Does Eating Slow Help You Lose Weight?

It is common knowledge that you can lose weight by reducing the number of calories in your diet. But not everyone realizes that how you eat is just as important as what you eat when trying to shed pounds or halt weight gain. And the research in favor of this position is continuing to pile up.

The Basic Biology of Digestion and Your Brain

We all eat until we feel full, then we put down the fork. But, there is much more going on physiologically. We should understand a few fundamentals about our bodies to grasp the implications of the research that follows. Related read: Lose weight with Nutrisystem frozen foods

At some point during your meal, your stomach will send a signal to your brain indicating that you are full. What most people do not realize is that it takes twenty minutes, on average, for that signal to reach your brain. If you continue gorging yourself while that signal is traveling, you will have completely overshot your limit by the time you realize your body is already satisfied.

Eating slowly means you will consume less, and we all know that taking in fewer calories is a surefire way to lose weight. Related read: Lose weight effectively, says diet reviews

What the Experts Say

In January of this year, The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics published a study by Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. Researchers there found that slower eating lead to an eight to ten percent decreased caloric intake.

Participants also experienced less dehydration because they drank more water, and this increased their feeling of satiation after meals. The evidence proves that it is not so much about what you eat, as it is how you eat that determines if you are able to successfully lose weight.

The evidence proves that it is not so much about what you eat, as it is how you eat that determines if you are able to successfully lose weight.

Even the largest nutrition websites and dieticians agree. When you eat slowly, you allow your digestive system the chance to function optimally. Instead of overwhelming it with too much food and causing it to have to work harder, you are letting it perform perfectly and extract the most nutrients for your body. This simple act reduces incidents of acid reflux, indigestion, and intestinal problems.

Taking the time to experience the tastes and textures of your foods in smaller bites, as well as chewing them well, helps break down these things into a state that your body can use to its maximum advantage. When you eat quickly, you tend to shovel food you’re your mouth and end up eating as much as fifty percent more than your slow eating counterparts (according to research done by the University of Rhode Island).

Fast eating also forces large quantities of partially processed food into your stomach and intestines, essentially putting a strain on your digestive system. Related read: Coupon offers makes this diet affordable

When you eat quickly, you tend to shovel food you’re your mouth and end up eating as much as fifty percent more than your slow eating counterparts …

We are all in a rush these days. Feeding ourselves is just another task that we try to get over quickly. We now know that stopping to enjoy a leisurely meal with your family and friends is one of the best things you can do when you are dieting.

When you chew slowly and savor your food, not only will eating become a truly pleasurable experience, you are certain to lose weight in the long run.

Do you think slow eating really does help in losing weight? Is this something you have done successfully?

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