Slow Down & Sit While Eating

The Benefits of Slower Meals

You can’t rush something you want to last forever. 

“It doesn’t matter how slow you go as long as you don’t stop. “-Confucius

These days, time seems to be more of a luxury. Most people forego eating or eat fast to get back to work immediately. However, they fail to understand the importance of eating in the body. It can affect various physiological processes, such as body maintenance and digestion. 

Slow eating can affect the life expectancy of an individual. Ayurveda is a system of medicine in India that focuses on slow eating and chewing of food. This system can aid in better digestion and absorption of nutrients for the body.

According to the OECD, people in France spend the most time-eating averaging at 2 hours and 13 minutes while people in the US only spends an average of 1 hour and 2 minutes. Moreover, the World Health Organization confirmed that there is a direct correlation between eating time and life expectancy. The average life expectancy in the US is 79 years. However, 80 years and above recorded in European countries like France.

Benefits of slow eating:

1. Weight loss. Slow eating helps burn calories. Chewing slowly to the point of liquid can help burn an additional ten calories during digestion of a 300 calories meal.
2. Tricks the brain into feeling full. By eating slowly, the brain can process the food longer and let you know when the body is full. 
3. The joy of eating. The food gets savored longer and allow more time to experience the wonders of taste on the palette. 

FURTHER READING

https://www.projectboldlife.com/health/eating-speed-increases-life-expectancy/

https://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-slow-eating

http://express.co.uk/life-style/health/767295/Eating-less-diet-help-live-longer-slow-ageing