Eating Fast will cause Diseases
Society has forgotten the purpose of eating. Besides decreasing the hunger message, it is also a time to get together as a family and reflect on the day’s experiences. It is a time for family values to be aired and discussed. It is not the time to text, use your ipod, read your Kindle (or Nook) or watch television. Turn off all technical equipment that will led to mindless and fast eating. Studies in Japan, England, and New Zealand have shown that eating fast will cause obesity. Eating too fast will override the messages that go to the brain when we are full. It takes 20 minutes for the signal that we are full to get to our brain. By eating and not chewing we will fill our stomachs twice as much as is needed in the 20 minutes. Plus we are bypassing the importance of chewing as a precedent needed in digestion. We are suppose to chew 20 to 30 times prior to swallowing. Most individuals do it in less than 10. Thus setting themselves up for obesity and other digestive problems.
Acid Reflux (or heartburn) is another problem caused by eating too fast. Studies in England and the United States have verified this to be true. We all have a valve in the lower part of our esophagus call the Lower Esophageal Sphincter(LES). LES works like a flap between the esophagus and the stomach. The flap opens and closes every 25 to 27 seconds. If we are loading too much food on the flap before it opens then it will weaken the valve. The LES will open when it shouldn’t causing the acid from the stomach to enter back into the esophagus. The result being discomfort, burning of the esophageal lining, with multiple episodes of pain possibly leading to Barrett’s Disease. To prevent this we need to chew at least 20 to 30 times prior to swallowing. Chew 10 times on one side and 10 times on the other side of your mouth. Do not drink liquids on top of swallowing. The liquids add weight on top of the Low Esophageal Sphincter flap and will weaken it. The effects of this problem leads to medication or a operation. Unfortunately all medications for acid reflux (or heartburn) have been shown to cause Osteoporosis.
Lastly, eating too fast can cause choking. Hopefully someone that knows the Heimlich Maneuver will be around when it happens. I’ve used the Heimlich Maneuver twice in restaurants. Choking seems to be happening more often. However, if no one is around when you are eating too fast then choking, the result could be Death! Something to think about.