Did you know that not chewing properly could actually make you hold onto weight and weaken your immunity?

Shocking right!  Learning how to chew is not something you learn at school, and not a thought that pops into many heads.  However, learning to chew properly will not only help you digest the nutrients from your food better, it will also improve your health and energy levels.

 The chewing process is known as mastication, and serves as the first step in digestive process.  Most of us have got into the habit of “grabbing” something to eat on the run, or waiting until we are hungry before eating, both of which can result in us literally “guzzling” our food down! 

 Why should I be concerned with chewing my food “properly”?

NUTRIENT ABSORBTION = ENERGY!

If you do not chew your food adequately, as in chew your food into tiny particles your intestines cannot absorb the nutrients from your food as it passes through. 

Fact:

Research presented by the 2013 Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting and Food Expo, Chicago showed that those who chewed less, allowing larger particles of food to pass were more susceptible to bacteria and fungi as undigested food can enter your blood stream.

CHEWING FOOD HELPS YOU TO LOOSE WEIGHT

If you eat at a million miles per hour your brain and body does not have the time to acknowledge what, and how much you are consuming. 

Fact:  Research shows by eating slowly it may help you to eat less resulting in a loss of weight if you consume large portions.  It takes around 20 minutes for your brain to tell your stomach that it has had enough.  Those that chewed for twice as long as normal not only felt fuller when eating their normal portion, but also over a prolonged period of practising this method, actually ended up consuming 10% fewer calories, just by taking time out where they were not rushing, and chewing twice as much as normal per mouthful!

CHEWING HELPS WITH DIGESTION

By chewing for longer your mouth produces more saliva, which contains digestive enzymes.  These digestive enzymes start to break down your food, helping the digestion process for the stomach and small intestine.

HAVE YOU EVER FELT EXHAUSTED AFTER EATING?

Digestion is actually quite a demanding process on the body.  Your body actually uses up a lot of energy in the digestive process.  If you do not use your food properly the body actually has to work harder, thus leaving your body feeling tired!

HOLD ONTO THOSE PEARLY WHITES

Chewing actually strengthens the bones that hold your teeth in place, and the saliva produced when chewing clears food debris, and washes bacteria from your mouth.  The result less decaying of the teeth!

DO YOU SUFFER FROM GAS?

By chewing too little undigested food can enter your intestines and putrefy. This can result in gas, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, cramps, indigestion, and acid…

DO YOU LIKE THE TASTE OF FOOD?

Then why not slow down and actually allow yourself to enjoy it?!  When you take time to chew, eating is a far more pleasurable experience!

SO, HOW DO YOU CHEW PROPERLY?

The amount of chewing required is dependant on what you are eating at the time.  For instance there is no point in chewing yoghurt 28 times!

YOUR GUIDE TO CHEWING RIGHT: 

Never eat on the run, whilst working, or in front of the TV.  You will never learn to chew properly if you are in a rush, or being distracted by something that provokes emotion 

Never eat whilst engaging in any conversation that triggers a negative emotion or causes stress.  Wait until you are relaxed and calm

·      Take smaller bites than normal

·      Chew twice as long as normal

·      Chew slowly

·      Make sure food is chewed into tiny particles before swallowing

·      Finish your mouthful completely before taking another bite

·      Always drink fluids with an empty mouth

So now you have it, you are educated in the art of chewing! Go forth enjoy, and chew!