{"id":52661,"date":"2022-07-15T09:00:48","date_gmt":"2022-07-15T13:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=52661"},"modified":"2025-09-27T13:14:03","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T17:14:03","slug":"does-exercise-help-digestion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/does-exercise-help-digestion\/","title":{"rendered":"Does exercise help with digestion?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are someone who deals with<\/span> diarrhea<\/span><\/a>, constipation, gas, or other tummy troubles, you are likely looking for fast and effective relief. When you\u2019re doing cardio, you may have noticed that as you go faster, it speeds certain <\/span>other<\/span><\/i> things up, too. Would adding more exercise into your routine help move food through your system? If so, what exercises for digestion work best?<\/span><\/p>\n

4 benefits of exercise for digestion<\/span><\/h2>\n

The good news is that adding exercise to your daily routine can make you more regular and less gassy,<\/span> improve your metabolism<\/span>, and<\/span> balance your gut microbiome<\/span>. Certain exercises may be better than others, though, and it\u2019s important to talk to your healthcare provider before starting any new exercise routines, especially if you live with a serious digestive condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conversely, a lack of exercise can exacerbate certain digestive issues, including<\/span> constipation, heartburn, and reflux<\/span>. Here are four ways exercise and digestion connect.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Constipation<\/span><\/h3>\n

For some people, exercise can help relieve constipation<\/a>. \u201cI’ve found in my decade of first-hand clinical practice that exercise does often help to reduce symptoms of constipation in my clients and patients,\u201d says<\/span> Jenna Volpe<\/span><\/a>, RDN, a digestive health dietitian. Exercise can<\/span> increase activity in your gut<\/span><\/a>, which can help excrete fecal matter. Additionally, exercise can<\/span> reduce total colon transit time<\/span><\/a>, ensuring that defecation is more frequent.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Gas<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve ever had the embarrassing experience of letting loose some gas during a yoga class, you are not alone. In fact, exercise is a great way to reduce gas and bloating. For example, astudy published in<\/span> Gastroenterology and Hepatology from Bed to Bench<\/span><\/i><\/a> found that taking a 10-15 minute walk after a meal was effective at reducing gas, bloating, belching, and abdominal pain from gas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Metabolism<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

It is well known that regular exercise can help balance your metabolism so that you remain at a healthy weight, but did you also know that a well-regulated metabolism means healthier digestion? \u201cExercise improves metabolism, which can reduce the risk of reflux, gallbladder disease, fatty liver disease, and various cancers involved with digestion,\u201d explains<\/span> Taylor Stolt<\/span><\/a>, RDN, a registered dietitian specializing in gut health. <\/span><\/p>\n

4. Gut microbiome<\/span><\/h3>\n

Our <\/span>brains and guts<\/span><\/a> are well connected; for example, you\u2019ve probably noticed that stress gives you stomach cramps, gas, or loose stools. Exercise is known to reduce overall stress, which can help with digestion. There are indications, too, that exercise can have positive effects on the bacterial makeup of your gut, or your<\/span> gut microbiome<\/span><\/a>. \u201cHigh stress levels have been shown to negatively impact the gut microbiome over time, so it makes sense that exercise indirectly benefits the gut microbiome via stress reduction,\u201d says Volpe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Does exercise \u201cspeed up\u201d digestion?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Exercise can reduce the time it takes for your stool to move through your digestive system. This not only helps with digestive upsets like constipation, but can have long-term positive effects on your overall<\/span> digestive health<\/span><\/a>, explains<\/span> Vanessa M\u00e9ndez<\/span><\/a>, MD, a triple board-certified gastroenterologist, internist, and lifestyle medicine physician.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cExercise can help reduce contact time between your stool (and the environmental toxins and pathogens that come with it) and the gastrointestinal mucus layer, thus, reducing the risk of colon cancer, diverticulosis, and inflammatory bowel disease,\u201d Dr. M\u00e9ndez explains.<\/span><\/p>\n

Types of exercise that help digestion<\/span><\/h2>\n

When it comes to exercises to improve digestion, experts agree that light to moderate exercises are the way to go. The best exercises to help digestion include:<\/span><\/p>\n