Everyone’s family has a notorious SLOW EATER! They seem to take forever to chew, swallow and enjoy their food! Is this really a bad habit worthy of criticism?
*Not at all! Benefits include:
i) Increased time for “mechanical digestion”. Breaking food down into smaller parts, increasing surface area for enzymes later in the digestive tract.
ii) Increased exposure of carbohydrates to salivary amylase! We have to remember that digestion starts in the mouth with saliva.
**increased digestion via chewing will ultimately result in a higher rate of absorption, especially with protein and carbohydrates.
iii) It takes time for us to realize we are feeling “full”. The faster we eat, the more OVEREATING that can take place BEFORE we are aware of the full feeling. Ever watched the friend who eats extremely fast, not feeling full, yet 5 minutes after finishing they are stuffed??
