Chew on this
Would you rather have a shovel than a fork when you’re eating?
Do you play “Beat the Clock” when you sit down for a meal?
Do you eat so quickly that you don’t know you’re full … until you’re stuffed?
Can you see actual food in your stools?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you’re not chewing enough.
Sometimes a visual is the best way to learn or remember an idea. So here’s a visual for you.
YOUR STOMACH DOESN’T HAVE TEETH.
If you don’t chew your food in your mouth, it’s not going to get chewed up later in the process. Your teeth, with the help of the enzymes in your saliva, break down food so that the nutrients from the food can be absorbed into your body. Not chewing equals not as many nutrients. It also equals more difficult digestion, which can include heartburn, constipation, and acid reflux.
The next time you sit down to eat, challenge yourself to chew your food until it’s nearly liquid. Or try counting the number of times you chew each bite – start with 20, aim for 30, or even 50. You may find you need to take smaller bites – that’s okay, too.
