CHEW BABY, CHEW!

We all know we should eat slower and chew our food better, but do you know why it is so important?

Past summer I had my first time appointment with a naturopathic doctor. We talked about my food habits and we went through my blood screening results and then he asked me: "Do you eat rather fast or do you take your time while eating?"

A brief, flash-like memory of me rapidly consuming large amounts of salad flashed before my mind's eye, prompting me to respond to the doctor's question with: "I eat rather fast." He responded to that with a challenge that would help me feel the difference immediately: "Chew every bite 50 times and see what happens!" I thought to myself: "Is he serious? 50 times?" but then he explained to me why it is so important. The reasons he mentioned, struck me. I do my best to translate what he said:

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"If you don't chew your food all the way, there will be bigger chunks left in your stomach. When food is not adequately broken down, it can lead to larger particles entering the digestive system. These larger food particles can be detected by your immune system, which is designed to recognize and respond to potential threats. In this scenario, the immune system may mistakenly identify these unchewed food particles as foreign invaders or harmful substances, which triggers a natural immune response, where the body activates various mechanisms to combat what it perceives as a threat. Over time, this ongoing miscommunication can contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases, where the body’s immune system targets its own tissues, mistaking them for threats."

Avi Mor Katzav

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IMPROVED DIGESTION

From that point forward, I began to chew my food more thoroughly, appreciating cows even more than I have before that. They became my role models in terms of digestion. ;-) On top of that: In August 2025 I went on a Silent retreat in the Austrian mountains, at Oasis of Being, and one part of this transforming week was a special way to eat our meals. The two main rules were to focus on one task at a time and chew the food until it becomes liquid. After placing food in our mouths, we first had to put our spoons or forks down before beginning to chew. In this way, eating became a form of meditation.

THE CHEAPEST WAY TO ENHANCE YOUR HEALTH

Meanwhile four months after my appointment at the naturopathic doctor, I am more conscious of not only what I eat but also how I eat, and I'm noticing a significant improvement in my digestion and reduced fatigue after meals.

In an era where the mental burden of early 21st-century life feels overwhelming and therefore hard to "digest", one essential action we can take for our health is to ensure we chew our food thoroughly. This powerful habit can be a fundamental step toward enhancing your well-being.

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"My stomach has no teeth"

Yogi Bhajan

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Try it out for yourself: Be a bit more like a cow. Take your time and chew every bite 50 times or until it is liquid and let me know about your experience, it is the easiest but most beneficial experiment you can try to improve your health, starting from today.