Drink Food Health at Every Bite

Drink Food: Health at Every Bite

I remember my grandmother giving me daily instructions to eat slowly, chew my food 32 times thoroughly, not talk while eating, sit comfortably, avoid drinking water right after or before eating, and lots of other lovely instructions that I never really paid attention to or neglected. As time went on, I had comfortable academic achievement but unfortunately neglected my health problems, which included headaches, acid reflux, indigestion, and allergies. Grow more severe every day, which has a negative influence on my productivity at work. I instantly began adhering to my grandmother’s mantra, “Drink food” (We have to chew the food properly to ensure it turns into liquid). Unexpectedly, my health problems disappeared after two months, and I was able to see how the simple practice had improved my condition. We are grateful for the invaluable knowledge that Ayurveda has provided.

Impact of modernization

Life moves quickly in this modernized world. We work long hours to advance our careers and finances, yet we rarely have time for relaxing meals. I have observed that, due to coaching culture and competition among typical parents, kids, teenagers, and adults spend at least 10 hours a day under pressure and anxiety in schools and coaching centers. They don’t have enough time to eat in comfort and with mindfulness. In addition to their several responsibilities, parents’ & children’s time is stolen by social media. Simple in appearance, it currently jeopardizes the lives of developing children, families, and the Indian cultural system. Can you imagine the future?

Based on data from reliable government websites and news articles that appeared in print and digital media, major health conditions ranging from indigestion to cancer are becoming more prevalent in adults as well as children, because of the single-family system that has replaced the grandparents’ golden mantras. When I go back now, I can see that my grandmother’s advice was sound scientifically.

All disease begins in the gut

It is true that “All disease begins in the gut” and “A healthy gut is the foundation of a healthy life” are well-known sayings that date back almost 2500 years to the Greek physician Hippocrates. It illustrates how important gut health is and how eating habits play a major role in maintaining it. According to scientific reports, the Indian Ayurvedic system’s core principle, “drink your food and chew your water,” can completely change a person’s life and prevent everything from indigestion to cancer.

Let’s concentrate on the idea of “drinking your food. Digestion begins in your mouth. Foods that are chewed more efficiently have a larger surface area and are smaller, which allows enzymes to break them down completely. Enzymes like lipase and amylase, which break down lipids and carbohydrates, respectively, are found in saliva. Furthermore, saliva “also contains mucus, helps as a binder and provides a lubrication to aid swallowing.” Saliva also causes the stomach to produce hydrochloric acid, which aids in the digestion of incoming food.

Paying for a full dinner but receiving a pickle   

Your meal gets better lubricated and your esophagus experiences less stress the longer it is in contact with your saliva. Chewing begins the process of even breaking down carbohydrates as your saliva breaks down the chemical bonds holding the simple sugars that include starch together. These enzymes are unable to properly break down starches or digest fats when you chew poorly, which results in fatigue and low energy. Poor digestion results in insufficient nutrient absorption; it’s like paying for a full dinner but receiving a pickle. The hormones that indicate fullness—cholestokinnen, ghrelin, and leptin—don’t peak until 20 to 40 minutes after food is consumed. By gobbling it down, speed eaters outwit their bodies’ signaling organs.

Appropriate chewing of your meal is necessary for good digestion. To guarantee that food is adequately chewed, meals should be consumed while seated in a comfortable setting.

Mindful eating

When eating, pay attention to the food. For best enjoyment, eat slowly and thoroughly chew each mouthful. Enjoy the aroma, texture, and flavor of every meal. Eating slowly allows food to stay in your mouth longer and releases more flavors. Additionally, the longer the food is in contact with your taste senses, the more satisfied and fuller you feel.

By practicing mindful eating, you can consume fewer portions of food at each meal. Eating in front of the TV, for instance, can divert your attention from your meal. Overeating that is “unconscious” may come from that.

Eating food or chewing it properly leads to full digestion. It is significant because, to function correctly and maintain health, your body needs nutrients from food and drink. Nutrients include water, vitamins, minerals, proteins, lipids, and carbs. Nutrients are broken down by your digestive system into tiny pieces that your body can absorb and use for growth, repair, and energy.

• Amino acids are formed from proteins.
• Glycerol and fatty acids are produced from fats.
• The breakdown of carbohydrates into simple sugars

Benefits of Food Drinking

Chewing thoroughly not only makes it easier to swallow food but also brings various benefits that promote your health, such as making food tastier and helping with digestion and absorption.

Preventing obesity

Eating mindfully and chewing food slowly reduces the risk of overeating, which maintains a healthy body weight and prevents obesity. The average time it takes for your brain to tell your stomach it is full is twenty minutes. It is therefore less probable that you will overeat if you eat more slowly.

Enjoyment of flavor

Chewing increases your sensitivity to taste by allowing you to sense the texture or shape of the food.

Jaw muscles stretching up

By exercising the muscles surrounding your mouth, you can strengthen your jaw and improve your ability to speak words and express yourself more facially.

Brain stimulation

Chewing improves blood flow to the brain and activates it, which helps adults avoid memory loss and helps youngsters become more intelligent.

Keep your mouth clean

The act of chewing encourages salivation. Saliva’s job is to clean the mouth of leftover bacteria and food particles, which helps to avoid gingivitis and cavities.

Preventing cancer

Saliva contains an enzyme called peroxidase, which inhibits carcinogens in food and so prevents cancer.

Boosts the immunological system in the mouth

According to a study conducted by groups at The University of Manchester and the National Institutes of Health in the United States, chewing can activate the Th17 cell, a particular subset of immune cells. The immune cell plays a crucial role in defending the mouth from frequent bacterial and fungal illnesses.

According to Dr. Joanne Konkel, the mouth stimulates Th17 cells differently than other barriers because mastication stimulates them rather than germs. As a result, chewing can cause our gums to mount a defense mechanism.

Nutrition

Eating food that has been broken down into smaller particles facilitates the body’s absorption of more nutrients, both essential and micronutrients.

Stimulating Polypeptide

Chewing increases saliva production, which in turn produces more epithelial growth factor (EGF), a polypeptide that promotes epithelial tissue growth and repair. EGF is produced more when food is thoroughly chewed, which benefits the gut.

Lowers the chance of an excess of bacteria

Unprocessed food particles can lead to an overpopulation of bacteria and increased fermentation in the gut, which can result in symptoms like indigestion, bloating, increased gas, and constipation.

Healthy microbiota

Digestion is aided by the bacteria in your GI tract, often known as gut flora or microbiome. Your vascular and neurological systems also play a role. Together, your digestive system’s organs, hormones, blood, bacteria, and nerves break down the food and drinks you consume every day.

Inadequate food chewing

Insufficient chewing of food confuses the rest of the digestive system. It’s possible that your body doesn’t make enough of the enzymes required to properly digest your food. Digestive issues such as gas, indigestion, bloating, diarrhoea, heartburn, acid reflux, cramps, nausea, migraines, and skin issues could result from this.

Lastly, let me say that taking one small step can change your entire life. After reading this blog, have a seat with your family, determine what health problems you have, and begin the Drink Food idea right away. You will overcome all health concerns, and I’m confident of it.

                                                                                                                             Dr Surendra G Gattani

                                                                                                                     Professor, School of Pharmacy

                                                                                                                        S.R.T.M.University, Nanded