By Melanie Stewart

Ghandi gave some really good advice when he suggested that we drink our food and chew our drink.  As we continue our digestive journey, we arrive at our favorite organ of digestion, the mouth – where we get to taste all of our delicious foods! Mother Nature is certainly generous in providing us with an amazing variety of whole natural foods, each with a unique set of healing assets, vital nutrients and fiber, all of which contribute to positive health.

Beyond deliciousness, though, quality foods are needed to provide the raw materials to build and run our system. These include the elements needed to make units for energy production, the raw materials (amino acids, fatty acids, glucose) to build structures like enzymes or cell membranes, the chemical components (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants etc.) necessary for good heath, and the fuel for the bacteria in our microbiome which provides assistance in nutrient absorption.

Your goal should be to consume a minimum of 50% LIVE foods daily, working your way up to 75%.

DEAD foods, on the other hand, are devoid of enzymes and thus rely on our bodies to provide the enzymes necessary for their break-down.  With the exception of cooked proteins, which provide amino acids, they are typically devoid of nutrients, harder to digest and are acidifying.  As a result, they can drive disease, destroy our system and can even lead to cell mutation and death. Many processed and packaged foods fall into this category as well as all high sugar or refined foods, junk foods and most fast foods.

However, no matter what you are choosing to eat, the primary purpose of your mouth is not just to taste but to chew your food. Chewing well does major things for us that you might not have considered including:

1 –  Enhancing digestion and nutrient absorption. The more we chew the more surface area we expose on our food. The more surface area we expose, the easier it is for the small intestine to access those vital nutrients.

2 – Chewing well slows us down, allowing us to enjoy our meal.

3 – It helps prevent over-eating. When we eat slowly we give our brain the opportunity to notice when we are satisfied.

4 – It even makes us more attractive because, well, stuffing our face and gulping down huge bites of food is generally not very attractive! But also, when we give our stomach a more liquefied food, rather than large chunks, we reduce the risk of suffering symptoms of digestive distress including indigestion, cramping, bloating, belching, and gas, NONE of which are attractive!

5 – Best of all, chewing well can potentially save your life! Not just by reducing the risk of choking, but by stimulating the parotid glands which signal the immune tissue in your gut to turn on. Why? Because food can kill you! Not just the garbage foods that are DEAD and are killing us too, any food can harbor bacteria or other foreign matter that can hurt us. Remember, food is a major invader of the body. As a result, the gastrointestinal tract has more immune cells and activity than anywhere else; A Deliberately Designed and Engineered Miracle!

So, while it is of the utmost importance that we choose healthy foods, it is equally important that we “chews” it well too!

Melanie Stewart provides personal coaching and corporate seminars and workshops that are relevant and empowering and will leave you with a unique blend of meaningful education and practical tools, tips and techniques. For more information, you can fill out the contact form at: https://www.yumtumnutrition.com/ or email:  melanie@yumtumnutrition.com

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