Can Sleeping Positions Impact Your Digestive Health?

Waking up in the middle of the night for various reasons is very common. But, as we start to cite the reasons why we might be experiencing this so frequently, a lot of reasons might come up and among them, one would be the position we are sleeping in. the position we sleep in, whether it is left, right, on our stomach or on our back has more impacts on our digestion process than we probably thought it did.

Firstly, there is a right position and a wrong position to sleep in. the right position stated by experts is the left side and the worst position is on our stomach. Sleeping in the wrong position can lead to bloating, heartburn, or abdominal soreness. There are several factors that can contribute to nighttime indigestion. These include your digestive health, what you had for dinner (or for your midnight snack), when you last ate, and last but not least, your sleep position.

When we’re standing or sitting, the force of gravity helps food move downwards through the intestines and prevents gastric acid from rising into the esophagus. Certain studies show that exercise and movement can help lessen the time it takes for gastric emptying the process by which the stomach empties its content into the intestines for further digestion and elimination.

Which Sleeping Position Is The Right One?

Find out which sleeping position will aid in the digestion process.

The Left Side Is The Right Side

Our organs are mostly located on one particular side of our body which is why sleeping on one side can compress an organ. On the other hand, sleeping on the right side can also aid in digestion and improve our sleep quality. It is recommended by experts that we sleep on our left side because of these particular reasons. The reason is that the force of gravity aids our organs in digesting the food faster than when we sleep in any other positions.

Sleeping On Your Back

Sleeping on your back is generally a healthy sleep position. After all, the spine gets to stay in its natural alignment, and your digestive organs aren’t compressed by the weight of other organs (like they are for side sleepers). If you have back pain, shoulder pain, or hip pain, sleeping on your back may be the healthiest option. The only downside? Gravity won’t actively help you avoid acid reflux. However, sleeping with your head slightly propped may help.

Sleeping On Your Right

Sleeping on your right side leaves your stomach above your spine and esophagus. This means that your stomach won’t be compressed. However, the above-mentionedJAMA Internal Medicine study found that you may be slightly more likely to experience acid reflux. If you’re already a side sleeper, try starting off on your left side at bedtime. Then, switch back and forth between your two sides to enjoy their different benefits.

Sleeping On Your Stomach

This is one the least ideal positions recommended for our sleep health as well as our digestive health. Sleeping on your stomach means that you are putting extra pressure on your tummy. It could hinder the digestive process and aside from that, sleeping in this position could also lead to back pain, hip pain and neck pain.