Why chewing food well is so important?

Nowadays it is very common not having time to cook or to sit down and enjoying food. The habitual thing is to prepare something quickly and to eat it while talking on the phone, using the computer, watching TV, thinking of the next appointment, when and how picking up the children or making groceries... in the middle of all that, who is going to have time to chew and to feed properly?!

Not long ago I understood the importance of enjoying, as well as being present, aware and focused on what we do in every moment and eating is one of them.

Often, I had heard about the importance of chewing food well. However, I used to find the practice pretty much non-viable when not ridiculous! Nevertheless, I thank my persistence and certainty because the benefits are many.

Here you have the reason why…

The digestive process begins in the mouth with the mastication and insalivation of food.

Food is partly broken down by teeth through the process of chewing. That is the mechanical digestion. Saliva instead begins a chemical digestion through the enzyme amylase. The action of this enzyme breaks down carbohydrates into smaller compounds. However, stomach acids deactivate the action of this enzyme in order to give action to proteases and lipases and the process of digesting proteins and lipids. Therefore, it is very important to chew and insalivate food carefully. This way carbohydrates start to break down in the mouth and somehow, “our brain begins to be nourished”.

Eating this way also lubricate the intestines and strengthens the spleen and pancreas. It makes the pancreas to secrete more enzymes into the small intestine and it also reinforce lubrication. Consequently, the amount of nutrients available to produce more and better bold quality increases.

In another hand, the action of chewing stimulates the stomach meridian (upper jaw) and the large intestine meridian (lower jaw) making these organs to work in order to be ready for digestion. Saliva also moistens food for easy swallowing, it adjusts water content of food and it protects teeth from decay.

Upset stomach, gas, bad absorption of nutrients / malnutrition or feeling apathetic are common symptoms of bad chewing.

One tip, “drink solids and swallow liquids”.