HOW YOUR DIGESTION WORKS
Digestion begins when you start chewing. There are four types of teeth in your mouth (incisors, canines, molars and premolars) that break down food, along with your saliva and the enzymes contained therein. When you swallow, it moves into your stomach to get broken down by more enzymes and stomach acids.
Chyme then passes through the small and large intestine and then finally out the other end. Here, more enzymes help to break it down further while villi and microvilli absorb the nutrients into the blood for your body to use.
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
One simply strategy is to chew your food longer. Digestion initially begins in the mouth. As you start to chew your food, digestive enzymes amylase, lipase and bromelain in saliva begin to break it down, preparing for nutrient absorption.
Amylase breaks down starches (complex carbohydrates) into sugars, lipase breaks down fats and bromelain breaks down proteins.
It’s important to chew your food thoroughly to achieve maximum absorption of all your vitamins and minerals. Chewing breaks down food and makes it easier on the stomach and small intestine. Saliva makes the food more alkaline, which creates less gas.
HOW TO CHEW PROPERLY
To get into the habit of chewing foods thoroughly, try counting the chews in each bite, aiming for 20 to 30 times before swallowing. Try putting your utensils down between bites to help you better concentrate on chewing.
Chew every mouthful until the food becomes liquid.
If you are feeling stressed during a meal, take deep breaths, chew, and let the simple act of chewing relax you. Taking the time to chew will help you to enjoy the whole spectrum of tastes and aromas that make up the meal.
BONUS TIP
Chewing properly can also help aid in weight loss. By simply slowing down your pace of eating and being more mindful, you are able to recognize levels of hunger and satiety, therefore eating less. Chewing food more thoroughly also increases the number of calories the body burns during digestion.
So....how many times are you chewing each mouthful of food?
To your health & happiness,
xoxo
Amy