Today’s topic is on chewing and digesting food!
How many times do we rush through a meal to get on with work, get to our next task, drop the kids off somewhere- or even eat while we are working? Or should I phrase it- when do we not do those things, and actually concentrate on eating as its own separate, sacred task? I had some classes on chewing this past week at the Ann Wigmore Institute, with some interesting info and perspectives that I wanted to share with you.
Dr. Ann Wigmore says that if we are not chewing our food well or concentrating on eating- while we are eating- we are wasting our time with food!
When we eat, we are releasing stored energy locked up in the plant food (which is hopefully what you are eating!) that transfers into our body through digestion and assimilation. The food literally becomes part of our organs and glands. But in order for that plant food to really nourish us, even if we are eating the healthiest and most organic plant food on the planet, we have to be sure we are digesting it properly. This is not a mechanical task that always turns out the same no matter what- because it involves our total being, our state of mind, emotions and environment. Below are some ideas to help make sure you are optimizing your digestion:
1. Chew chew chew– the theme of Ann Wigmore. Even if you drink Green Juice, or drink Green Smoothies, you should chew your food so it mixes well with your saliva to aid the digestive process! Solid food like salads should be chewed 40-100 times. I always ignored this popular adage 🙂 but it is amazing how much saliva you really do produce when you practice it! In one class we listened to music where every 60 seconds a bell would ring and that would signify to swallow. So it forced us to be conscious of chewing for 60 seconds, which pulverized the food into liquidity.
When you chew this well, it is amazing how full you get on way less food! Swallowing chunks of foods is EXTREMELY harmful for the body, which has to waste copious amounts of energy and additional enzymes to then break it down. Thoroughly chewing your food will help reduce bloating and discomfort. If you are a fast eater now is the time to change your ways, for your own sake!
2. Prepare the body for eating. You eat with your whole body and your brain. So start by being totally relaxed. Take some deep breaths if that helps. Relax your jaw (most of us clench) and even say the vowels first to fully loosen up the muscles in the face. Move your hands to your stomach to prepare it to receive food. This also puts us mentally in touch with our digestive organs and we become more connected to our body. Smell your food first before eating it, and really look at it. Hopefully it will be vibrant and beautiful!
3. Be conscious of your food in every way before you start eating it. Where did it come from? How was it grown? Who were the people that grew it? Under what conditions did it grow? When I was eating Energy Soup I started really thinking about the sunflower sprouts that it contained, that grew in the greenhouse there. We had classes on growing them, and I saw how full of amazing, vibrant energy they were and how they turned their beautiful little heads towards the light. Like us! We want to always turn toward the Light!
So when we really think about our food, we become more grateful for it, and when we eat in a state of gratitude our food digests better and nourishes not only our bodies, but the emotional, mental and spiritual side of us. Food is energy, and energy affects us on all of these levels. There really is something to the idea of making food with love, and when someone makes something for you with love it does taste better! I always bless my food first.
I know, deep right! Quite a contrast to people that jam the food they just bought at the drive-through down their mouth as they race down the highway driving! I don’t think they have any clue as to how the food came from the factory farm to the slaughterhouse to their packaged container, or the suffering and pain that the animal might have endured that would very much transfer if you were to eat the animal’s carcass. Bad energy transfers also, which leads me to…
4. Don’t eat in a loud place! Clanking sounds and chairs and loud talking does not make for good digestion. If a place does not have peaceful energy, chances are that your food was made in a non-peaceful, rushed or agitated way as well. And I don’t want food with that energy in my body! If I sense that I won’t eat there. Many trendy New York restaurants are like that, so if I have a business meeting there or something with friends- I’ll just get something to drink. Don’t worry about what others think- the choices you make affect YOUR body.
5. Don’t eat if you are angry, sad, agitated or stressed out. Your body will not assimilate the food in a good way! It really is better not to eat in these conditions- just wait or put it off!
6. Don’t work, watch TV or read while you are eating. Your attention is diverted from the process of digestion, and you will not take in the food in the same way. Talking should be limited. This is really hard, as eating and socializing have been very much integrated into our culture. I too often eat with others. I try to concentrate on my food when I’m actually chewing and swallowing, then I’ll put down my fork and talk for a minute- then go back to eating, so on and so forth.
I hope that these ideas are helpful to you in promoting your digestion. Eating is a powerful and sacred ceremony of life that must be respected.
Love,
Kimberly
Coconut keeper and lover!
Thank you Kimberly as always inspiring and insightful! I love you! xo
Love you too!!
