Why Eating Too Fast Is Bad For Your Health

When it comes to meal times, there seem to be two camps of people. Those who inhale their food in minutes and those who take their time and enjoy every bite. Being the former of the two, it can be difficult to comprehend taking a breath between bites, let alone actually stopping purposefully.

It might be time to reassess my eating habits, however, as new research has revealed that gulping down your meals means you’re more likely to get obese or develop metabolic syndrome. Both of these increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke according to the inquiry presented at the 2017 American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions.

Researchers at Hiroshima University in Japan identified over 1,000 participants as either slow, normal or fast eaters over a five-year period. Those who were defined as fast eaters were found to be 11.6% more likely to have developed metabolic syndrome. This is identified as having any of the following three risk factors: high blood pressure, high levels of triglycerides or high blood sugar after periods of fasting.

Is it time to slow down?

One study has even found that fast eaters are three times more likely to be overweight than those who take their time. Another noted a reduction of 10% in calories when participants chewed their food 40 times compared with just 15.

You may have already known that when it comes to eating, slow and steady wins the health race. However, the reason is that, when you scoff down your meal in less than five minutes, your body is unable to tell the brain that it’s full. It can take up to 20 minutes for the receptors in the stomach and hormones that signal to the brain to kick in.

An easy way to lengthen your meal times is to simply chew more. Not only does it extend the time it takes you to eat, your saliva contains enzymes that cause your taste buds to ‘notice’ the meal and makes digestion easier.

Another efficient method is to sip water between bites. Drinking water will stop you eating so quickly and has also been shown to be a great weight loss aid.

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