We eat to live. But however important eating is, people tend to take mealtimes for granted because of their busy lifestyles. With deadlines to beat and meetings to attend, many are used to getting things done in a hurry.
However, eating is not something that should be rushed because it leads to stressful, unhealthy living.
Nutrition and fitness expert Marc David, founder and director of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating, points out that Americans tend to eat under a state of stress and anxiety. You could be eating the healthiest food available but you won’t necessarily be digesting and assimilating it properly because eating under stress puts your body in the opposite condition of where it should be in order to digest and assimilate food.
Eating under stress causes dramatic changes in your body’s metabolism, including:
- Slower nutrient absorption
- Excretion of nutrients, particularly water soluble vitamins, macrominerals and microminerals
- Spike in blood cholesterol
- Increased food sensitivity
- Decreased gut flora population
- Heartburn
- Increase in cortisol and insulin
The hormones cortisol and insulin track each other. When cortisol increases, insulin decreases. The two hormones signal your body to store fat and stop building muscle, effectively causing weight gain.
The simple act of taking time to eat a meal can have a profound effect on your health. Here are the reasons why you should start eating slower:
- Weight loss – It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to realize that your stomach is full. David explains that if you eat too fast, your brain will often interpret that missed experience of nuances and pleasure in taste and aroma as hunger, which will lead to you eating more. If you eat a big meal but don’t pay attention to it and just devour it, you’ll notice that your belly feels full but your mouth still feels hungry. Eating slowly will give you time to realize that you’re full and signal you to stop on time.
- Relaxation – Ever wonder why Europeans, who consume more wine and fat in their diet, manage to stay slimmer than Americans? That’s because they take their time while eating and treat meals as a celebration. They shut down work and take two-hour lunches. Eating with friends and family helps lower stress and allows people to relax and enjoy food as a gastronomic pleasure.
- Better digestion – Digestion starts in your mouth; the more work you do there, the less work your stomach has to put in to effectively digest your food. Eating slower means chewing your food properly, which helps you break down your food better.
- Breaking free from the fast food culture and fast-paced lifestyle – Americans are crazy about all things fast – fast cars, fast computers, fast mobile phones, and fast food, which unfortunately, is a fast route towards obesity. Break free from the on-the-go lifestyle that is dehumanizing America, making people unhealthy, stressed out and unhappy. You deserve better.
Eating is not just something to do but something to experience. The simple act of eating slower will lead to a healthier and happier you.
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