Digestion Begins in the Mouth

Do you ever find yourself eating lunch on the run? Do you get a heaviness in your stomach like you have rocks in there?

Believe me, I’ve been there too.

What we just did is skip the digestion that happens while we’re chewing. It’s so easy to get caught up in everyday issues and not think consciously about the food while we are eating.

So chew on this: slow down during your meals and try to get the food in your mouth as close to a paste as possible before swallowing. Does it mean chewing 20 or 30 or 50 times? Yes! As long as it takes, because our saliva will start the action of digesting. It contains an enzyme called amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates and protease and lipase for the digestion of proteins and fats, respectively. What carbohydrates are digested in the mouth, you may ask? Beans, grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, sugars. If we don’t chew the food properly, the rest of the digestive tract is overwhelmed and we get bloated.

Also, chewing exposes more of the food particles and nutrients from the food can be more easily absorbed once the food reaches the intestinal tract. This is where a good set of teeth or dental implants comes in handy. Make sure you take care of any dental pain that may keep you from chewing your food properly because your health may suffer due to not getting enough nutrients.

So eat consciously, chew the food into a paste and taste every bite of goodness. It turns out, we also eat less that way.

For more simple ways to improve your nutritional and oral health contact Dr. Sanda Moldovan to schedule a consultation.