Elements Natural Medicine

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3 Exercises for Digestion

Ready for better gut health?

It’s easy to get focused on food and nutrition, but don’t forget movement! Here are 3 exercises that are backed by research to support digestion.

🚶‍♀️ Walking

Walking helps to stimulate the digestive tract so you experience better bowel movements and less gas and bloating. Plus, research shows that physical activity supports a healthy gut microbiome!


🧘‍♀️ Yoga

Yoga puts the nervous system into the parasympathetic “rest and digest” mode, while also directly stimulating digestion through certain poses (like downward dog or triangle pose). Research has shown that yoga improves quality of life in people with functional digestive problems.

🏋️‍♂️ Crunches

Crunches, sit-ups, and other exercises that strengthen the abdominal muscles can help to ease gas and bloating—just do them on an empty stomach!

But if you’re doing everything “right” and still struggling with gut health, we are here to help. 🥾 Take the first step through the link in our bio.

Reference

Ramos C, Gibson GR, Walton GE, Magistro D, Kinnear W, Hunter K. Systematic Review of the Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity on the Gut Microbiome of Older Adults. Nutrients. 2022;14(3):674. Published 2022 Feb 5. [link]

Song BK, Han D, Brellenthin AG, Kim YS. Effects of core strengthening exercise on colon transit time in young adult women. J Exerc Sci Fit. 2021;19(3):158-165. [link]

Wilke E, Reindl W, Thomann PA, Ebert MP, Wuestenberg T, Thomann AK. Effects of yoga in inflammatory bowel diseases and on frequent IBD-associated extraintestinal symptoms like fatigue and depression. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2021;45:101465 [link]