Moving to get your Gut Happy!
We all know that exercise is good for us, but do you know exercise is good for your gut? Oh yes movement is good for your GI tract and we’ve been reading up on how our gut reacts when you move your whole body. Recent studies suggest that there is a link between exercise and an increase in the number of beneficial bacteria in your gut. As well as this increase in the good bacteria evidence also shows a positive effect on short chain fatty acid synthesis (these guys nourish good bacteria – the preboitics), carbohydrate metabolism and show a reduction in colon cancer risk just with physical activity.
Exercise has been shown to actually increase the diversity of your gut microbiome, especially when you go from doing no exercise to daily exercise. A study of women discovered that when they started to exercise there was a correlation in a higher representation of bacteria with health promoting functions. Another study of elite athletes compared them to sedentary people. A group of 40 professional international rugby union players against a control group of people of similar age with either high or low BMI. It highlighted “significantly greater intestinal microbial diversity among the athletes”.
Now we realise that not everyone is an elite athlete and a professional rugby player, but most of us can get out and get some movement in our days. I’m an early riser during the week so I’m out pounding the pavement with the dog around daybreak and it has become part of my routine and lifestyle. Science tells us that even 10 minutes of exercise can make a difference if we can get our heart rate up in that time. There are a million reasons why we don’t exercise as much as we should, but if we can commit to 10 a day for the next 7, that’s over an hour of exercise that we can get in and although it might be a small start the benefits are felt inside, in your microbiome and out.
Exercise or movement can transform your mood, aid in weight loss or control, is good for muscle and bones, can increase your energy levels, reduce the risk of chronic disease, can help your skin, brain and memory function, aid with sleep and relaxation, can reduce pain, improve your sex life and now we know it can increase the good bacteria in your gut. Why wouldn’t you want to get some movement into your day now?
With the weekend fast approaching, who not consider moving in a way that is new. If you already exercise, why not try something new, if you don’t exercise why not take a walk in a park or trail. There are many ways to start, but starting can be the hardest.
I have never regretted any exercise or movement I have done. It may not have always been easy, and some early mornings are tough to get up for, but I do, as I know I’m preparing myself for the day. Now i know that I am also supporting my gut health by getting out there and moving. It gives me more motivation to keep going, keep moving and keep working on getting my gut as happy as it can be, so it will continue to support me with everything I want to achieve.
Let’s get moving and let’s get more Gut Happy as we do.
The Gut Happy Girls
xxx