How fast do you eat your food? My guess is a lot faster than 10 years ago.
Why is that? And are there benefits to slowing down?
Well yes there are. Eating fast, like eating fast food all the time, contributes to stress, weight gain and an unhealthy lifestyle. Eating slowly has the reverse effect.
Let’s see if I can find 10 reasons to slow down.
- Eating slowly prevents you from over-eating (or at least over-eating by as much). It takes the brain 15 or 20 minutes to recognize that the stomach is full. If you’re in a fast food restaurant, and the burger slips down your throat rather too easily, then your brain will kick in too late.
- Numerous studies have found that people who eat fast are three times more likely to be obese than people who eat slowly.
- The more you eat, the less flavor you enjoy. Taking your time to taste food on the way down makes sense, if you prefer the experience over the task.
- Eating slowly is good for digestion. This starts with chewing food more. Enzymes in saliva help break down the food, so it gets digested more easily and fully. The more chewing work you do, the less strain on your gut.
- Take a stand against the fast pace of life. We already rush from one task to the next – I have no idea how I’ll get through my to-do list today – and eating slowly is high on the casualty list. Let your eating habits reflect the newfound control you have over your life.
- It’s a way to reduce the stress in your life. Use your meal time to exercise mindfulness. Meditate on your food.
- Sharing a meal is a great way to socialise. In fact it can be a defining part of our lifestyles. Eat too fast and it’s gone.
- You save money on your food bill. You can spend it on something that lasts longer.
- If you enjoy your meal more, the person who prepared it will feel better about having to prepare it for you. It’s a stretch, I know.
- I’ve forgotten what number 10 is. Can someone please add it in the comments?
I found this dog bowl. My labradors are very fast eaters. Is this a good solution?
Henry 14 Feb 2011 @ 8:43 am
drink more water it flushes calories…
great post it will help who those who
wants to stay fit. :)
Lauren @ MRS 8 Mar 2011 @ 1:14 pm
I used to be a slow eater, but lately I feel like I’m eating way too fast and it’s something that I’m trying to pace back slowly. My experience with a dislodged mushroom in my chest.lols, definitely made me want to eat a lot slower.
Texas Assisted Living 9 Mar 2011 @ 6:56 am
@Henry You should not drink water just after eating. You should have water after 30 minutes after eating.
Slow eating = Good for anxiety + digestion
Thanks for posting such a useful post. I need to bookmark this.
@All please tweet this and spread the word.
Seminole CEU 12 Mar 2011 @ 4:07 am
Take a stand against the fast pace of life. We already rush from one task to the next – I have no idea how I’ll get through my to-do list today – and eating slowly is high on the casualty list. Let your eating habits reflect the newfound control you have over your life.
Very good point! Take it easy during your meals. It’s definitely a good idea to set aside time to eat your meal at a relaxing pace. There’s no need to scarf it down. Meals are a great time to reduce stress and just take it easy for a little while. Thanks for the tips!
epilator reviews 24 Mar 2011 @ 8:34 am
Hi there, like the comment about the to do list, mine just gets longer each done and I am knocking things off every day! Don’t know how eating less or slower is going to help me achieve my goals but at least I’ll stay thin.
Dr. D. 25 Mar 2011 @ 9:23 am
Great post.I agree that drinking water with a meal is ill advised as it may dilute digestive acids. I had a good friend who addressed this problem by chewing each bite fifty times.
Best Epilator 12 Aug 2011 @ 8:15 pm
as it takes your stomach and brain about 10 minutes to know that you have eaten enough, you can portion your plate better. Then, if you have leftovers, you can save them up and have an easy snack, lunch, or even a tapas kind of dinner with all left overs of the week. You can discover some new combinations of food like that!
wooden playhouse 8 Sep 2011 @ 10:12 pm
I was always told to chew my food at least 20-30 times before swallowing and place my knife and fork down while chewing. I often notice I am the last to finish my food and I feel full and satisfied after every meal. Ii think because of this i very rarely eat between meals.
Mihael 6 Jul 2012 @ 12:18 am
tracking the food one eats is essential for self healing. that is why ii developed the FOOD & MOOD app, it helps me recognize the right food for the desired mood, it shows me what ii eat most and it even computes the average moods after each ingredient eaten. ii made it to heal my self and it works for me. thanks for the article and enjoy!