Chew on This

Chew on This

In looking at our current interactions with food, our bellies
have gotten bigger, and for many of us, digestion is off.
We automatically think that the way to remedy that situation is to cut the calories and hit the
gym like GI Jane. But, there’s another route and it can all be boiled down to three words: Chew
your food.

You Feel Satisfied. First of all, chewing your food makes you realize you are full and satiated.
When you feel full and satisfied, you will be more likely to eat only what you need to instead of
raiding the cabinets at the end of the night for those Girl Scout cookies you’ve stowed away for
emergencies.

You Get More Nutrients and Energy. The more you chew your food, the more nutrients and
energy you absorb from your food. When you chew, you extract about 15 to 25-percent of the
nutrients inside the plant’s cells.

Your Brain Speaks Up. Chewing your food properly also allows your brain to send the message
to your gut in a timely manner that you are done eating. It silences that little devil sitting atop
your shoulder that tells you it is okay to have that extra bite … Your brain has already had time
to realize that your stomach is full.

You Improve Digestion. By chewing, your saliva breaks down food more efficiently to emulsify it
before it hits your stomach. So, your stomach has less work to do.How to Chew
Here are some things you can do to chew your food the right
way:

1. Chew each bite of food 35 times. On average, people chew
each bite of food about five to 10 times!

2. Rests in between bites. Focus more on each bite in your
mouth rather than on the bite you are about to take.

3. Take a drink. Wash down each bite with water so that you can
taste your next.

4. Smell your food. Nothing dramatic here, but if you slow down,
you will automatically take in more of the aroma of your food
which satisfies another one of your senses.

You can also time yourself while you eat. Sounds wacky, but you know what they say … When
in Rome. For example, if you like to watch television while you eat, make your meal last as long
as a 30-minute television show. (Don’t cheat with TiVo) If you get ambitious, try making a meal
last through American Idol.
Slow Down to Speed Up
Ultimately, take your time with food. Eating should be an enjoyable part of your day, not an
item on your To-do list, sister.

Janice Gosnell
http://www.ibourl.com/cz8