When was the last time you made a wonderfully healthy meal, sat down to enjoy it and within a few minutes it was gone? Then thinking to ourselves “I spent more time cooking that meal then it took to eat it.”
So many times we are rushing all day long, that when it comes to our food, we also rush to eat it. Eating your food too fast will not only cause you to overeat, it may also cause you to have indigestion or acid reflux. The answer? Chew more!
Chewing or mastication initiates the process of digestion – your saliva has enzymes that both lubricate and start digesting what you eat – and allows your taste buds to “notice” the meal and help you savor what you are eating. When you are taking enough time to make your bites small and chew really well before swallowing, it gives the body time to register when it is full. Not only does chewing slowly and mindfully help you eat less, it enhances the pleasure of the dining experience.
It takes approximately 20 minutes from the time you start eating for your brain to send out signals of fullness. Leisurely eating allows ample time to trigger the signal from your brain that you are full and feeling full translates into eating less. That is a win for all!