Chew More Lose More

September 20, 2015 –

There is so much information on weight loss … how are we supposed to figure out who or what to believe? After all is said and done the common thread is this: eat less and move more. There –  no charge for that one. Haha! I have one other very important piece of information that works well with ‘eat less and move more’. Chew your food more!

This past weekend I visited the Woodlands Emergency Training Center for my CPR re-certification, as I do every 2 years. The presenter was a retired firefighter who had all kinds of real-world stories and life saving information to share. One such conversation was very close to home, ‘do you know who the most prevalent choking victim is in America’? White males between the ages of 50 and 60, or ME! The reasoning behind this was that this demographic is usually in too much of a hurry to stop and manage their mouthfuls of food and are often multi-tasking. Again (unfortunately), describes me rather well. A ‘quick’ bite in between clients, meetings, or places to go.

People in a hurry often take quick large bites and do not chew (or masticate) the food currently in their mouths or throat before taking another bite. The food begins to dry out during the process of swallowing and can lodge in the back of the mouth or top of the esophagus (throat) stopping air-flow and eventual CHOKING. Do not let this happen to you. Chew your food. A minimum of 15 times per bite is a good rule of thumb.

Plus, when you chew your food thoroughly that food processes more quickly and begins getting used as energy and fuel. Less calories to store around your belly or problem areas. “Chew more … lose more!” My new favorite quote.

In good health,
Bob

“Fear less, hope more. Eat less, chew more. Whine less, breathe more. Talk less, say more.” – Swedish Proverb