As children, many of us were probably told, "Eat your
vegetables," "Chew your food before you swallow," or "Take those
anchovies out of your peanut butter sandwich!" We may have been told what to do, but
how many of us know why these things are necessary? We know that food is important to
live, but does everyone really pay attention to what and how they eat? We hope this
article provides you with some insight.
Everyone knows how to eat. It's simple. We just put the
food in our mouth, chew a little, swallow, and it goes to our stomach. Many people may not
know, or take the time to understand, that how we eat is just as important as what we eat.
At least 35% of carbohydrate digestion takes place in the
mouth. Therefore, it is important to chew food thoroughly before swallowing. This will
give your digestive tract a better chance to fully break down the food and utilize its
nutrients. Swallowing food in large chunks makes the body work harder, which can cause
some food to not fully digest. Many people drink liquids with their meals, probably to
help get all those chunks of food down their throat. However, liquids dilute digestive
enzymes, which can slow the breakdown and absorption of food. Fluids are better taken
between meals, and pure water is the best choice.
In addition to chewing thoroughly, digestion is improved
when you are relaxed and not rushed. How many times have you seen a person snarf down a
big cheeseburger in about five bites? Eating on-the-go can rob the body of a better chance
to properly digest the food. When stressed, the body shuts down non-vital areas in order
to make the body ready for the "fight or flight" response. One area is the
digestive system. Without proper digestion, nutrients cannot be adequately absorbed, which
can result in nutritional deficiencies.
You can strengthen your digestion, in part, by improving
your diet. Salads can help a lot, because raw vegetables contain enzymes, which the body
uses to produce its own digestive enzymes. Raw vegetables also serve as roughage for the
body, pushing other stuff out through the intestinal tract.
Whole grain food is also good for the body. The outer hull
of grains contain most of the nutrients. Refined grain has been stripped of its outer
hull, leaving only the less-nutritious inner part, becoming, for example, white flour or
white rice. Most food manufacturers use refined ingredients because they are easier to
cook. White flour, for example, rises quicker during baking, compared to whole grain
flour. However, when white flour products are made, manufacturers normally
"enrich" the flour, which means adding back some of the many nutrients lost by
refining. The list of ingredients on the package will usually say "enriched wheat
flour", but whole grain, or "whole wheat flour," is far more nutritious.
The body has trouble handling refined flour because it
becomes gooey and sticky inside the body, like the paste used with paper-mâché. It is
hard to assimilate and, without bulk to push it through, it starts sticking to things
inside the body, possibly causing other food and waste to get stuck in the small
intestines or colon.
Proper eating is essential to good health. Pay attention to
what, and how, you eat, as well as how you feel as you eat. It can make a big difference
in your body's overall performance.
