Celiac disease patients should implement some type of physical activity into their daily lives.
While it is crucial for every individual to exercise, celiac disease patients especially should incorporate an exercise routine into their lifestyle, due to the lifelong health complications that come along with the disease.
After years of working out, living with CD, and researching CD along with physical activity, I have learned that it is important for celiac disease patients to live an active lifestyle because of the following reasons:
- Relieve Stress
- Improve bone health
- Improve sleep
- Increase cardiovascular health
- Control your weight
- Improve blood circulation
- Become physically stronger and grow your muscles
- Live a balanced lifestyle
- Reduce depression
- Support a healthy gut microbiome
Relieve Stress
With the many stressors that life brings us, it is important to incorporate physical activity into our everyday life —even more so for those who have celiac disease. I would be lying if I said celiac disease has never put me in a stressful situation. It is an autoimmune disease that has stressed me out even before I found out about my diagnosis.
If I am not stressed out about accidentally being glutened, I am stressed out at the symptoms that arise from it. Or stressed about finding somewhere to eat while out traveling. Regardless of the case, exercise becomes therapeutic, and reduces stress. Exercise increases endorphins which have been proven to lessen stress, resulting in an improved mood.
Improve Bone Health
Celiac disease is often associated with other health conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis. Exercise increases joint and bone flexibility, and strength, and reduces joint pain. Furthermore, exercise can decrease bone loss and maintain bone strength.
Low-impact exercises are best for celiac disease patients that are experiencing bone complications. Here is a list of exercises you can implement into your life for bone health:
- Swimming
- Walking
- Cycling
- Dancing
Though exercise can not reverse bone diagnoses and diseases, it can reduce pain and decrease bone loss.
Improve Sleep
Some celiac disease patients struggle to fall asleep or have noticed they do not get enough quality sleep each night. This could be due to a number of things. Some celiac disease patients experience ongoing symptoms that keep them up at night even after they have been diagnosed and have transitioned to a gluten-free diet. Others can’t sleep because of the stress that comes along with an autoimmune disease.
Regular exercise can increase endorphins, relieve anxiety and stress, and spend energy to tire the body out enough for a good night’s rest.
Celiac disease can be a difficult disease to manage and cross-contact can occur when you least expected it to. This can lead to sleep deprivation caused by celiac disease symptoms, stress, and anxiety. Exercise regularly to increase endorphins, and relieve stress and anxiety for improved sleep patterns.
Increase Cardiovascular Health
Celiac disease is often associated with other autoimmune diseases and health complications. To add to the associated health complications, a 2014 study reported celiac disease patients to be at an increased risk of Coronary Heart Disease. (CHD) For this reason, it is crucial to implement exercise into your daily routine and improve cardiovascular health.
Examples of cardiovascular exercises include:
- Jump rope
- Stair climb
- Running
- Jogging
- Fast-pace walking
- Row machine
- Swimming
- Elliptical
Control Your Weight
If you have been diagnosed with celiac disease, you have probably either struggled to lose weight or struggled to gain weight at some point in your life. Regardless of the case, exercise can help you control your weight. If you struggle to lose weight, exercising can help get you to a healthy weight. On the other hand, if you struggle to gain weight, low-intensity exercise can help maintain a healthy metabolism while increasing muscle mass, which increases the numbers on the scale.
Improve Blood Circulation
Many celiac disease patients have complained about poor blood circulation in their hands and feet. Exercise can improve this issue because it increases blood circulation and blood flow. As exercise increases blood circulation and reaches the digestive tract, the healing process quickens.
Live a Balanced Lifestyle
Everyone wants to achieve a balanced lifestyle. However, it is especially important for those that have an autoimmune disease, like celiac disease. Working out and exercising normally lead to other positive habits such as healthy eating, regular sleep schedules, and healthy interests. As you begin to exercise, you will become interested in ways you can improve your overall health that lead to a balanced lifestyle.
Reduce Depression
As previously mentioned, exercise reduces the risk of depression. Along with the varying challenges we face each day, celiac disease patients also face mood disorders that are often associated with the autoimmune disorder. Incorporating exercise into your schedule could boost confidence, relieve stress, anxiety, and depression, and increase serotonin.
Support Healthy Gut Microbiome
It is no surprise that celiac disease patients struggle with gut health. Even after going gluten free, it is likely to struggle with symptoms because of how long it takes for the gut to repair itself. Fortunately, exercise can aid in the healing process of the gut microbiome.
Recap
Celiac disease patients struggle with a number of symptoms. Besides following a strict gluten free diet, it is important to implement exercise into your daily routine to develop healthy habits, improve your quality of life, and avoid further health complications.
It is important to seek medical advice prior to exercising to ensure your body is nourished enough for physical activity.
