Moving your body around through physical activity can help move food through your digestive system more comfortably.
Some exercises, such as weightlifting, running, or contact sports, are too rough and high-impact, making digestive issues worse.
But gentle activities that don’t jostle your insides can help to stimulate the digestive process.
Walking
It might seem too easy, but a simple walk can do wonders for your digestive system.
Walking gets your blood flowing and helps to stimulate the muscles in your digestive tract without putting too much strain on your system.
You don’t need to hike up a mountain or use a treadmill at the gym. A leisurely stroll around your neighborhood will help immensely. Take in the sights, breathe the fresh air, and enjoy a stress-relieving walk at a comfortable pace.
Core Strengthening Exercises
Having a strong core can help support your back and spine and help with digestive issues.
When your abdominal muscles are weak, it can stress your digestive system and cause additional pain and discomfort.
There are plenty of gentle exercises you can do to help strengthen your core without putting too much strain on your body. Planks, crunches, and leg lifts are all excellent options that can be done at home with no equipment necessary.
Try some of these exercises a few times a week to help keep your digestive system running smoothly.
Yoga
The combination of stretching, deep breathing and mindful movement that characterize yoga can help to relieve digestive issues.
Whether you join a class or follow along with a video at home, there are plenty of poses and stretches that you can learn to help ease your discomfort.
They’ll strengthen your core and help massage your internal organs while also promoting relaxation and stress reduction, all of which can help with digestive issues.
Deep Breathing
Although breathing may seem like something that happens automatically and not something that counts as exercise, deep breathing – fully and slowly all the way in and all the way out – can substantially help with digestion.
When you’re stressed, anxious, or uncomfortable, your breathing tends to be shallow, fast, and high in your chest. This stimulates your sympathetic nervous system’s “fight or flight” mode, meaning that your energy and blood flow are redirected away from your digestive system and towards your muscles.
By slowing down and deepening your breathing, you’ll activate your parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for “rest and digest” functions.
Breathe from the lowest part of your belly, inhaling and exhaling fully and slowly. You can do this anywhere, anytime, and it only takes a few minutes to help ease your digestive issues.
