5 Powerful Reasons to Eat More Slowly

re: 5 Powerful Reasons to Eat More Slowly

brit21 — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:17:06 GMT

My mother-in-law and I are both infamous slow eaters. However, the reaction we get from people is the awe at HOW MUCH we can eat. It takes both of us at least twice the amount of time it takes others to eat, and both of us can put down massive portions without getting fat. I have a very fast metabolism, and I think my slow eating is the reason for it. I do most things in life slowly. I like to take my time to enjoy everything I do!

re: 5 Powerful Reasons to Eat More Slowly

keimbob — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:41:23 GMT

I think something is being missed, what with all of the talk about slow eating. I take a long time to eat, but I'm a fast eater, that is, a fast chewer. The end result is that it appears to others that I'm a slow eater. If a person truly is a slow eater, that is, slow chewer, than they may not be chewing up their food any more than others around them. That may not be leading to good digestion. It is the chewing that counts, not how long you sit there "eating."

How I got where I am -- as some posts have already inferred, I remember my kindergarden teacher tell us when we were eating leaf lettuce we had grown that digestion begins in the mouth, with the food thoroughly mixing with the salva ... enzymes, etc.. Time passed. I'm a 20 year old and for a summer job I am living with my my older sister and her husband. At one dinner, all of a sudden, he yells out, "Why do you take so long eating?" That stunned me, so I tried to figure it out. I quickly came to realize that I usually chewed one mouthfull longer than others, not necessarily slower, but more times. At that time I usually chewed each bit about 43 times; most others seem to chew a bit for about 20 times or less. Mind you, I don't go around counting how many times to chew. I chew until the food is well mixed with slava.

Then, more recently my youngest health conscious daughter told me of the adage: "Chew your soup and drink your solids," as well as about the two concentration camp prisoners who resolved to eat what little they had, chewing each bit 100 times. Only they survived in their barracks. I soon came to realize that if you drink your solids (without the need of another beverage to gulp it down), it often does come close to 100 times and sometimes more. Fortunately, I do chew quickly, but still take longer than others. When eating out, one can simply take a carry-out for food not yet eaten, when for considderation of others, it seems like you should be finished.

re: 5 Powerful Reasons to Eat More Slowly

vishal_203 — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:41:56 GMT

Very Nice Article. I also started hitting GYM and thses article improved my knowledge more. I will stick to the schedule and improve my fittness.

Thanks mercola for removing some misconceptions. Zen habits are real good.

-Vi

re: 5 Powerful Reasons to Eat More Slowly

Tiger_Lily — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:04:46 GMT

I never did eat very fast, but am even slower the older I get. I just leave food unfinished and leave the table, because I'm full after a short while. I'm not losing any weight, however. Wish it did work that way.

re: 5 Powerful Reasons to Eat More Slowly

Nutrinfo-Sponge — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:56:06 GMT

What a coincindence! I had just made myself a huge salad before sitting down to read this article. In the back of my mind, I was thinking how fast I always wolf my salads down, and almost all foods, but somehow I still do it even though I know better. This article and all of the comments really hit home. I have lost weight in the past just from slowing down my eating--20 lbs in fact. I know it works, yet still I forget. Eating is the only thing I do fast and I am the fastest eater I know, unlike a lot of those who commented. My digestion suffers because of this. That is something I can change. Thank you for the reminders! (Now I will finish my salad, slowly, and mindfully.)

re: 5 Powerful Reasons to Eat More Slowly

Shastagal — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:23:22 GMT

learningmore45, me too!

i used to be such a slow eater, i remember eating dinner with my boyfriend (at the time) parents, they said i ate like a slow motion bird. i think it was because i was so nervous about eating around them. now that im with my husband wen we go out to eat we can both easily devour a plate put down in front of us in 5 minutes, and always get comments from waiters about how quick we are. also since i moved to the US ive put on 30 pounds, and started having to really watch what i eat this country has so much bad bad delicious food everywhere it was so easy for me to put the weight on. ive lost 15 pounds already so easily just watching what i eat, not eating the notorious bread and butter that always gets thrown in front of us everytime we go eat, not eating dairy and avoiding at all costs hfcs and prepackaged foods. and now after reading this article, im gonna start slowing down again, starting today!

re: 5 Powerful Reasons to Eat More Slowly

learningmore45 — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:32:12 GMT

This has motivated me to eat slower...starting now thanks!

re: 5 Powerful Reasons to Eat More Slowly

Heather Marsh — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:13:46 GMT

As a child, most meals were eaten quickly and silently.

