The Chew Factor

Here’s an unusual question to pop up during the summertime, but worth some thought: How fast do you usually eat your meals?

By chewing slowly and thoroughly, right from the start you give your body help for digesting food: in your mouth. By taking time to really chew, you break down food into smaller and smaller pieces that don’t require as much digestive energy.

Chewing slowly also helps with satiety. Take 10 people and divide them into 2 eating groups. Five folks are told to eat slowly using small spoons while the other group using large spoons are given the direction to eat quickly. In the end, the slow eaters with small utensils will feel fuller even though they may eat less. Several studies indicate such chewable benefits. 

Taking time to savor each bite instead of vacuuming up a meal contributes to the message your stomach sends that tells you you’re becoming full, well before ingesting excess calories. That’s where the chew factor for weight loss kicks in. Slowing down helps you to not overeat.

A large part of the reason why people gain unwanted pounds is simply from eating too much calorie-dense nutrition. If people chew slowly, it could actually have an impact on how much they eat and how many calories they ingest. And if they are trying to lose weight, taking their time to relish meals can actually help with weight management.

For anyone who wants to stay healthy and for those who are trying to lose weight, choosing wholesome food intake over ultra-processed foods makes a phenomenal contribution. It offers nutrient-dense not calorie-dense nutrition. Simply by eating it slowly adds a number of extra benefits, including an ingredient for healthy weight loss.

As the song goes, it’s “Summertime, and the living is easy.” Chewing is also easy, and slowing it down while enjoying a backyard barbecue or any other meal can make a healthy difference in a number of ways.