Why chew food so much?

Canada
April 1, 2010 6:36am CST
What are the health benefits to counting your chews and trying to hew one mouthful of food a great number of times. I aim for about twenty or so. What about you? Is this supsoe to help the digestive terack or just keep you from eating to much?
1 person likes this
3 responses
jcburrou
@jcburrou (59)
• United States
1 Apr 10
I don't think it's necessary to count your chews; Just make sure there are no big chunks left in your mouth before you swallow. You're right, it does help with digestion. Some things you can consume that also aid digestion are grapefruit and a fermented beverage called Kefir. I don't think chewing more keeps you from eating too much, though, but it's something to look into. I think chewing too much can definitely make your jaw tired, though.
caecal07
@caecal07 (197)
• United States
1 Apr 10
The reason chewing more can keep you from eating too much is that it takes more time... It takes approximately 20 minutes for you body to realize you have started eating... think about how much food you can eat in 20 minutes... and think about how much you actually eat after your body is full.
earninhobby
@earninhobby (381)
• India
13 Apr 10
scientifically it is proved and suggested to chew foods thoroughly. This will cut down the over work of digestive system and regulate the system perfectly.so chew food and live a long disease free life.
Just an Ordinary Owl?
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
1 Apr 10
Your saliva is a digestive fluid. The more you chew, the more it helps to break down the food physically and pre-digest it, which makes the work that your stomach has to do easier. Some foods, of course, such as meat and nuts, need more chewing than others but around 20 times before swallowing is a good rule of thumb.