Dad was old fashioned and Mum was a terrible cook. So the food was best eaten quickly!

re: 5 Powerful Reasons to Eat More Slowly

vikingstork — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:10:16 GMT

Amen. They forgot to mention another widespread "misbehaviour", something their, my, and everybody's momma and granny told them, DON'T TALK WHEN EATING !!!.

It's shocking that people will repeat this for ever, but always do the opposite.

I used to be pressed by my boss, a general manager, to go to business lunches. I almost always refused, because every time i went, everybo dy just yacked while eating, and staring me down to answer them, but i just don't do it. They got a little offended when I said what my mommy told me (their mommy told them too, but they don't listen). People, especially "somebodies", hate being put in the corner.

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re: 5 Powerful Reasons to Eat More Slowly

Nutrimens — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:27:33 GMT

There are many reasons to properly chew your food before swallowing. Apart from the enzymes in your saliva that helps with the digestion, I also read that your saliva is

"coherent". Your body recognises coherent substances as something that is part of or should become part of the body. This means that food properly mixed with saliva will be "welcomed with open arms" in the rest of the digestive system. On the other hand, non-coherent food will be seen as an invader and white blood cells will be sent to attack it - there are definitely better ways to use your immune system! This is also a the reason for drinking water sip by sip, not gulping a whole glass down in three seconds. The water (or watery food like soup) needs to mix with the saliva as well to end up in the cells and not just flush your kidneys on the way out.

Just having to watch someone else eat fast pushes up my stress level. It is well known that when the sympathetic system kicks in (fight or flight, stress reaction) the digestive system gets almost completely shut down. The ileocecal valve (bottom of stomach) opens to release the stomach content into the small intestines. This is not a good thing because the food is supposed to digest in the stomach up to a certain point before continueing to the rest of the digestive system. Moving on prematurely creates all kinds of nasty effects, including building up sensitivity or allergies to that food as its partially digested version is also seen as an invader. Drinking fluids with your meal can also trigger this release.

According to the book "Intuitive Eating" we also gain several benefits by eating "mindfully" - concentrating on your food (its appearance, texture, taste). Eating with your mind on something else can make you feel as if you haven't had the food and you end up eating more than you need. The great thing about natural food is that you have to chew it before swallowing - a carrot won't go down well whole ;-).

re: 5 Powerful Reasons to Eat More Slowly

whimzy — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:21:50 GMT

I am the slowest eater I know. It has actually been a source of embarrassment for me as family and friends eventually surrender and leave me at the table alone. I don't eat out much, but when I do, the glares of disapproving wait-staff on a busy night is enough to make me leave my meal unfinished. I generally don't talk much during meals as this makes me eat even slower. I am always amazed at how quickly people around me eat, even while maintaining animated conversations. Although it isn't something I am not consciously aware of, I have noticed that I put down my fork between bites, and seem to chew much slower (comparatively). When family members ask how I stay so slender, I usually tell them that I have already burned off all the calories by the time I finished eating. :-) .... a little food for thought (seriously, no pun intended). It typically takes me around 75 minutes to eat a full meal, which, I notice, takes others about 25 minutes to eat. I think the real key to my staying slender is the fact I often end up giving much of my untouched portions away. My poor husband was getting to be a bit chunky as a result. It is just plain awkward having others watch you eat exclusively... for the benefit of my husband's health, I have stopped doing this.

So, a sixth powerful reason to eat more slowly is because I am tired of eating alone!

re: 5 Powerful Reasons to Eat More Slowly

Longevity — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:36:53 GMT

What does one gain by not chewing food?

Dare I say "none."

re: 5 Powerful Reasons to Eat More Slowly

WellnessMom — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:58:59 GMT

Once again, fast-paced lifestyles and wolfing your food down on the go has it's consequences on your health. These are some very good ideas to slow down and enjoy a healthy meal. Let's get our Zen on! : )