How many times chewing food

According to Dr. Rupali Datta, Consultant Nutritionist, "there are two primary reasons why chewing your food is important. Firstly, to break down the food and secondly, to mix it well with saliva , which is key to the proper functioning of the digestive processes. Chewing without thinking can hamper the process of digestion; Image credit: Istock. Rupali further elaborates that the brain takes around 20 minutes to register the fact that the stomach is full.

Thus, if people chew fast then they may tend to overeat, as the feeling of satiety post eating comes only after a reasonable amount of time. They continue to eat thinking that they are still hungry, which is not the case. Chewing your food properly ensures that the time duration of the food-intake process is elongated, so that the stomach is not overstuffed with food.

Therefore, chewing food properly helps in avoiding overeating. Slowing down the process of chewing and eating, thus, can also aid in weight reduction. Chewing your food properly in your mouth helps break down large pieces of food into smaller particles. This reduces the amount of stress placed on your esophagus and helps your stomach digest the food.

As you chew, more saliva is produced, which contains digestive enzymes that help begin to break down food and aid with absorption of nutrients.

Chewing slowly and properly has been a strategy for weight management since the beginning of time — to be exact. Lingual lipase in particular, is an enzyme produced by the salivary glands underneath the tongue, which helps break down fats. Fat that is not broken down thoroughly can lead to indigestion. Food contains all types of nutrients our bodies need to grow and develop, including proteins.

Protein is an essential nutrient because it is broken down into amino acids, which are necessary for the growth and development of muscle. What makes them so important is that we do not create or store amino acids in our body.

Chewing properly helps with the digestion of proteins and ensures better digestion and absorption of amino acids. A study conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that participants who chewed almonds for longer, smaller particles were better and more quickly absorbed by the body. Prolonged chewing produces more saliva, which helps remineralise teeth and restore the pH levels of your mouth after eating acids and sugars, reducing the chances of decay and you ending with fillings.

This can cause digestive problems such as —. Always consult your doctor or a specialist for more information surrounding your dietary needs. Staci McIntosh: Whether you do that by taking longer to chew your food or if you take longer just in between bites, it's not going to make that much of a difference.

I would certainly recommend that people chew their food appropriately, but counting the number of times you chew your food is a little obsessive. Interviewer: I'm glad to hear that. So, it's more about just caloric intake than anything else? Staci McIntosh: Caloric intake and the time. Your time will affect your caloric intake overall, but when it comes down to it, it is the caloric intake.

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Interviewer: That is important. Staci McIntosh: Mm-hmm. Staci McIntosh: Our digestive system is really amazing. Interviewer: Yeah. Staci McIntosh: No. Avoid watching TV or scrolling through your phone while eating food.

This can distract your attention and might make you gulp down food without proper chewing. Not chewing food properly can cause digestive issues like indigestion, bloating, gas, acidity and heartburn.

Improper chewing can also lead to weight gain.