“A well-chewed burger is better to your waistline than a badly chewed salad”

You might already aware of gas inducing foods like whole grains, beans, dairy products, and too much sugar. But, eating fast and not chewing food properly also causes gas, and it’s such an easy habit to fall into that you might not realize you are doing it. Wondering why you are feeling bloated even after a meal of anti-bloating foods? This might be the reason.

Chewing is the most important aspect of digestion, yet many of us eat quickly, hurrying through meals because of hectic schedules. However, eating too quickly increases the amount of air you swallow, which can lead to gas building up in the gastrointestinal tract. Also, if you don’t chew food properly, your digestive system won’t be able to break it down. This may cause bloating that slows down the entire digestive process and results in digestive problems.

Apart from avoiding gas-causing foods, the quickest way for a flattened stomach is to pay attention to the food that’s in your mouth – says Dr.Prasad, the best gastroenterologist at SMILES Bangalore.

Chewing food properly helps you feel full faster which allows you to stop eating instead of rushing through a large meal that could lead to digestive problems. The benefits of eating slowly also include better digestion, better hydration, and easier weight loss. Not only this, eating slowly has a host of benefits.

Dr. Prasad, one of the best gastroenterology doctors gives you 9 reasons why it is important to eat slowly and chew the food properly.

1. If you eat slower, you will chew the food better, which leads to better digestion, This can help lead to fewer digestive issues.
2. Undigested food takes more space in the stomach than digested food and creates gas and bloating.
3. Eating slowly and chewing well not only breaks down your food, but it is also the beginning of the digestion process. Enzymes are released when you chew the food thoroughly that actually begin to prepare the food to digest.
4. Chewing the food properly also helps to increase the alkalinity of the food, which is extremely important. Many people suffer from heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion and while some foods even if chewed wel cause these problems. So Dr. Prasad suggests that it is important o note that the longer you chew the food, the less acid is formed.
5. When you eat your body feels more relaxed, which is essential for digestion and the feeling of lightness in your stomach.
6. Eating your food too quickly under stressful circumstances (such as eating on the run between appointments) may cause you digestive disorders including gas and bloating.
7. If you do not chew properly and digestion is slow, it could cause gas to fill your stomach which makes you feel uncomfortable.
8. When eating quickly and the food is not chewed properly, it could lead to poor absorption of vitamins and minerals in food that cause digestive problems.
9. Research suggests that the longer you take to chew, the less you tend to eat. This is beneficial especially if you are trying to lose or maintain a healthy weight.

Eating quickly may end up eating more than we need, which leads to gas and bloating. Eating slowly, in contrast, improves digestion that leads to fewer digestive problems.

Need more tips on bloating relief? Consult the top gastroenterologist in Bangalore at SMILES for better advice of your bloated tummy.