At the beginning of a new year, many of us vow to exercise more and establish healthier habits. While the main goal is usually losing weight, a fitness routine can also deliver significant digestive benefits. The ongoing trend towards sedentary lifestyles contributes to various digestive conditions, including constipation, heartburn, and bloating. Let’s look at five ways you can improve digestive health with exercise.
1. Keep Gut Flora In Balance
The gut is a critical ecosystem that supports healthy digestion. Scientists estimate that there are trillions of good bacterial microbes living in the human gut. They are vital to the immune system’s strength, helping it fight off toxins and viruses. They also ensure that the body can absorb nutrients from foods and supplements. Regular exercise promotes the growth of healthy and diverse bacteria, ensuring that the intestinal climate stays in balance.
2. Improve Elimination
One of the primary causes of constipation is a lack of physical activity. In other words… you have to move to keep things moving! The digestive process, known as peristalsis, begins when food is swallowed and continues as muscle contractions move it through the digestive tract. The overall process is easier and faster when supported by moderate exercise because the muscles function more efficiently. Using natural supplements and health aids, such as a daily dose of organic aloe vera juice, can also help support good nutrient absorption and gut health.
3. Lower Stress Levels
Stress has a direct effect on digestive performance. When anxiety levels increase, energy levels can drop, and the stomach can become irritated due to muscle spasms and higher acid levels. Excess acid can lead to heartburn, pain, bloating, and inflammation, compromising the digestive process. Routine exercise can help keep stress levels in check while reducing acid and relaxing muscles.
4. Manage Weight
It’s no secret that maintaining a healthy weight is essential. But what you may not realize is the effects that being overweight can have on digestion. Excessive weight can slow metabolism rates and makes the digestive process more difficult. Coupled with a healthy eating plan, exercising consistently will help you shed pounds while supporting your digestive system.
5. Increase Beneficial Enzymes
Digestive enzymes work to break down the foods we eat. These proteins are found naturally in many fruits and vegetables and several organs, including the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. When you exercise, blood flow increases throughout the body, including the digestive system. As a result, digestive enzymes ramp up to meet the demand.
Workouts That Keep Things Moving
Exercises that promote deep breathing, abdominal muscle stimulation, and blood flow can provide tremendous benefits. Low and moderate-intensity workouts performed several times a week yield the best results.
Maintaining hydration, even when performing low-intensity exercises, is vital. Adding our EcoDrink Naturals supplement to your water bottle is a great way to nourish your body with vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes as you hydrate.
Consider adding one or more of these pro-digestion exercises to your routine:
- Yoga
- Cycling
- Crunches
- Brisk Walking
- Breathing Exercises
- Light Resistance Training
And if your exercise plan has you heading to the gym, don’t forget the hand sanitizer!
Keep Digestion Healthy With Lily of the Desert Products!
We’re happy to partner with you on your health and fitness journey! Our aloe products are ideal to help you maintain healthy digestion in conjunction with exercise. Search our store locator to find a nearby retailer, or shop online from the comfort of home at Amazon, Vitacost, and Swanson’s Vitamins.
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