2. Digestive issues
When you don’t chew your food, you end up swallowing big chunks of it instead of small, chewed up pieces. When that happens, the enzymes and bile in your stomach might not be able to deal with the incoming particles of food. And that could cause the bacteria in your stomach to ferment the undigested food, causing said bacteria to multiply. Johanna P. Salazar, MS, RDN, registered dietitian nutritionist and founder of Healing Nutrition told Real Simple: “This can cause bloating, gas, indigestion, [or] constipation.”
3. Heartburn
When you chew your food, your stomach produces hydrochloric acid. But if you only chew your food partially, your stomach won’t produce enough hydrochloric acid to break down the food you ate. And that might result in heartburn.
4. Nutrients
Chewing is really important when it comes to the nutritional value of your food. If you don’t chew your food before swallowing it (or if you don’t chew it enough) the carbs, fats and proteins in your food won’t be broken down completely and your small intestine won’t be able to absorb the nutrients in your food.
That is why Salazar recommends that you chew each bite for about twenty to thirty times. Your food should have completely turned into mush before you swallow it. When you chew your food completely and stay aware of your chewing habits, you will get the most out of the food you eat!
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Read more: Dealing with heartburn: how to prevent acid reflux
Source: Real Simple | Image: Unsplash, Ralph Katieb