Like many hardworking professionals in demanding, deadline-driven careers, I don’t have a lot of downtime.
I never used to be that person who experiencedbloatingor alternating bouts ofconstipationand diarrhea, but here I am!
And I’ve found it all somewhat surprising since I eat a pretty healthypaleo-ish, whole-foods-based diet.
So this got me thinking: Could my issues be ’m eating thanwhatI’m eating?
Could the simple act of chewing be the key to good digestion?
Considerayurvedathe 7,000-year-old school of medicine considers slow and thorough chewing essential for strong digestive health.
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Me, on the other hand?
Probably five to 10 chews max.
So I’ll admit, this whole “chewing until liquefaction” thing initially sounded downright excessive.
But some modern-day nutrition experts make pretty compelling arguments for upping your mastication game.
“I’m always reminding my community ‘Your stomach doesn’t have teeth!'”
Plus, there’s the wholemindfulnesscomponent.
Chewing your food at least 30 times literally forces you to slow down.
According toone study1, obese people tend to chew their food less than people who are leaner.
My one big problem: How do I chew more when I have basically zero free time?
So that’s what I did.
For a week straight, I dutifully chewed and chewed and chewed until no lumps remained.
And to be honest, itreallydidn’t add that much time to my meals.
During those moments Ireallyhad no time?
To be honest, sometimes I just made a smoothie.
So, yes, I plan to do my best to chew each bite of food completely.
And when I feel like I can’t?
There are always smoothies anddigestive enzymes.
