Does chewing make you younger? The importance of chewing. ~Nutritionist's Column Vol.91
The nutrients we get from food are very important to our bodies.
No matter how much you care about the ingredients you eat, depending on how you eat it, you may not be absorbing all the nutrients.
In order for food to enter the body, it must be digested and absorbed by the digestive system.
First, you chew food in your mouth.
Chewing is the act of chewing food in the mouth, using the muscles of the mouth and jaw to chew and crush food while eating.
Breaking it into small pieces not only makes it easier to digest, but also helps it mix with saliva.
This time, I would like to talk about the importance of chewing, something we all take for granted.
From chewing to absorption of nutrients into the body
Saliva contains a digestive enzyme called amylase that helps digest carbohydrates.
When food mixed with saliva reaches the stomach, it is broken down by digestive juices containing digestive enzymes, making the nutrients easier to absorb.
Next, in the duodenum, carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids are broken down by pancreatic juice and bile, and in the small intestine, most of the nutrients are absorbed by the villi on the inner wall. After that, the nutrients are transported throughout the body via the intestinal capillaries and lymphatic vessels.
Nutrients absorbed in the small intestine are absorbed into the bloodstream and transported throughout the body, where they are used for energy and life support.
Chew about 20 to 30 times
If you do not chew the food properly when it first enters your mouth, it may not be broken down into small enough pieces, which can put more strain on your digestive system.
This can lead to indigestion, gastrointestinal discomfort, abdominal bloating, and reduced absorption of nutrients.
In order to efficiently absorb the nutrients in food, it is important to chew thoroughly. It is generally recommended to chew food 20 to 30 times and then swallow it after breaking it into small pieces.
As mentioned above, when food is broken down into small pieces, the secretion of saliva containing digestive enzymes is promoted, and the action of the digestive enzymes promotes the digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Saliva also keeps the mouth clean, making food lubricated and easier to swallow.
The benefits of chewing
Chewing not only aids in digestion and nutrient absorption, it also has many other benefits, including:
*Easy to stomach and intestines
It increases the secretion of digestive enzymes in saliva, and by chewing the food finely, it reduces the burden on the stomach and intestines.
*Prevent overeating <br data-mce-fragment="1">Chewing slowly allows you to properly regulate the speed at which you eat, making you feel full and preventing overeating.
*Prevents tooth decay, periodontal disease, and bad breath <br data-mce-fragment="1">Chewing increases saliva secretion, and the antibacterial properties of saliva enhance the cleaning effect of washing away bacteria and food debris in the mouth.
*Develops sense of taste <br data-mce-fragment="1">Chewing thoroughly stimulates the production of more saliva, which helps transmit taste information.
* Activates brain function <br data-mce-fragment="1">In recent years, various studies have shown that chewing activates the brain.
It increases blood flow to the brain, stimulating brain activity and improving memory and concentration.
Can chewing make you younger?
Recently, there has been a lot of research into "myokines," also known as "rejuvenating hormones," which are produced by chewing food thoroughly.
Myokines are hormones that have recently gained attention, especially in the field of exercise physiology.
A general term for physiologically active substances secreted from skeletal muscles that are stimulated by exercise or muscle contraction and released from the muscles into the bloodstream.
There are several types, some of which are secreted from skeletal muscles during exercise and some of which are secreted from organs other than skeletal muscles.
These are known to affect other tissues and organs, and are expected to have anti-aging, metabolic activation, cognitive improvement, disease prevention, regulation of metabolism and secretions in the body, blood sugar regulation, lipid reduction, and fat breakdown.
It is believed that the secretion of myokines is also promoted by chewing movements.
Thus, chewing is an important part of eating and a crucial process that influences digestion and nutrient absorption.
When you eat, why not try to get into the habit of chewing your food slowly?
GRØN products can also be used in sweets and cooking.
Click here for a list of recipes ->
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Nutritionist, Food Education Instructor, Food 6th Industrialization Producer Level 4
Ayako Ishihara
A nutritional advisor in the healthcare field and an agribusiness professional.
She is involved in a variety of activities specializing in the fields of beauty and health, including giving lectures to Miss World Japan candidates.
With the philosophy of "enriching the mind and body through food and realizing a vibrant society where people and communities are connected," he founded i-Field Co., Ltd. in 2013 and serves as its representative.
He is a core member of the food team for "DINING OUT," which opens outdoor restaurants in various regions, and also participates in fashion brand projects.
She is also involved in the promotion of local ingredients, product development and production specializing in "health" and "beauty," branding, concept design, food hygiene, sales promotion, training planning and management, etc. She is in charge of nutritional supervision for GRØN's product development, proposing ways to incorporate them more effectively into consumer health.
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