5 Exercises to Alleviate Digestive Discomfort

Indigestion? Try these five exercises to soothe the intestines and stomach, alleviating discomfort caused by overeating.
5 Exercises to Alleviate Digestive Discomfort
Shutterstock
|Updated:

During the holidays and celebrations, people often indulge in hearty meals with friends and family. However, overeating and excessive drinking can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort, even inflammation. How can we find some relief? Wu Hung-Chien from Yisheng Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic in Taiwan introduces a first-aid tip for stomach pain and a folk method of back rubbing that can quickly relieve stomach pain. Additionally, I will provide five exercises to soothe the intestines and stomach, alleviating discomfort caused by overeating.

According to statistics from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Administration, gastrointestinal diseases are consistently among the top five ailments in the emergency room during the Chinese New Year. Common symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, bloating, and diarrhea (which can occur as often as once to dozens of times). Acute gastrointestinal problems can dampen the festive mood.

5 Factors Leading to Acute Gastroenteritis

Mr. Wu explained that the common causes of gastrointestinal discomfort are as follows.

1. Contaminated Food

During cooking, viruses and bacteria may not be killed entirely by heat, remaining in the food and causing gastrointestinal discomfort. The most common bacteria and viruses include:
  • Escherichia coli: primarily found in beef, insufficiently sterilized milk, or contaminated water
  • Staphylococcus aureus and salmonella: found in meats, processed foods, and eggs
  • Clostridium botulinum: found in dirty or poorly preserved canned meat and fermented soy products
  • Norovirus: more common in winter, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and prolonged fever
  • Rotavirus: common in children under 5 years old, often accompanied by watery diarrhea and fever
  • Astrovirus: causes watery or mucus-like diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and fever

2. Overeating and Excessive Drinking

Overindulgence or eating too quickly can cause discomfort in the intestines and stomach.

3. Consuming Cold Foods With a Cold Body Constitution

People with a predominantly cold body constitution should avoid consuming cold foods as much as possible in the morning and evening.
Amber Yang
Amber Yang
Amber Yang is a certified personal trainer. She met all the requirements of the American Council on Exercise to develop and implement personalized exercise programs. She worked as a marketing manager for natural skin care products for years and as a health and beauty reporter and editor for ten years. She is also the host and producer of the YouTube programs "Amber Running Green" and "Amber Health Interview."
Related Topics