5 Exercise that Aid in Optimal Digestive Health

We have all experienced digestive trouble at some point in life. Eating an undercooked chicken, ordering food from an unhygienic restaurant, or even trying some new food that is not necessarily bad can all lead to stomach problems. Sometimes, these problems become severe and require immediate medical attention. However, when it is not severe, you can try some specific exercises to help alleviate some of that pain and discomfort. These exercises, when practiced regularly, help maintain a good digestive health and even control those uninvited and embarrassing burps and gas troubles.

People experience problems like these when the process of digestion doesn’t happen smoothly. You may end up having low energy level, irregular bowel movements, constipation, acid reflux, and unhealthy weight gain. Healthy eating habits don’t always guarantee a healthy digestive system, so pair it with a set of daily exercises as well. Here are a few exercises to help you through the journey of attaining a stronger and healthier body with no troubles.

  • Yoga

Granted, yoga is not a single exercise but most of the asanas and poses of yoga like downward dog, boat, child’s pose, upward dog and triangle ensure optimal digestion. These poses have proved to improve core strength and helped people relax the muscles of their abdomen over time. Similarly, stress also plays a major role in worsening conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and indigestion. Since yoga is a workout for the mind, body and soul, it helps us have better control over our emotions and help reduce stress in the process.

 

  • Pelvic floor exercises

Pelvic floor exercises can turn out to be helpful for those having bowel control problems, also known as fecal incontinence. All you need to do is squeeze and release your pelvic muscles. A gastroenterologist will be able to guide you to do these exercises the right way.   

  • Walking

The simplest and easiest exercise for your digestive system is brisk walking. Thirty to forty minutes of brisk walking can keep you away from digestive problems and many other health concerns. Infact, walking can stimulate the intestinal contractility which will eventually help in improving your bowel movements. 

  • Sit Ups/Crunches

Situps and crunches, the go-to exercises to do when you are aiming for those 6-pack abs, also help with your digestive health. Including this core workout into your daily routine 4-5 times a week will help in less bloating and gas build up in that area. You are also advised to do abdominal exercises on an empty stomach. However, make sure you do not practice too many abdominal exercises everyday as that can create a negative effect on your health as well.     

  • Deep breathing

Simple but highly effective. Proper breathing exercise will alleviate problems like heartburn and bloating. Sit straight and practice deep breathing; focus on slowly breathing in and out with your belly muscles. This also helps in managing stress which can be the root cause of several digestive problems. 

Prevention is always better than cure, which is why you need to incorporate these exercises into your daily routine even if you are not facing any digestive issues. Optimal digestive health will save you from many health concerns associated with the abdomen. It is also important to seek expert medical help if the pain is intense or if you are experiencing other symptoms like bleeding. SMILES hospital is one of the first integrated colo-rectal hospitals in India and the best hospital In Bangalore for gastroenterological problems that aims at putting an end to your colorectal problems by establishing a world-class center of excellence in coloproctology. If you are looking for the best doctor for gastroenterology in Bangalore, you know you just have to locate the nearest SMILES hospital.