Better hold back the urge to scarf down your food no matter how hungry you are, as according to The Huffington Post, eating slowly won't only help you digest better, but also satiate you more.
Researchers from Texas Christian University examined the eating behaviors of 35 normal-weight and 35 obese individuals for two days. They analyzed the participants’ energy speed, eating rate, energy density, and satiety when the volunteers ate slowly and quickly.
The results showed that by eating slowly, normal-weight individuals consumed 88 fewer calories than usual while overweight individuals consumed 55 calories less. Both groups drank more water while having lunch and felt fuller after pacing their bites compared with their fast-paced meals.
“The slow eating condition may also have allowed subjects to eat more mindfully and better sense their feelings of hunger suppression and satiety," researchers explain.
Eating slowly has also been known to improve self-control over portions and allow for better appreciation of flavors.
(Photo by Yuki Yaginuma via Flickr Creative Commons)