Did you know that digestion is the biggest stressor on the body?
Looking to lose weight?
Want more energy?
Tired of gas and bloating?
LET’S TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPLORE THE ART OF CHEWING AND ITS KEY TO STIMULATING BETTER DIGESTION AND MORE!
You’ve just taken that first bite and you hear that crunching sound heard in your ears, you feel the swish of your tongue and the flow of those digestive juices that swirl in your mouth. These are the sounds and actions that begin digestion. It is common for many of us to take these actions for granted in the hustle and bustle of daily life, as well as for those of us who suffer from TMJ or are missing teeth.
Saliva contains a powerful enzyme called Amylase which serves to break down carbohydrates. It also initiates the chemical process of fat digestion. The more saliva you have when sitting down to eat, the more enzymes that will be produced thereby aiding in maximum nutrient absorption.
JUST HUMOR ME FOR A MOMENT AND THINK ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE FOOD – NO JUDGEMENT HERE!
Just the mere thought of food gets those digestive juices rolling to prime your palate for digestive action. There is a reason why restaurants pump the smell of their foods to the outside world! Your saliva alone prompts the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach along with pancreatic secretions that excitedly wait to begin their work of breaking your meal down.
Saliva contains powerful softening agents that lubricate and mold your food into an optimal form for the stomach, but your teeth and tongue must do their part too. The art of chewing your food thoroughly increases the surface area of the food allowing those digestive enzymes to attack it so that it is broken down into molecules.
WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT CHEWING MY FOOD?
When food is not chewed thoroughly we may experience some unpleasant symptoms: gas, bloating, abdominal pain just to name a few. The art of conscious chewing alone has helped many curb their appetite. Just slowing down and thoroughly chewing each bite allows you to reach satiety on considerably less food. It’s a great way to avoid the overeating trap and lose weight. Our bodies don’t know we’re full for 20-30 minutes after our first bite.
These tips are cheap and easy ways to increase the efficiency of digestion. By freeing up the energy spent on digesting your food, you will gain more energy overall.
As a TMJ sufferer for most of my life, I understand how chewing can be a chore. I tend to stick with soft-cooked foods, soups, stews, and smoothies. Even though these foods don’t require much in the way of chewing, it’s important to chew them all so that more saliva is produced to effectively break down the foods that you eat, so that your body can more readily absorb those macro and micronutrients.
Appreciate the flavor, and savor every bite to free your stomach from having to work so hard with all of its might.
Best of all it’s fun, free, and easy.
