiency of the digestive process. Faster digestion results in feeling lighter sooner, reducing sluggishness, and lowering the risk of heartburn and indigestion.
Preventing Constipation and Bloating
Exercise, according to the International Journal of Sports Medicine, provides relief from constipation for those with irritable bowel syndrome. A consistent exercise routine facilitates easier passage of food through the digestive system, reducing both bloating and constipation.
It’s not necessary to spend extensive time at the gym daily; incorporating physical activities into your daily routine, such as walking your dog, cycling with your children, gardening, or walking to work, can also provide significant benefits to your digestive health.
However, it’s essential to note that while exercise generally benefits digestion, it can worsen certain medical conditions or negatively affect the digestive system if approached incorrectly. If you have any existing medical conditions or have been inactive for a prolonged period, it’s advisable to consult a qualified healthcare professional before beginning an exercise regimen.