In daily life, it is common to see some people devouring their food and finishing their meals quickly. However, this eating habit is not good for our health. When eating, we should develop the good habit of chewing slowly and swallowing gently. In 1983, a French nutritionist advocated a healthy concept: Want to live longer? Eat slower.
What are the benefits of eating slowly?
Promotes nutrient absorption. People need to eat every day to absorb nutrients and maintain normal bodily functions. After food enters the mouth, it is first processed by the teeth through biting, cutting, tearing, and chewing. It is then thoroughly mixed with saliva under the agitation of the tongue, becoming bolus before it can be swallowed and undergo initial digestion in the stomach. It then enters the intestines for further digestion and absorption. The finer the food is chewed, the lighter the burden on the gastrointestinal tract, making it easier for digestive juices to mix with the food, thereby accelerating digestion. The absorption rate of nutrients also significantly increases. Especially for the elderly, due to the degeneration of various glands, secretion of digestive juices such as saliva, gastric acid, pancreatic juice, and bile decreases. In addition, with the loss of teeth and weakened chewing power, eating too quickly will inevitably increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract, affecting nutrient absorption.
Stimulates saliva secretion. Ancient health experts advised people not to casually spit out saliva, as saliva is considered as "sweet dew" and "precious liquid". Saliva not only has the function of moistening and digesting food, but also enhances appetite, kills bacteria, neutralizes stomach acid, and plays an important role in digestion, nutrient absorption, and maintaining health. It is also the first line of defense against pathogenic invasion in the human body. If one develops a bad habit of spitting saliva randomly over a long period of time, it can lead to a pale complexion, emaciation, and loss of appetite. In recent years, scientific experiments have shown that saliva amylase is a natural anti-cancer agent. American medical experts advocate chewing each mouthful of food 30 times to fully utilize the antibacterial and anti-cancer effects of saliva.
Prevents oral diseases. Chewing is a gentle stimulation for the oral cavity. Chewing food finely in the mouth not only has a good massaging and stimulating effect on the soft tissues and gums, but also acts as a good "cleaning" method for the teeth, reducing the growth and reproduction of bacteria, which is significant for preventing gingivitis and periodontitis. During chewing, the pressure on the teeth is transmitted to the jawbone, which can also prevent jawbone aging. In addition, chewing slowly and swallowing gently can enrich the blood circulation of the gums, provide more blood and nutrients to the teeth, enhance tooth strength, and prevent premature loss.
Facilitates weight loss and beauty. Poor chewing is an important factor in weight gain. Chewing food slowly during meals can increase blood sugar levels and produce a sense of satiety. When the intake of food is sufficient, one naturally stops eating. However, if one devours their food, a sense of satiety is not easily achieved. Although one may be full, they do not feel satiated, which can lead to overeating. Therefore, chewing food slowly and savoring each bite not only allows you to enjoy delicious food, but also produces a sense of satiety, which is beneficial for weight loss.
Internal Smiling: Promoting Health and Longevity
Internal smiling is one of the methods Taoists use to relieve stress. It is a practice that utilizes the energy of smiling to cultivate oneself. The energy of smiling has great healing potential. Internal smiling can help you release harmful energy accumulated in your body and replace it with positive smiling energy.
One of the greatest pursuits of internal smiling is tranquility. The greatest benefit of tranquility is the ability to enhance your concentration. First, calm yourself down, focus your awareness, pay attention to your breathing, and learn to concentrate on a specific part or organ within your body. If you cannot calm your mind, you are easily influenced by external distractions, making it impossible to truly concentrate. To quiet the various distractions and achieve tranquility is not an easy task. It requires you to truly regulate yourself and also takes time.
Internal smiling can help you achieve tranquility. First, fill your eyes with a smiling expression, then direct the smiling expression towards your inner self. Guide it towards your internal organs and finally spread it throughout your entire body, filling your entire being with joyful and loving energy. This method of tranquility and self-regulation is extremely important for health. Through practicing internal smiling for a period of time, your internal smile will radiate from your heart and infect those around you. Genuine internal smiling has a miraculous effect, like a ray of sunlight in a cloudy sky, giving people hope and aspiration.
