The Best Exercises for Aiding Digestive Health

Maintaining optimal digestive health isn’t just about what you eat, it’s also about how you move. Regular exercise plays a significant role in enhancing our digestive function and significantly helps to improve overall gut health.

Since physical activity stimulates the digestive tract by supporting regular bowel movements and eliminating toxins, it also contributes to a healthy body weight and reduced stress factors that are crucial for a well-functioning digestive system.

Enhanced fitness levels are linked to a more diverse gut microbiome, which is crucial for digestive health, regular exercise also improves our healthy microbiome production anddecreases harmful gut bacteria by boosting beneficial microorganisms.

Exercise is also one of the healthiest ways to reduce stress, which positively impacts digestion by alleviating symptoms like constipation, bloating and abdominal pain. From simple activities like walking, to more structured exercises like yoga and core strengthening, the right movements can profoundly impact your digestive wellbeing.

These are the top five exercises for optimum digestive health, as recommended by the lifestyle experts at Kamalaya Connect:

Walking: Walking is a low-impact, accessible exercise that aids digestion by stimulating the digestive tract, promoting regular bowel movements and reducing bloating. The experts at Kamalaya Koh Samui Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa recommend 20-30 minutes walks about 3-5 times a week.

Cycling: Whether it’s on a machine or out on a bike in nature, cycling accelerates food movement through the digestive tract, reduces stool water loss and decreases belly fat, overall enhancing digestive efficiency. Incorporate biking into your cardio routine a couple of times a week, depending on cardio fitness levels.

Sit-ups or crunches: Core exercises like sit-ups or crunches keep abdominal muscles activeand help reduce gas and bloating. Experts say we should aim for 8-10 repetitions, gradually increasing, and it should be done a while after eating, on a relatively empty stomach.

Pelvic floor muscle work: Strengthening pelvic floor muscles can aid bowel movements and improve bladder control, especially beneficial for those with bowel control issues.

Yoga: Yoga balances the mind and body, reduces stress and improves digestion through specific poses (e.g., downward dog, child’s pose). It also helps to alleviate symptoms of acid reflux, bloating and stress-related issues. It is recommended that we engage in yoga practice as regularly as daily for at least 20-30 minutes for a whole host of physical and mental benefits.

To establish a regular yoga routine that’s enjoyable and convenient to commit yourself to, consider a Personalised Yoga Session with an experienced teacher from the comfort of your home. Kamalaya Connect’s 60-minute online session enables you to find the right style of yoga for you, whilst formulating a routine using the correct form and technique. Appropriate for all ages and levels, it helps to rebalance on a physical physiological and spiritual level and supports optimum digestive function.