Eat Well: Chewing Your Food Properly

Laura Mendez - JUN 28, 2019
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Chewing Your Food Properly: Good Reasons to Heed Grandma’s Advice.   I’m curious about the response to my last Howler article, in the June 2019 issue: “Four Ingredients to Avoid to Regain Your Health.” For anyone who gave it a try, let me know how it went. Sometimes those changes that are tough to implement can have the most positive impact on your healths.

This month’s health challenge is also about improved awareness. It’s an aspect of eating well that is so basic and taken for granted, we pay little or no regard to its importance. I’m talking about chewing your food properly.

Did you ever wonder why
it was such a big deal?

 

Grandma knew best

Some of you may recall your grandma telling you to slow down and eat your food with patience. Even if you obeyed her, did you ever wonder why it was such a big deal? Nowadays, this is rarely a topic of family conversation, even when we take time from our busy routines to gather together at the same table to eat. Regardless of where we eat or whether companions are present, the increasingly fast-paced lifestyle that society has adopted over the years has had an impact on our eating habits.

Besides getting less pleasure from meals when you are in a hurry, not chewing your food property has negative health consequences you might not realize. One day when pondering this, I decided to create a “chew your food properly” health challenge. This is what I wrote back then:

Digestion starts in the mouth, and by doing it effectively we are going to improve our digestion. I promise that this simple thing can create a huge difference every time you eat and afterward: you are going to get full with less food, and your digestion will improve.

I challenge you to chew every bite a minimum of 25 times. I suggest putting a note where you eat with the number 25 or something similar that will remind you to chew your food properly.

Quick Tip: Put your fork down while you chew the food.

 

Now, in this Howler article, I want to encourage you to start chewing your food properly today. I promise you will not only see a huge improvement in the effectiveness of your digestion, but will also be surprised how quickly it can be achieved.

More benefits than you think

Not convinced yet? Here are six more benefits you can receive from chewing your food properly:

Better absorption of nutrients and energy from your food

Support in maintaining a healthy weight

Better exposure to saliva, containing important enzymes to break down your food

Beneficial for your teeth and a workout to keep your jaw in shape

Reduction in excess bacteria lingering in your intestines

Enhanced enjoyment and taste of your food

So your health challenge for this month may be easier said than done: enjoy your food, taste it, savor it and chew it with patience. Take time to eat with no rush and connect with your food. Create your own little reminder note with the number 25 on it. Keep it visible every time that you need to slow down while eating. Let me know how it’s going. Visit my Facebook page and comment on your experience.