Situps to Help Digestion

Little else strengthens your abdominal walls the way situps and crunches do. But there is more to gain from incorporating situps into a daily routine than a tighter tummy. From helping to regulate bowel movements to easing bowel-related discomfort, situps can provide a host of benefits for someone suffering from digestive issues. So instead of reaching for your medicine cabinet the next time you can’t go, try some situps instead.

Exercise will help food move through your large intestine more quickly, giving it less time to harden, according to WebMD. The softer your stool, the easier passing it will be. WebMD recommends incorporating aerobic exercises, like situps, and stretching into your workout. “Simply getting up and moving can help constipation,” it says, since exercise will also increase your heart rate and breathing, which can also stimulate bowel movements. Wait at least an hour after a big meal before working out to avoid feeling bloated and sluggish.

The buildup of gas in your large and small intestines is one reason why you may feel bloated after a large meal. By contracting and releasing your abdominal muscles, situps and other types of exercise can help decrease bloat and relieve gas pressure. Compressing your large and small intestines make holding in gas nearly impossible and will help move gas through your digestive tract. You may pass gas as a result of this movement, so consider using situps as a bloating reliever in the privacy of your home. But remember that gas is a natural part of life and something everybody has at one point or another.

Affecting your large intestine, or colon, IBS can cause cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation, according to Mayoclinic.com. A doctor may prescribe medication to alleviate your symptoms, but making simple changes in your diet and lifestyle can also help. Mayoclinic.com suggests incorporating exercises into your daily routine “that stimulate normal contractions of your intestines,” which the very act of sitting up does. This stimulation may not work right away, but the more often you “sit up,” the less severe your symptoms may be.

According to the American Gastroenterological Association, situps may also cause heartburn and reflux disease, which occurs when acid passes back up through your esophagus. If you begin to experience any of these symptoms, or if something begins to hurt during your workout, you should stop. You should also talk to your doctor about any digestive discomfort you feel, since it may signal something more serious.