Why is eating slower healthier
Chewing your food longer breaks it down more which helps your stomach digest it. In addition, when you eat slowly, you give your brain a heads up to signal your stomach to let the digestion begin.
So, not only is your appetite satisfied but so is your sense of multi-tasking and efficiency! The more you chew, the more saliva you produce which not only helps with digestion but also your dental health! Saliva washes away food particles left on your teeth which otherwise would invite bacteria to your dinner party, encouraging another unwanted guest: tooth decay!
So, the longer you chew, the more you protect your teeth and the better you balance the number of harmful minerals, sugars, and acids in your mouth. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Related Articles. Intermittent Fasting: 4 Different Types Explained. Want to Lose Body Fat? Eat a Late Breakfast and Early Dinner. Trending Topics.
J Acad Nutr Diet. Hurst Y, Fukuda H. Effects of changes in eating speed on obesity in patients with diabetes: a secondary analysis of longitudinal health check-up data. BMJ Open. Effects of eating rate on satiety: A role for episodic memory? Physiol Behav. Ultra-processed diets cause excess calorie intake and weight gain: an inpatient randomized controlled trial of ad libitum food intake.
Cell Metab. Gut commensal e. Coli proteins activate host satiety pathways following nutrient-induced bacterial growth. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellFit. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.
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Was this page helpful? I felt more connected to Nick, and conversing with him over a meal forced me to slow down and take breaks between bites to speak. Apparently chewing more thoroughly aids digestion as well. It makes sense: Smaller bits of food will be more thoroughly digested. And the research indicates all that chewing increases blood flow to the stomach and gut as well—so everything is doing its job better.
This tip sounded super promising, but, honestly, I just forgot to do it most of the time. And when I did remember to count my bites, it just annoyed me. Food should be enjoyable, and this felt like I was punishing myself.
Rather than focusing on how my food tasted, my mind was focused on doing basic math. Drinking water forces you to take small breaks between each bite. The ideas is that all that water aids in digestion. I ended up feeling hungrier sooner, but I also ate less to begin with.
Finding someone to mimic was a challenge. Thankfully, I have friends who eat slower. Oddly, they're from Ireland and Australia. We all went out for tacos one night, and I tried to pace my bites to theirs.