Is a Lack of Chewing Causing You to Gain Weight?
Food digestion begins in the mouth, which is why how you chew your food can have an impact on not only digestion, but weight as well.
Chewing causes the mechanical breakdown of large food molecules into smaller particles. This increases the surface area of food exposed to digestive enzymes, such as salivary amylase that begins the digestion of carbohydrates in the mouth. A lingual lipase is also released in the mouth to begin the breakdown of fat.
How long do you chew your food?
Now, think about how long a bit of food stays in your mouth. Is it basically one or two bites and you’re swallowing? If so, does that give the digestive enzymes salivary amylase and lingual lipase very much time to do their job? Does that give you adequate time to break your food down into small particulars for increased surface area exposure? If you are like most people, probably not.
How does chewing impact your weight?
Slow Down and Taste Your Food
In a previous post – Lose Weight By Slowing Down – we discussed how taking at least 20 minutes to eat your meals will increase your satiety (fullness) and prevent you from overeating. By slowing down you can promote weight loss. I wanted to share a little more information on this subject:
Greek researchers recently studies hormone levels in 17 healthy men. They had the men eat a bowl of ice cream (675 calories) in 5 minutes and then eat a bowl of ice cream in 30 minutes. When participants took 30 minutes to eat the ice cream they had higher levels of two peptides that signal satiety (fullness) even though the hunger hormone (ghrelin) was not reduced.
How quickly do you eat your meals? Do you have any good tips to share with others on how they can slow down?
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
1-A-Week Weight Loss Tips
http://www.weightlosswithlisa.com
Lose Weight – Shut off the tv!
You’re probably aware that watching too much tv is linked to weight gain. The weight gain is usually due to mindless snacking while watching tv. Well, scientists from the University of Birmingham in the UK found that those who eat while watching tv have increased food intake even after the tv is shut off!
The study followed 16 undergraduates who ate a 400 calorie lunch with either the tv on or off. Those who ate lunch while watching tv snacked on substantially more cookies throughout the day and had vague memories of meal time.
A small study, but gives you something to think about. According to this study if you remember the tv program you watched more than what you put in your mouth, you’re more likely to snack throughout the day. Is it time for you to shut off the tv?
All the best on your heart health and weight loss journey!
Lisa Nelson, RD
eNutritionServices
Lose Weight by Slowing Down
Eating slowly will help you feel fuller and decrease the calories you eat each meal, all of which leads to shedding the unwanted pounds! It takes ~20 minutes for your head to tell your stomach it’s full, so aim for at least 20 minutes to eat each meal.
Those who eat quickly until they are full are three times more likely to be overweight (research published in the British Medical Journal).
If you’re use to eating at a frenzied pace, slowing down won’t feel natural. Small steps, such as setting down your utensil between bites, will help you slow down. You may find you now have a chance to actually taste and enjoy your meals!
All the best,
Lisa Nelson, RD, LN
Lose Weight the Healthy Way
