How often have you heard this and mumbled under your breath, “Of course I’m chewing my food!” And you probably took a big bite and gulped it down with your drink.

Well, let me explain chewing properly and how it can aid in digestion and ultimately in better health.

GERBER. Baby food for babies with no teeth. They knew that the stomach had no teeth, and so they prepared essential food nutrients to be readily digested in a “cell ready”condition.

TEETH and TABLE FOOD Enter teeth to do the work of machines turning food “ to mush.” This was the plan…..(we have to go beyond the allure of our “pearly whites” ) our teeth are designed to recreate the “mush” condition of cell ready baby food so that the food is ready to be digested. Just add the enzymes and the dispatch to awaiting cells can begin.

Not so fast! Far too often our food is swallowed in chunks and drowning in our drink so the enzymes are not only diluted but are faced with a mechanical problem over which they have no control.

ENTER  Digestive problems galore! And possibly weight gain. I say that because your stomach will deliver a “full” sensation after approximately 20 to 30 minutes. However, most chunk eaters finish eating in less time and so when they finish, they feel fine but later they often moan “I am so stuffed” and have to loosen their waistband.

SOLUTION Chewing to mush takes longer then 20 minutes so you will feel full after eating less food. And feel comfortable…

THE PLAN. from front to back Incisors – sharp front teeth – bite small amount as in nibbling. Canines – pointed structures to tear meat. Premolars – more tearing and some grinding. Molars – flat topped for grinding through circular action of lower jaw

GET a head start  on digesting carbs. While mush is in progress in the mouth , it is being infused with enzymes in saliva to perform approx 30% of carb digestion.

Get your watch out and maybe choose a smaller plate.
You are now ready to “chew your food”.