The benefits of exercise on the digestive system

The digestive system, digestive tract, gastrointestinal tract, or gastrointestinal tract are affected by many health problems, and physical exercise can relieve most of them and the symptoms associated with them. benefits of sports in general on the digestive system include the following:

. Exercise helps stimulate the digestive system, bowel movements, and blood flow to muscles, which helps speed or ease the movement of food, even when at rest.

. Helps balance the level of natural beneficial bacteria in the digestive system; These are several types of bacteria that play a role in boosting immunity, protecting the body against harmful bacteria, preventing their growth in the gut, and helping it absorb certain nutrients and digest certain types of bacteria. 'food.

It should be noted that the digestive system is responsible for the digestion of food in the body and it is one of the most important organs that play an important role in maintaining and improving the health of the body. body and general health. some of the health effects of physical activity on the digestive system:

. Heart rate and respiratory rate increase during aerobic exercise, which stimulates the contraction of intestinal muscles, improving intestinal transit and the speed of passage of food and stool.

. The speed of movement of food through the large intestine or colon increases and the absorption of water from it increases, since dryness and hardness of the stool is one of the factors of constipation or difficulty in passing stool .

. Physical fitness leads to better muscle form, which reduces its need for blood, and therefore the amount of blood traveling from the digestive system to the muscles decreases.

In order to obtain the benefits of sport in terms of constipation, it is recommended to space at least an hour or so between exercise and large meals, because eating foods stimulates blood flow to the stomach and muscles. intestines, and in case of exercise without waiting long enough after eating, the blood flow leaves the apparatus The digestive system leads to the muscles and heart, and thus leads to poor circulation of food in the digestive system due to weak contractions muscles, which in turn leads to constipation, bloating and gas.

Reduce gastroesophageal reflux

Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the digestive disorders that exercise can help relieve, and these disorders cause a feeling of pain and burning in the chest, especially after eating certain foods, and because there are foods that help relieve heartburn and reflux, and there are also exercises that increase the symptoms and others that help relieve them, including the following:

Exercises that can increase the severity of symptoms: We mention the following

. Carry heavy weights or lift weights.

 . Abdominal pressure.

 . Vigorous exercises.

 . Exercises that involve bending the body.

 . Take inappropriate postures.

. jogging exercises

. Ride a bike.

. gymnastic.

Colon cancer prevention

A number of studies indicate that exercise, especially vigorous exercise, for long and regular periods, has a role in reducing the risk of colon cancer. Thus, reducing the duration of direct contact between harmful and carcinogenic substances and between the lining of the stomach and intestines and reducing their risk to the digestive system, and some preliminary evidence indicates that exercise also helps in the prevention of other types of cancer, such as: stomach cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Tips and Advice

The relationship between the digestive system and exercise or physical activities is complex, and care must be taken to balance the level of exercise and choose the right one to achieve the desired benefit, despite the great benefits some exercises have on the system. digestive system, but some exercise can have a temporary negative effect on the alimentary system such as strenuous exercise such as jogging, which causes effects such as.

 nausea, diarrhea, heartburn and bleeding in the digestive system, and these negative effects can be mitigated in runners by regulating fluid levels and reducing the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and in general exercise can be said to take at least 150 minutes per week of healthy lifestyle habits, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommend muscle-strengthening exercises two days a week.