Good Things About Chewing Well

Activates digestive boosting parasympathetic response

Boosts cognitive function

Boosts hunger hormones that tell the body to stop eating

Breaks food down to bolus

Can help us have more gratitude for where our meal has come from and how it got to our plate

Can increase energy

Can make us more aware of what we’re eating

Decreases cravings

Gives us time to appreciate the taste and nuances of food

Gives our bodies a chance to process the fact that we are eating and consuming food

Helps break down fats

Helps control weight gain

Helps reduce stress on the oesophagus

Helps regulate hunger and satiety hormones

Helps relax the stomach by releasing saliva and allows food to be passed more easily into the intestines

Helps us absorb more nutrients and energy from food

Helps us appreciate our food - the look, smell, feel and taste of it

Helps us eat less

Helps us enjoy our food

Helps us feel fuller for longer

Helps us feel we have more control over our eating

Helps us lose body fat

Helps us lose weight

Helps us maintain a healthy weight

Helps us take smaller and more manageable bites

Helps our bodies burn more calories

Helps our nerves

Helps our stomach metabolize and break down food

Improves brain-gut connection

Increases calmness

Increases satisfaction and satiety

Is good for teeth

Leads to better attention and focus

Less abdominal pain

Less acid reflux

Less bloating

Less chronic digestive complaints

Less constipation

Less diarrhoea

Less excess bacteria lingering in intestines

Less flatulence

Less indigestion

Less post-meal food coma

Lessens amount of food eaten before satiety

Lessens compulsive overeating

Lessens emotional eating

Makes digestion easier

Mixes more saliva with food

Reduces hunger levels

Reduces risk of bacterial overgrowth in colon

Sends messages to the gastrointestinal system that food is on its way

Smaller particles are better and more quickly absorbed by the body

Triggers hydrochloric acid production which helps food move through the digestive tract

Not So Good Things

Takes ages to be ready to talk to someone after taking a bite