Should I exercise with acid reflux?
Should you exercise with acid reflux? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t black and white. Of course, we know that exercise is good for us both physically and mentally. However, for those of us that suffer from acid reflux and GERD, exercising improperly can cause more issues.
When the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) becomes weak, it allows contents in the stomach such as food, acid, or bile to flow back upward into the esophagus, resulting in burning and discomfort. This irritates the delicate lining of the esophagus, which makes repeated reflux all the more painful. If you experience chronic reflux, your doctor may diagnose you with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
Read our article “Why Do I Have Acid Reflux?”
Despite drug store remedy claims, not all reflux is caused by spicy food. There are a variety of reasons why someone may experience reflux including stress, being overweight, smoking, diet, GI conditions such as SIBO, autoimmune disease, or infections such as H. pylori. Because the causes can vary and overlap, it’s important to identify your unique cause(s) and treat accordingly, rather than blindly try to suppress symptoms with over-the-counter antacids.
But no matter what your medical regime, attending to lifestyle is foundational for all healing – making dietary changes, managing stress, and exercising. However, before running to the gym, consider that when it comes to acid reflux, the type and intensity of exercise matter depending on the individual.
Being overweight can cause acid reflux, so exercising may be especially important for those individuals. Excess weight puts pressure on the stomach, forcing the contents to move in the wrong direction, and in some cases, the person may develop a hiatal hernia (part of the stomach pushes through the LES). Maintaining a healthy weight is an essential healing mechanism for acid reflux, and exercising is part of attaining this goal.
The truth is, exercise can work for or against acid reflux if done improperly. So, here are some things that may keep exercise from causing reflux…
- Position yourself upright: If your reflux acts up more at night, you’re not imagining it. It’s because there’s a gravitational component to reflux. Lying flat with a loose and open LES allows stomach contents to flow upward more easily. When choosing a type of exercise, use positions that keep you upright. This may mean propping your head up with pillows in certain yoga poses or avoiding planks.
- Don’t focus on the stomach: Avoid exercises that directly target stomach muscles, such as crunches or sit-ups, which can put unnecessary stress on the GI tract and further aggravate reflux.
- Don’t break a sweat: While everyone is different, it’s not uncommon for high-intensity workouts to be problematic for reflux. Instead, opt for low intensity, where your heart is working at around 50% or your maximum heart rate (as opposed to roughly 90% with high intensity). Low-intensity workouts include walking, jogging, yoga, light biking, or swimming.
Here are some low-impact workouts that focus on holistic healing
- Don’t eat and run: In addition to being rude at a dinner party, eating and running have health consequences. The more food in the stomach, the more can flow up in a bout of reflux. Plan your meals and workouts accordingly. Try not to eat for two hours before exercising, and when you do eat, avoid reflux-trigger foods such as chocolate, citrus, tomatoes, peppers, spicy foods, alcohol, onions, and coffee.
- Loosen up: Avoid constricting clothing. This rule applies during and outside of workouts. Tight clothing can put pressure on your GI tract, especially due to the location of waste bands and sports bras – the elastic cuts across the upper stomach and lower abdomen. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing, especially during workouts.
All in all, when it comes to healing of any kind, some exercise is better than none, so get off the couch if you want to improve your acid reflux! Exercise for weight loss is especially important for overweight individuals, as excess weight is likely to contribute to reflux. However, be mindful of the type, intensity, and amount of exercise. Keep yourself upright, avoid constricting clothing, choose low-intensity workouts, and leave plenty of time between meals and the gym.
Looking for more helpful resources? Try these…
Top 5 Supplements for GERD and Acid Reflux
5 Coffee Hacks For Reflux Sufferers
5 foods that won’t give you acid reflux
Check out our tasty low-acid recipes!
Skillet Turkey Meatballs in Mushroom Gravy
Low Acid Creamy Herb Salad Dressing
Good article! Any suggestions for bras? Even lose ones cause pressure and heart burn!