01/20/2023
Ahhh, some of the best advice your mother gave you. You know, things like, “No pudding until you eat your supper!”, “Elbows off the table!”, and “Chew your food!” Sounds like sound advice to me. Of course, as a kid you naturally reply “Why?”, and your mom gave you her normal response “Because I said so!”, after which you most likely gulped your food down like she might never feed you again so you could get back to more essential matters, like hanging out with your friends. You have to agree that moms have a lot on their plates, so taking a break to discuss the intricate structure and operation of the gastrointestinal tract can prevent them from putting the kids to bed, cleaning the house, signing the school agendas or enjoying a glass of wine.
The fact is that chewing your food is extremely vital to the way your entire metabolic system functions. It is the first step in the process of making energy, eliminating properly, dampening inflammatory responses and more. Chewing can even dictate whether or not you suffer from health issues such as allergies. Do I have your attention. Let me explain.
Here are a few reasons to chew your food better:
2) The digestive process actually starts with the sight, smell and taste of food. Chewing is the second step in the digestive process which involves the release of saliva which contains powerful digestive enzymes. The saliva helps to liquefy the food and aids in it’s travel through the esophagus to the stomach, where the real digestion takes place.
2) Its where the chemical digestion of starches is initiated with and enzyme called amylase which breaks down complex carbs. Mechanical digestion is also initiated in the mouth by chewing. Chewing decreases the size of the particles of food to small sizes that are easier for your system to digest, preparing the molecules of nutrients to be absorbed through the wall of the small intestine and into the bloodstream where those nutrients can be carried to the cells to do their job. Improperly digested food particles can enter the blood and create various health issues including inflammatory immune reactions.
3) Chewing allows you to swallow food in more of a liquid form, rather than as a solid. This will save the rest of your digestive system a LOT of work. When the rest of your body doesn’t have to work so hard to digest your food, you’ll experience some great results: Say good-bye to that bloated, gurgling, gaseous stomach and inflammation. Say hello to increased energy and the ability to focus and think clearly.
4) Chewing is good for your mouth and teeth. The saliva released aids in eliminating bacteria in the mouth itself. The actual pressure of chewing is much like intense resistance exercise for long bones. It strengthens the bones of the jaw that “hold” the teeth in place.
5) Chewing actually allows you to taste and enjoy your food more. We tend to derive pleasure not so much from the taste and texture of the food as from the speed at which it’s eaten.
Research suggests that the magic number of bites is 32 per mouthful, others say each bite must be chewed for 30 seconds. I don’t think meals would be very enjoyable if you had to count or set a timer before you could swallow. Being relaxed and mindful is key.
So go forth, and chew, chew, chew and the next time you see your mother, thank her for the sound advice.
