Chew, chew chew!! I cant stress the importance of chewing enough. Especially for those of us that have had our stomachs removed. The digestive process begins in our mouths where saliva contains 3 very important enzymes. These enzymes begin the breakdown of the food we eat. Amylase, begins the breakdown of carbohydrates. Lysozyme, kill bacteria. Lingual Lipase, begin the breakdown of fats. Once we swallow, the stomach continues to breakdown the food we eat with the help of additional enzymes, gastric acid and mechanical contractions. The stomach churns the food we eat into chyme. Chyme is a substance of partially digested food which slowly and incrementally passes from the stomach into the duodenum/small intestines. In the small intestines, the digestive process continues with the release of additional digestive juices secreted from the pancreas, gallbladder and small intestines. The broken down food, as it travels slowly through the small and large intestines, is then absorbed. If the food is not broken down enough, it will not be able to be absorbed. (Think corn 😂) So, without the mechanical and chemical help of our stomachs, you can see why chewing our food to a pulp is vital! If we are not chewing our food into a ‘chyme’ like consistency then it will most likely not have a chance at being absorbed. Less absorption means possible weight loss, mineral deficiency, malnutrition…. We, the stomachless, need to employ our mouths to do the job of our stomachs! The next time you take a bite of food tell yourself, ‘Just keep chewing, just keep chewing…’ or like the I Love Lucy episode (aging myself) chew at least 100 times before swallowing, your body will thank you.
Chew, chew chew!! I cant stress the importance of chewing enough. Especially for those of us that have had our stomachs removed.
The digestive process begins in our mouths where saliva contains 3 very important enzymes. These enzymes begin the breakdown of the food we eat.
Amylase, begins the breakdown of carbohydrates.
Lysozyme, kill bacteria.
Lingual Lipase, begin the breakdown of fats.
Once we swallow, the stomach continues to breakdown the food we eat with the help of additional enzymes, gastric acid and mechanical contractions. The stomach churns the food we eat into chyme. Chyme is a substance of partially digested food which slowly and incrementally passes from the stomach into the duodenum/small intestines.
In the small intestines, the digestive process continues with the release of additional digestive juices secreted from the pancreas, gallbladder and small intestines. The broken down food, as it travels slowly through the small and large intestines, is then absorbed. If the food is not broken down enough, it will not be able to be absorbed. (Think corn 😂)
So, without the mechanical and chemical help of our stomachs, you can see why chewing our food to a pulp is vital! If we are not chewing our food into a ‘chyme’ like consistency then it will most likely not have a chance at being absorbed. Less absorption means possible weight loss, mineral deficiency, malnutrition….
We, the stomachless, need to employ our mouths to do the job of our stomachs!
The next time you take a bite of food tell yourself, ‘Just keep chewing, just keep chewing…’ or like the I Love Lucy episode (aging myself) chew at least 100 times before swallowing, your body will thank you.