There seems to be a surprising link between sleeping on your left side and better digestion

Have you paid attention to the side you usually sleep on at night? Among the many sleeping positions, laying on your left side is often recommended for its potential benefits on digestion as it can help our bodies process food more efficiently.

In a reel posted by nutritionist and content creator Deepsikha Jain recently, she shared how making this small change can make a lot of difference in aiding digestion and relieving constipation. Addressing her viewers, she wrote in the caption, “It’s advised to sleep on the left side and this can be one way to cure constipation because it improves and fastens the movement of faecal matter from the small intestine to large intestine and hence making things move quickly in the body which can cure constipation.”

 

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Consultant dietician and diabetes educator Kanikka Malhotra agrees, “Sleeping on your left side may aid digestion compared to other positions due to the anatomy of your stomach and intestines.”

Your stomach sits on the left side of your abdomen, she explains, and gravity can help move food from the stomach into the small intestine more efficiently in this position. Additionally, the sphincter valve controlling the flow of digested material from the small intestine to the large intestine (ileocecal valve) is also located on the right. Sleeping on your left side allows gravity to assist the passage of waste through this valve.

Among the many postures, sleeping on your left side is often recommended for its potential benefits on digestion. (Source: Freepik)

Does sleeping on your left side also help relieve constipation?

While research is ongoing, Malhotra gives a more detailed explanation of how left-side sleeping may benefit constipation: 

The colonic highway

Imagine your colon as a highway. When you lie on your left side, the ascending colon (the first part on the right) has a straighter path to connect with the transverse colon (the horizontal section across your abdomen). This straighter alignment might facilitate smoother waste movement. 

The ileocecal valve gatekeeper 

The ileocecal valve acts as a gatekeeper between the small intestine and large intestine. In a left-side sleeping position, gravity might help keep this valve functioning optimally, allowing digested material to flow through it more efficiently and preventing backup that can lead to constipation. 

Individual anatomy and digestive function can vary, she says, so the effectiveness of left-side sleeping for constipation might differ from person to person.

Potential drawbacks or considerations related to sleeping on the left side in terms of digestion and gut related issues

There’s limited conclusive research on the definitive benefits of left-side sleeping for everyone. According to Malhotra, here are some things to consider: 

Comfort is key: If sleeping on your left is uncomfortable, it will be difficult to maintain. Choose the position that allows you to sleep soundly.

Cardiovascular conditions: People with severe heart conditions or hiatal hernias might need to discuss sleeping positions with their treating doctor for optimal comfort and health.

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