Learn how to eat better by taking the time to chew your food. Don't be in such a hurry to eat and run. Your healthy
digestion begins with your mouth, so
chewing your food properly aids in a better digestive experience.
When you chew your food longer, it breaks up into smaller pieces and mixes it with the
saliva in your mouth better. The saliva in your mouth contains digestive
enzymes. The longer the food particles spend in your mouth, the more saliva they contain. When we take the time to chew our food properly we also retain the flavor longer and can enjoy the eating experience better than when we rush through the process of eating. Remember again, the joy of enjoying your food by taking the time to chew it thoroughly.
Digestion works better when it is not done while the body is being stressed out. Eating while you are working, driving, or watching a disturbing program or the evening news can create
stress that does not benefit the digestive process. Another good reason to avoid arguments, lectures, and confrontations at the dinner table is that when these things occur stress is caused on all members gathered around the table, which means everyone, is eating while being stressed.
To avoid stress while digesting foods, make snack and mealtimes a quiet, enjoyable experience by setting an atmosphere that will be enjoyable and soothing to eat by. You can light candles, or play music during the meal.
It is important to pay attention to what your body is telling you. Stop eating when your body signals that you are full. If you eat slowly, and pay attention to how your
stomach is feeling, you are more likely to avoid
overeating. It is a good thing to plan on eating only to satisfy your hunger and not just to be eating. When you eat only enough food to satisfy your hunger, you remain alert, relaxed, and you will not be placed into a "food coma", from overeating.
FACT: You should chew your food 30 times before swallowing!
How many times do you chew before swallowing?
Guest blog submitted by the author of health-and-fitness-buzz.blogspot.com
Comments (14)
Yay! This is so true! I've also found, being a slow eater, that the REASON I'm so slow is I chew a LOT. I think it's mostly because I fear choking. But I find that because it slows down my eating time, I also know when I start feeling full, so I know when to stop. So it helps my metabolism, and it helps me keep my weight down as well.
I'm a fast eater, but I really wish I was a slow eater. I definitely don't chew my food enough. Because I eat so quickly, I get too much food in my before my body registers that it is full. Does anyone have any tips on how to eat slower?
Put the ring around the esaphogus so you have to take small well chewed bites or you'll choke to death. This works better than putting a ring around the stomach. I have seen people eat the same old crappy food with the ring proceedure done. If you don't have insurance, get a family member to squeeze your neck while you eat. If they think you are eating to much they just cut off all oxygen to the brain and you pass out. When you wake up all the food is gone and they claim you ate like a pig.
I used to be a fast eater but I have slowed down a lot. I still eat too fast and I know I should enjoy my food more.
Maybe 10-15 times =)
BUT this is so true, someone should yell this in my mom's face! She's always rushing as if she has to catch a plane someplace!
I once tried this crazy fad diet that had you chew every bite like 100 times. That didn't last long.
Right now I'm trying to remind myself to stop and enjoy what I eat. I figure I'll eat less this way too.
I use to chew on my food for about 5 to 10 times only!But as i get older i realsie that the more u chew the more the food taste better?haah
i chew till i can swallow.
Dude, seriously, an ettiquette entry?
I sometimes catch myself counting how many times I'm chewing my food while I eat it... in my head though hahaha. You definitely get full quicker that way, and as a type 1 diabetic, I love the feeling of being full when I haven't even eaten that much :P
i don't chew properly. i chew like maybe 12-15 times? I'm a really fast eater and it's hard to chew for too long, i tend to swallow my food very fast and then putting alot of food into my mouth lol.
i dont really chew when they are swallow-able already
I never used to think that I ate ridiculously slow, but I can finish a quarter of my meal, and look over to see that my boyfriend has inhaled his entire plate and is going back for more!!
He's so lucky he still has a fast metabolism, but it'd be great to see how well his organs are functioning to show him he can be skinny and unhealthy at the same time. I know I am.
Great post. One thing I want to add is to make sure you do not combine proteins and carbohydrate. They require different enzymes to break down the food. The acids will nullify the process and you will end up with undigested food in your small intestine. This will create quite a bit of acid and the foods will putrify. Lots of gas!!!!
Dave
truehealthbalance