Is eating fast really bad?
By touchnshine
@touchnshine (2821)
India
July 20, 2007 6:47am CST
Ok I'm not much of a nutritionist or a vegetarian (which I'll never be anyways). Anyways I could literary finished 3 plates in 30 minutes or less (18 mins) and well I beat everyone in it when it comes to food.
But see the reason I'm asking is because when I went once to this chinese buffet (with my friend, her guy friend, and my date who's now my b/f). I noticed when I was already on my 3rd plate (lol, one time I ate 4 plates plus 2 soup plates, total of 6 plates, oh and the desserts also), they were all still finishing the 1st plate.
Then this other occassion was last week when I was with my b/f. I had finished my plate in like 10 mins or so and he was still not even half-way done. I also noticed the other people sitting there are still on their plate while I'm done already.
I have already been told by my friend and my b/f that I eat fast and don't really chew, instead swallow more and that it's bad. So far, I have no cholesterol and complications with my heart nor breathing, nothing.
2 people like this
21 responses
@stmartin (157)
• Macedonia
20 Jul 07
It is not good because of the stomach digestion. You "force" the stomach to digest bigger parts of food, which is not good at all for the stomach. You may feel consequences when you'll get older. Just stop doing that and everything will be good.
1 person likes this
@touchnshine (2821)
• India
20 Jul 07
Ok.. I will try but the thing is it's not that easy to stop eating fast.
@mdvarghese (1789)
• Bangalore, India
20 Jul 07
Dear touchnshine.....I noticed some people are faster in eating than others. But I never came through such a situation that in a table one person completed three plates and others are completed only 50% of their first plates.You try to chew as much as possible while eating, It will be good.
Even I am faster in my eating, but my intake will be limited.After completing a plate I will not go for a second plate. So you should control the food. The symptoms of Cholestrol and other complications will start after a certain age only. So take care
@wooitsmolly (3613)
• United States
20 Jul 07
It is good to slow down your eating because that way your body will let you know when you are full. It takes about 20 minutes for your body to recognize that you have eaten. That is why it's recommended to wait 15-20 minutes before starting on seconds. There is a good chance you won't even want to eat anymore. This prevents over eating, which can make you feel sick or bloated, not to mention gain weight.
@saivenkaat802003 (4823)
• India
20 Jul 07
Just like u, is my eating habit,you cant call me as a fast eater, but i eat, very rapid.. that too when i have my morning breakfast.. I come to my dinning table by about 5 minutes before 10... yea at 9.55 am, watch how the stock market opens swallowing three dosas or idlies within 2 to 3 minutes and will kick my bike start and flee of to my office starting at 10.AM, ofcourse it is just a Kilometre away. by 10.02 or 10.03 i will be in my seat attending the office routines.. Are u this much faster.. Heehehe....
1 person likes this
@touchnshine (2821)
• India
20 Jul 07
Well yes I will say that you are not only a fast eater but also a fast worker .. reaching office so soon ... that's great. Are you staying in south India ?? In which part ?? You are having morning breakfast as dosas or idlies .. wow .. that's so cool.. I love south Indian food :)
@paradise12 (938)
• India
20 Jul 07
I cant imagine you eating three plates in 30 minutes...I can only complete one plate in 30 minutes and that i extend it for five minutes...I am ver slow..
Actually fast is not a good habit as it affects digestion and people advice to eat slow as there will proper digestin and can enjoy the taste of food...Even my brother dont chew the food and this habit is from childhood..
1 person likes this
@HereLiesSlobe (71)
• Canada
20 Jul 07
I've heard that its unhealthy because you end up eating too much. Your stomach doesn't have time to tell your brain that its full because you eat too much in too short of a time. I'm not sure if it has any bad long-term effects, but it will give you a stomach ache.
Once, when I ate too fast, I actually ended up puking because my stomach couldn't handle so much food.
Either way, I think its better to take time enjoying the food that you're eating. If you're able to do that while still eating fast, then by all means do so. I don't think its THAT bad for you, but it can cause some discomfort.
