How to Chew Your Food

Though one would think that chewing your food needs no explanation, a shocking number of people do not adequately chew the foods that they eat. Improperly chewed food can lead to a number of digestive problems as well as gas, heartburn and indigestion. As chewing actually begins the digestion process by preparing food to be broken down in the stomach, it's important to your gastric health that you take your time and chew properly. Here are some suggestions of how you can improve your chewing to make digestion easier for your stomach and the rest of your digestive tract.

Instructions

• 1

  Take small bites. This will help to make sure that you don't have too much food in your mouth to chew properly, and will also greatly decrease your chances of choking on your food as you begin to swallow it. Please note that this doesn't mean that you have to nibble or take very small bites, but make sure that you aren't taking overly large bites either. You should make your bites with your front teeth, since they are designed to cut through foods more easily than side teeth.

• 2

  Chew several times with your front teeth, breaking the bite that you have taken into smaller portions that will be easier to swallow. Don't rush yourself; chewing slowly allows more saliva to be produced, which will both lubricate the food for swallowing and mix with the chewed food to begin the digestion process.

• 3

  Begin chewing your food with your side and back teeth once your front teeth have chopped it into significantly smaller pieces. Your side teeth will crush and pulverize the food, and you should continue chewing with them until the food has reached the consistency of a thick paste. Some foods such as tough meats may not break down to this point completely, but adequate chewing will still break them down into a much more manageable consistency. Again, the time spent chewing will also allow the food more time to mix with saliva.

• 4

  Swallow the food after having chewed it for several seconds; though many people will only chew for 5 to 10 seconds, taking up to 30 or 45 seconds to chew your food will significantly aid in your digestion. When your food has been completely swallowed you may then take another bite.

• 5

  Don't forget to drink water or other fluids periodically throughout the eating process, as this will help to keep the mouth moist and will soften the foods that you eat even more.