Fertilehealthy

The benefits of eating slowly

Since my Juice Feast I have been much more aware of how people eat. And frankly, it turns my stomach sometimes. They often look like slavering beasts, stuffing themselves with no apparent joy or pleasure. In my opinion we only think most of the things we consume are good, but since we hardly taste them, we have to rely on the advertising!

Eating slowly will not only make you look more sophisticated, but will change your life! Here are a few benefits:

1. First of all - It can’t hurt you!

Slow eating rate doesn’t have any negative effects on your health, but can bring you a number of benefits without extra cost.

2. Appetite reduction

Eating slowly gradually reduces the appetite from the time you begin to eat. It takes the brain about 15-20 minutes to start signaling feelings of fullness. And if you have no appetite, you end up eating less.

3. Portion control

It is the direct sequence of the point #2. Slowly eating can make it much easier to eat less without feeling deprived. It takes some time to feel the fullness, so give this time to your body. Eating fast lets you eat too much before you are fully aware of it. Slowing the rate of eating can allow the satiety signals to develop before your plate is empty.

4. Weight control

Points #2 and #3 turn into staving off extra pounds. Portion size and eating speed seem to be the part of the reason of famous “French paradox” - the relatively low incidence of heart disease and overweight in France as compared to the United States, despite the generally high intake of calorie-rich foods and saturated fat. It is well documented that the French take longer to eat than Americans despite French eat smaller portions. Recently Japanese researches found strong positive correlation between rate of eating and body mass index (BMI) and obesity.

5. Digestion

It is well known that digestion begins in the mouth, where the saliva is mixed with the food and starts to break it down into smaller chemicals that can be absorbed and nourish the body. Chewing food thoroughly promotes smooth, complete digestion. Basically the slower you eat the faster and more efficiently you metabolize the food. When food is swallowed whole it makes it more difficult for the body to absorb all the important nutrients (e.g vitamins, minerals, and amino acids).

6. Taste and enjoy your food!

When you eat slowly, you end up tasting your food more. Eating slowly lets you experience more of the flavors, textures and smells of the food you eat. Your food will become more interesting. And again, French experience. They focus more on the impression and less on the health effects of eating.

7. Quality versus Quantity

Slow eating may become a small step to a more healthy diet. If you won’t like what you eat when you eat it slowly, probably the next time you will choose something of a better quality and enjoy the pleasures of good food. Fast eaters are more prone to consume “junk” and “fast” foods.

8. Insulin resistance

Japanese researches found that eating fast is associated with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a silent condition that increases the chances of developing diabetes and heart disease. Also, fast eating seems to be a risk factor for the metabolic syndrome (combination of the symptoms such as high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance).

9. Heartburn & Gastroesophageal reflux

Rapid eating may cause acid reflux.

I think it’s worth it!  Let’s all start eating more mindfully and getting more out of our food!