The Impact of Yoga on Gut Health

Whether you suffer from mild bloating or severe gastrointestinal issues, gut health is on most people's minds—and that's a good thing because many processes in our bodies start with the gut microbiome (our digestion, our mood, our immune system, etc.). 

You can fuel your gut with healthy foods and delicious drinks, but you can also keep your digestion going with yoga.

Why Yoga Helps

If you're struggling with gut issues, gentle yoga postures and deep breathing are great ways to relax your digestive organs (and, therefore, your body).

Yoga is also a key factor in improving digestion. Twisting postures can aid digestion and support the detoxification processes of the liver and kidneys. Yoga can also help with bloating by increasing oxygenation in the area.

Yoga for Gut Health

Yoga is a science thousands of years old; it is not a trendy little star that flickers briefly in the fitness sky. Many studies show that regular yoga practice has a positive influence on health; it can help decrease inflammation markers, improve sleep quality, and benefit the immune system. 

If you suffer from IBS, yoga can relax you in several ways:

Breathing
When you are experiencing stress, breathing becomes shallow and rapid, mainly in the chest area. It is difficult to breathe deeply. When this stressful situation becomes the "normal state," the person and his or her intestines suffer. This leads to flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, or a combination of all of these.

Take A Deep Breath
The good news: conscious deep abdominal breathing can bring calm now. Your job is to rest and digest. Abdominal breathing massages the abdominal organs and can counteract digestive problems.

Exercise
Lack of exercise, an unbalanced diet low in fiber, and too little fluid intake make the intestines sluggish. In yoga, we also speak of the digestive fire "Agni" going out. Regular digestion requires muscular strength. Yoga influences our digestion in many ways: on the one hand, we strengthen the muscles, the lymph flow is stimulated, and blood circulation is promoted.

Nutrition
Our gut microbiome needs fiber. The bacteria love a Mediterranean diet.  As a "thank you" when they are nourished with predominantly plant-based foods they produce substances that strengthen our intestinal barrier, benefit our immune system, and lift our mood. Ancient writings also advocate a plant-based diet and recommend filling the stomach with only 80%.  

So eating for wellness is possible!

For a good gut feeling, "Eat the rainbow". Avoid convenience foods. Watch out for hidden sugar. Drink enough water. Include nuts and pulses in your diet. The more varied your diet, the more you will please your bacteria.