Whenever I was on vacation, I noticed that my appetite was not just fine – but that I felt hungrier than ever. I also noticed the same thing whenever I went swimming during the day. The common thread to both these observations was the fact that I was exercising the intestinal muscles in a gentle manner. On the vacation, it was through excessive walking – both before and after meals. Swimming, especially kicking with the legs, naturally exercises the same muscles.

In contrast to these gentler forms of exercise, running, jogging, cycling are far more intense – and not necessarily the best for digestion. Strenuous exercise can harm the esophagal valve (lower esophagal sphincter), among other things.

So – I got to thinking about how to replicate the same ‘gentle exercises’ on the rest of the 340 days of the year (when I am not vacationing). Two simple exercises and one digestive supplement seem to have worked well for me.

Two simple exercises

Two exercises that work for me are included below:

1. Walking : One simple way to counter acid reflux and to keep the digestive system healthy, is to walk for about 45 minutes in the morning – and about 30 minutes after each meal.
2. Yoga : Vajrasana is a simple – and useful – asana (yoga position) that helps with digestion. This asana can be practiced after each meal (for 15 minutes) to promote healthy digestion.

Chyawanprash (Digestive Supplement)

This simple jam-like herbal paste can work wonders for your digestion. Be sure to get the sugar-free version if you are diabetic.