Don't Chew With Your Mouth Open!!!

Don’t chew with your mouth open!!! Today we will discuss the importance of chewing.

Many of us inhale our food. We use our fork as a shovel, putting the next bite in before we’ve finished the previous one. It’s part of our fast-paced culture. Aside from missing the enjoyment of a long, relaxing meal, eating quickly can be detrimental to our health. Digestion actually begins with the chewing process. If you think about your stomach working to break down every little bit of food you put into your mouth, it makes sense that the more you break it down in the chewing process, the easier the digestion process will be. If your food is not properly broken down before entering the esophagus, it can remain undigested and cause bacteria overgrowth in the intestines. In addition, the action of chewing and the resulting production of saliva both, send a message to the stomach, intestines and entire gastrointestinal system that the digestion process has begun. These organs can then prepare for their digestion tasks and keep the body in balance.

Chewing also makes food more enjoyable. The sweet flavor of plant foods is released only after they have been chewed thoroughly. Complex carbohydrates start breaking down in the mouth by an enzyme in saliva known as amylase. It is only by chewing the carbs thoroughly and mixing them with amylase that we can taste all of their sweetness. This sweet flavor becomes a reward for chewing. Do you see the brilliance of the natural food system involved in this process? Leveraging our inherent craving for sweetness, our body works with nature to ensure we get the nutrients we need.

I do not have a recommended amount of time people should take to chew each bite, although some of my clients experiment with chewing each bite 20 to 50 times. In general, I recommend putting down your fork or utensils in between each bite to help you focus on the food in your mouth. Once you are done chewing, then you can take your next bite. It can be difficult to focus on chewing when eating with others, so try eating on your own and focus on fully chewing each bite. Turn off the TV, resist the urge to read a magazine and really focus on your eating experience. You’ll see that it takes you longer to eat your meal, but that you get full faster. Another useful tip to help people slow-down is to try eating with chopsticks. They can only pick up a limited amount of food at a time and it can be a fun eating adventure.

Stay Nourished!

~Coach Stephanie