1 person likes this
@meghanus007 (622)
• India
21 Jul 07
I dont think that it is good.. because it affects our stomach....u wont feel the problem now.... but later u ll find it difficult
@smints8985 (1594)
• United States
21 Jul 07
Well worst to be with someone who takes an hour to finish up a plate. Ahaha!
But of course I would advice you to eat a little slower, the fact that you yourself see that you are eating way way faster than everybody else proves that you indeed eat really fast. So try to slow down a little. Chew properly.
I once read in an article that we should try this sometime: See if you can manage scooping another spoon just by the time when your mouth is completely empty.
@sukumar794 (5040)
• Thiruvananthapuram, India
21 Jul 07
I have heard that slow eaters are generally much patient and achieve greatness . i cannot vouchsafe for this contention in anyway .
@rb200406 (1824)
• India
20 Jul 07
I am just the opposite of you in terms of your eating habit.I am a very slow eater & my husband is a fast one.He also has been told by many that he should not eat too fast.Actually it is more to do with the chewing & swallow.If you are able to chew well the food & swallow it then good.I have problem in swallowing too much food & thats why most of the slow eaters eat slow.I don't think there can be any serious problem.My father is a fast eater.In 2 minutes he completes his lunch or dinner atill at this age.He is fastest i have ever seen anyone eating.He too does not have major health problems.Touch wood.
1 person likes this
@lovelydame3000 (1577)
• India
2 Aug 07
Hi touchnshine! I am a very slow eater. I like to enjoy the taste of food while eating and do not like to gulp. I am also very fussy about food and do not eat junk ,oily or spicy food.
@dbhattji (2506)
• India
31 Jul 07
yes, eating fast means your digestive system has to work more, if chew well then then it is easier to digest food. but if your metabolism is used to eating fast and you have no problem digesting then go ahead and eat fast but I pity the people who share food with you - they would be left out.
@wackeytiger (424)
• United States
22 Jul 07
I'm just like you. I eat so much quicker than everyone else and I'm the type of person that likes to eat and leave when everyone else I'm with wants to stay and take their time. Eating that fast can be very bad for you. Just try to chew better because if not, you can get blockage in your intestines and your stomach has a harder time digesting it, causing stomach pains. But, if you never have pains in your lower stomach after eating so quickly then I wouldn't worry about it. Your body may be able to handle it effectively.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
20 Jul 07
i'm not a doctor myself... but i heard before that it is not good because of the digestion... your intestine will be damaged if you keep on doing it for a long time as you force your intestine to digest bigger chunks of food and therefore they have to work harder...
@CoffeeAnyone (3210)
• Canada
21 Jul 07
I heard that you also need the saliva in your mouth to mix with your food for proper digestion. If you are barely chewing then your food can not digest properly and therefore not get the full nutrient value out of it. I don't know this to be a fact I just heard it. Have you heard or do you no anything about it?
@senthil2k (1500)
• India
20 Jul 07
My mother always advises me to each slow, but completely whenever I eat my food. She says, you should take some food, munch it completely and swallow it then.
Even I have read in a article chew the food properly before you swallow. This will help in absorbing the nutrients properly in the stomach.
@mrrtomatoe (800)
• Canada
21 Jul 07
Eating quickly will not affect your heart or cholerserol levels. It affects your digestive system. Not chewing your food properly can give you a stomach ache and will make your stomach less effective at digesting food because it has to work harder to break it down. Remember digestion starts in your mouth where simple sugars are starting to be broken down. Eating quickly can also make you more likely to choke while your eating. Not to mention it is somewhat rude to eat too quickly with others. Pace yourself and enjoy what your eating...
@annabanana85 (194)
• Singapore
20 Jul 07
I seriously feel that you have to control the speed of eating. you might suffer from an indigestion and by eating fast, i think you'll tend to eat more (due to the speed of the food from the mouth to the stomach). Eating fast without chewing / swallowing can lead to choke on the big/bigger chunks. I was a "fast eater" in Primary school. As i grow older, i became more lady-like and tend to be cautious on my appearance/etiquette. hence, dining in public or even with dates are the best ways to train yourself.
