Mastication or chewing is the process of breaking down food into smaller pieces, giving it more surface area to contact with the enzymes in saliva, making it easier to swallow and move on to the next stage of digestion.
When we chew food for a while, what happens is that the mechanical mechanism of chewing stimulates the salivary glands to secrete saliva. The saliva mixes with the food particles that have been brok into small pieces. This mechanism is called agglomeration, forming a bolus, which is a lump of food particles that, in the right conditions, can be swallow into the esophagus without getting stuck in the throat.
Disadvantages of not chewing food thoroughly
- Incomplete digestion: When we do not chew food finely enough, the digestive system may not be able to function properly. This may result in incomplete digestion and the nutrients may not be fully absorb, causing the body to lack nutrients necessary for growth and repair of various systems.
- Destruction of food structure: Chewing food incompletely can damage the food structure, causing loss of important parts of the food, สมัคร ufabet, such as dietary fiber. Which is beneficial to the digestive system and the intestinal system.
- Promoting poor diet. Not chewing food thoroughly can promote the consumption of foods high in sugar and fat. Which may increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
- Nutrient changes: Chewing food that is not fine can change the condition of nutrients, such as starch that may be convert to sugar faster. Which can cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate and cause hyperglycemia.
- Overeating When we eat food without chewing it thoroughly, we may overeat without realizing. How full we are, which may result in overeating and leading to excess weight gain.
Normally, chewing food to get the standard benefits should be done 25-30 times per bite. However, if you want to increase the efficiency of chewing for better health. Increase it to chewing food 40 times per bite. This will allow the food to be well digest before swallowing into the stomach. It also makes more saliva produced. The enzyme amylase in saliva will make the chewed food alkaline. The longer you chew, the sweeter the food in your mouth. Will feel because the enzyme amylase helps digest starch in food into sugar. Proteins will become amino acids. Fats will become fatty acids in smaller particles ready for the body to absorb and use.
Chewing food thoroughly is important in the digestion process and the absorption of nutrients into the body. Chewing food thoroughly helps the digestive system work well, senses the fullness of food. And allows nutrients to be use in the process of growth and repair of the body in the best way.