Why Is Chewing Food Thoroughly So Important For Digestion?

Do you often feel bloated, tired after meals, or crave sweets? These discomforts might be more than just an aftereffect of what you ate-they could be signals from your body indicating that your digestion process is off track. The solution to many of these common digestive issues might be simpler than you think: chew your food more thoroughly. Many of us rush through meals, eating quickly and without paying attention to how we chew.

However, chewing food thoroughly can play a pivotal role in preventing acidity, bloating, and indigestion, and even helping with sugar cravings. Nutritionist Ritika Kukreja explained this in an Instagram post. Also Read: Chew Your Food 32 Times: Fact Or Myth? Here's What Experts Say Here's why chewing properly is so important for your digestive health: Digestion Starts in Your Mouth Contrary to what many people think, digestion doesn't just start when food reaches your stomach.

It actually begins in your mouth. The first step is chewing, a process that breaks down food into smaller pieces to make it easier for your stomach and intestines to process. When you chew, you're not just physically breaking down food; you're also preparing it chemically for digestion.

Saliva, produced when you chew, contains enzymes that begin breaking down carbohydrates in food. These enzymes, particularly amylase, start the process of converting starches into simpler sugars, giving your digestive system a head start. Without proper chewing, food is swallowed in larger pi.