Mom Was Right About Chewing Your Food!
A very important topic that I have yet to discuss is something you do it everyday, usually giving it very little thought. Some don’t do it enough, which may lead to choking, and those that do it well will benefit. It’s called mastication.
Digestion begins in the mouth as we masticate or, more commonly stated, chew our food. It is here that the food is mixed with saliva, which contains enzymes. The more you chew your food, the more you give your body a digestive head start.
No one is guiltier than yours truly when it comes to inhaling food. I love to eat and fortunately love healthy wholesome foods. Where I need some work is in slowing down long enough to enjoy each and every bite and not swallowing pieces of food practically in their whole food form. I’ll explain why this is so important.
Chewing at least 25 times per mouthful will dramatically improve the digestive ability of your body. When food is kept in the mouth, the taste on the tongue prompts the release of hormones, digestive enzymes and gastric juices that begin to soften and liquefy the food in order to prepare for the passage to the stomach.
Well-chewed food travels easily from mouth to stomach. Poorly chewed food tends to be dryer and has difficulty making its way to the stomach. Chewing thoroughly is very important when it come to your health. Well-chewed food has more surface area for the gastric juices and enzymes to work in your stomach. At the same time, your stomach is churning until most of the digested food it’s the consistency of paste called chyme. Much of your body’s energy is needed to perform this task, so the better you chew less energy is required for this task leaving your body free for other important tasks. Chewing well also decreases the likelihood that it will spend a longer time in the stomach causing fermentation, gas, and burping -- even heartburn.
Masticating, or chewing, can be thought of as a type of juicing. Nutrients are distributed much more rapidly to the cells where they are needed. As an added bonus, chewing also stimulates the parotid glands, which can give your immune system a boost.
For some, including myself, this may take a bit of practice. Eating on the go is not conducive to digesting properly and every effort should be make to avoid this situation. For the first week or so make a conscious effort to chew your food 20-25 times before swallowing. Most of you will have to actually count, but after a while it will become habit. You will soon come to know what a well-chewed carrot feels like in the mouth and will not likely swallow the large pieces you once did.
The art of mastication is the cheapest and easiest way of improving your digestive health. If you make chewing a priority and daily practice, you may find that over time you will require fewer digestive aids and even medications.
Digestion begins in the mouth as we masticate or, more commonly stated, chew our food. It is here that the food is mixed with saliva, which contains enzymes. The more you chew your food, the more you give your body a digestive head start.
No one is guiltier than yours truly when it comes to inhaling food. I love to eat and fortunately love healthy wholesome foods. Where I need some work is in slowing down long enough to enjoy each and every bite and not swallowing pieces of food practically in their whole food form. I’ll explain why this is so important.
Chewing at least 25 times per mouthful will dramatically improve the digestive ability of your body. When food is kept in the mouth, the taste on the tongue prompts the release of hormones, digestive enzymes and gastric juices that begin to soften and liquefy the food in order to prepare for the passage to the stomach.
Well-chewed food travels easily from mouth to stomach. Poorly chewed food tends to be dryer and has difficulty making its way to the stomach. Chewing thoroughly is very important when it come to your health. Well-chewed food has more surface area for the gastric juices and enzymes to work in your stomach. At the same time, your stomach is churning until most of the digested food it’s the consistency of paste called chyme. Much of your body’s energy is needed to perform this task, so the better you chew less energy is required for this task leaving your body free for other important tasks. Chewing well also decreases the likelihood that it will spend a longer time in the stomach causing fermentation, gas, and burping -- even heartburn.
Masticating, or chewing, can be thought of as a type of juicing. Nutrients are distributed much more rapidly to the cells where they are needed. As an added bonus, chewing also stimulates the parotid glands, which can give your immune system a boost.
For some, including myself, this may take a bit of practice. Eating on the go is not conducive to digesting properly and every effort should be make to avoid this situation. For the first week or so make a conscious effort to chew your food 20-25 times before swallowing. Most of you will have to actually count, but after a while it will become habit. You will soon come to know what a well-chewed carrot feels like in the mouth and will not likely swallow the large pieces you once did.
The art of mastication is the cheapest and easiest way of improving your digestive health. If you make chewing a priority and daily practice, you may find that over time you will require fewer digestive aids and even medications.
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