Harvard University have recently conducted research that clearly links exercise to a reduced occurrence of stomach problems and improved nutritional absorption. James Kernel from the Universities Sports Sciences Department suggests a number of reasons for their findings. Firstly, when people move around they are generally upright which helps food and liquids move down through the body, also when you move muscles in a repetitive motion, like when paddling on surfboards for example, this helps pump blood all around the body and help distribute nutrients that were absorbed in the stomach and intestines. sitting down for any length of time is not good for the stomach as this slows down the rate at which food is processed by the body and can cause people stomachs to feel uncomfortable.

Secondly, exercise releases important chemicals into the body that regulate glucose levels in the blood. The key hormones involved with the process of storing and releasing glucose into the blood stream and insulin and glucagon, but their are more involved. Muscles that are found lining the intestines and stomach contract in pulses to help move the conveyor belt of food through all the digestive systems. If these muscles do not have a regulated flow of glucose their functioning can be effected and digestion slows down.

So rather than wait until you actually get indigestion or stomach ache before take action, why not buy one of the plentiful second hand bikes around or why not used kayaks if you like the water, and try prevention instead of cure