Are You Eating Mindfully? Expert Advice How Slow Eating Can Benefit Your Gut Health – News18
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Slower, smaller meals may prevent stomach discomfort by controlling the gastrocolic response.
Eating too quickly can make it harder to enjoy your food. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Eating frequently becomes a hurried action that turns into a hectic schedule in our fast-paced society. Many of us eat rapidly, paying little attention to the actual process because we are preoccupied with multitasking. But did you know that how quickly you eat can have a big impact on how well your gut works and how well you digest food?.
Eating slowly has many advantages for your digestive system and general health, according to nutritionists and health experts.
What Is Gut Health?
The stomach, intestines, and colon make up your gut, which is your gastrointestinal system. It eliminates trash and breaks down and absorbs nutrients from food. Foods are broken down and substances that support bodily processes are absorbed in the gut. Your physical and emotional well-being might be affected by the condition of your digestive system. The kind of bacteria in your digestive tract can be influenced by a variety of circumstances, including the foods you eat and the way you consume. Our gut microbiota habitat can be impacted by our diet in both short-term and long-term ways.
Dr. Karan Rajan, an NHS surgeon and health content creator, discussed the significance of eating slowly and how it affects our gut health in a recent Instagram video. In the video, a woman was seen explaining how our stomachs react “when you eat nice and slowly” and “when you eat too quickly.”
Check the post here.
Eating Speed Can Impact Your Gut Health
Your entire gut health is greatly impacted by how quickly you eat, according to Dr. Rajan. He said that you can override multiple physiological mechanisms designed to optimise digestion when you eat too quickly. Additionally, the enzyme amylase breaks down carbs in the mouth to start digestion.
Therefore, food may enter your intestines in larger chunks if you’re rushing through it and don’t chew it well. He mentioned that your gut bacteria may produce more undigested carbohydrates as a result, which could result in an overabundance of gas. More chewing enhances nutrient absorption and enzymatic activity.
What Happens If You Eat Too Fast?
According to Dr Ranjan, the lower oesophageal sphincter may become overloaded when you eat quickly. He added that the valve that stops stomach acid from returning to the oesophagus is called the oesophageal sphincter. This indicates that eating quickly increases the risk of heartburn and acid reflux. Additionally, eating too quickly can cause an increased gastrocolic reflex. Dr. Rajan said that this can cause diarrhoea or a greater urgency to release the chocolate Kraken, particularly if you have IBS.
What to Do?
Slower, smaller meals may prevent stomach discomfort by controlling the gastrocolic response. Dr Ranjan stated that one must recognise that digestion is not instantaneous. The body secretes vital digesting fluids like bile and enzymes gradually. Consuming meals too soon prevents the body from releasing them, which results in inadequate nutritional absorption and inefficient digestion. Last but not least, eating too quickly deprives your hormones including cholecystokinin, GIP, and GLP-1 of sufficient time to alert your brain to fullness. According to the doctor, it could lead to difficulties identifying fullness, which could lead to overeating.
Eating mindfully and slowly can greatly enhance digestion and gut health. You may improve nutrient absorption, avoid digestive discomfort, and develop a positive relationship with food by allowing your body the time it needs to properly break down food. Thus, the next time you eat, pause to slow down, appreciate, and relish the moment.
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