Digestion starts in the mouth, and not in our digestive system. This is why we need to chew our food well. If we don’t, then we put unnecessary burden to our stomach, and we put ourselves in an uncomfortable situation.
Saliva contains amylase, the enzyme that helps to chemically break down food. There is also mechanical digestion, the physical action of breaking down food. If food does not stay in the mouth long enough, it is not exposed to amylase to break down the carbohydrates – there is very little carbohydrate digestion in the stomach, and if food gets there without being properly digested, the stomach has to work harder. There are also some things the stomach cannot digest. If bits of food enter the top of your small intestine still quite whole, it can lead to bloating and discomfort.
So before you swallow your food, make sure that it is chewed well. And take your time as you eat.
(Image Credit: congerdesign/ Pixabay)
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Yes mom....
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this is good advice for someone like me who tries to eat too fast
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Old ditty(to the tune of row row tow your boat):Chew chew chew your foodgently through the mealthe more you chewthe less you'll eatthe better you will feel
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