Chew Chew Chew

Welcome to Wellness Wednesday with Dr. Claudia Coen

I have made it a rule to give every tooth of mine a chance, and when I eat, to chew every bite thirty-two times. To this rule I owe much of my success in life. -William Gladstone

CHEW CHEW CHEW

When it comes to increased health, it’s not just what we eat but how we eat. Digestion actually begins in the mouth, where contact with our teeth and digestive enzymes, such as amylase in our saliva begins the chemical process of digestion. Amylase is an enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of carbohydrates. These days most of us rush through the whole eating experience, barely acknowledging what we’re putting in our mouths. We eat while distracted—working, reading, talking and watching television—and swallow our food practically whole. On average we chew each bite only eight times. It’s no wonder that many people have digestive problems. If food does not reach our stomachs sufficiently broken down into small enough pieces AND sufficiently exposed to amylase then it cannot be properly digested in the acid environment of the stomach.
There are many great reasons to slow down and chew your food.
Saliva breaks down food into simple sugars, creating a sweet taste. The more we chew, the sweeter our food becomes, so we don’t crave those after-meal sweets.
Chewing reduces digestive distress and improves assimilation, allowing our bodies to absorb maximum nutrition from each bite of food.
More chewing produces more endorphins, the brain chemicals responsible for creating good feelings.
It’s also helpful for weight loss, because when we are chewing well, we are more apt to notice when we are full.
In fact, chewing can promote increased circulation, enhanced immunity, increased energy and endurance, as well as improve skin health and stabilize weight.
Taking time with a meal, beginning with chewing, allows for enjoyment of the whole experience of eating: the smells, flavors and textures. It helps us to give thanks, to show appreciation for the abundance in our lives and to develop patience and self-control.

The power of chewing is so great that there are stories of concentration camp survivors who, when others could not, made it through with very little food by chewing their meager rations up to 300 times per bite of food. For most of us 300 chews is a daunting and unrealistic goal. Often, the first thing people experience when they go to a Buddhist monastery, is the exercise in chewing. Given a bowl of rice and a pair of chop sticks, they are required to chew each mouthful 100 times before swallowing. You can experience the benefits of chewing by increasing the average 8 chews per bite to 30 chews per bite. Try it and see how you feel.
Try eating without the TV, computer, Blackberry, newspaper or noisy company. Instead just pay attention to the food and to how you are breathing and chewing. This kind of quiet can be disconcerting at first, since we are used to a steady stream of advertising, news, media, email and demands from others. But as you create a new habit, you will begin to appreciate eating without rushing. You have to eat every day—why not learn to savor and enjoy it?
If you suffer from digestive disorders, indigestion, daily gastric pain, GERD…medications may not be the only remedy. Understanding the fundamentals of digestion, the importance of fluid nutrition and how to use food as your medicine can go a long way to healing your pain and discomfort. Perhaps a conversation with me could set you back on the path of enjoying food as friend rather than foe.

Call me at Solomon Family Chiropractic 315-789-2602 if you think my approach could help you.
© Integrative Nutrition