Thanks, Kim! I love all of these tips! I’ve been having digestive problems for a year, and I started eating much much slower than I previously had about 8 months ago because I read similar advice to yours! Now, I can’t eat fast even if I want to. i feel like I’m choking if I don’t chew at least 25 times!
That’s great!
This is so helpful. I have been trying to be more mindful of thoroughly chewing and savoring each bite and it really does make a difference in feeling more full on less food! Now if I can just get my husband to do the same…He’s done eating before I’ve finished two bites. It’s a work in progress. Thank you for this!
I know! Men in particular can be really fast eaters. Encourage him to get in the habit of putting his fork down between bites!
xx Kimberly
hi kimberly,
i love this post, being mindful is something that yoga has taught me too, and it’s cool to think it applies to something as basic as eating.
i wanted to ask if you are raw vegan, vegan, or vegetarian? or a combination of all 3 depending on where you are/ what you are doing?
i’ve been doing the raw for awhile and loving it 🙂
<3
Hi there, I am vegan, but when I’ve been in a bind traveling to various remote countries I’ve had eggs. But it’s been a few years since I had to resort to that! I eat mostly raw food, but I do eat cooked food sometimes.
Remember it is much easier for your body to digest steamed broccoli or cooked vegetables than eating lots of those heavy seed and nut-based dehydrated burgers and flax crackers!!
Wow! Kind of a beautiful way of looking at it, being grateful for our food. So much to this. Who knew? Trying to not eat then I’m frustrated or agitated will be a challenge – that’s when I especially want to eat and usually something bad – but I’m going to really try to implement this. Wonder how much weight I’d lose on that alone?
Thanks for all the wonderful information!
You’re welcome Joy!
Yes it is VERY important not to eat when you are in such a state!! Take a walk, clean some dishes, take some deep breaths, then only when you are calm and relaxed eat. 🙂
Love
Hi Kim, great post on chewing. I often need to remind myself to be mindful during meal time and I appreciate the detail you went into and all of the helpful suggestions, like saying the vowels to loosen up the face muscles. I’m going to start doing that!
Looks like you are having a great time in Puerto Rico! I hope to visit the Ann Wigmore Institute one day. 🙂
Hi Kimberly! Love your blog!!
I have few questions about acne. I have heard many times that my acne is probably hormone-acne. Everytime when i go and see a docter they always tell me that I really should eat this drug and that antibiotic and maybe few more…I just dont belive in those drugs.
Is there any natural product what i can take to balance my hormones or make my skin look and feel better? I just stoped takin birth control pills and I am pretty sure that my skin is going to look even worse. I am so unhappy with this situation. :(!
Thank u for being such an inspiration!!
Lots of love,
Katariina
Hi love,
Please check out my blogs on Eating for Acne and the Acne-Dairy connection, and the one of What our Face Reveals to us about our internal organs (called something like that). 🙂
xx Kimberly
hey Kimberly,
I love this blog on digestion. The points you mentioned are so helpful. You are fantastic and I am so grateful that I found you. Thanks for everything.xox
I’M STILL LOVING ALL OF YOUR BLOG POSTS! I LOOK FORWARD TO READING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE WITH US! I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT DRINKING WHILE EATING A MEAL.IS THIS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD OR SHOULDN’T DO?
I’m a speech-language pathologist and work with people with swallowing disorders, in addition to other conditions. Even when I recommend people eat only pureed foods, I still tell them to move the food around their mouths + “chew” to stimulate saliva for an easier swallow and it really works!
Thanks for sharing your expertise, Kimberly!
What a wonderful post! I am so envious (in a good way 🙂 of all those coconuts you are having there!!
nice post. thanks.
I’ve been reading your posts on chewing and I was raised that way. I always thought it was such as hassle and actually used to say “I hate chewing” lol. Now being a nutrition student made me realize how important it is. I still have a long way to go as I cannot chew 100 times per bite of salad 🙂
Great post.
Ms. Babe
Great post and very informative. I love coconuts, I cook with the oil and use it in my hair and skin at times. It is the wonder oil.
Hi Kimberley. I have struggled with bad breath my entire life along with chronic constipation. I’m sure it’s because of my diet, but I am now 23 years old and becoming more and more depressed because of this. I only have a part time job and can’t afford a decent blender/juicer. Fresh produce is also pretty expensive. Psyllium husk also does not seem to be working for me as far as trying to become regular. Is there ANYTHING I can do to detox that doesn’t cost much and that I can do on a regular basis. I do not have health insurance, so a colonoscopy is out of the question. I just want to be healthy. Sorry for leaving such a long comment. A reply would be very much appreciated.
Hi Kimberly,
Great post! I’ve spent the last 2 months visiting a Natural Chinese Therapist because of my digestion issues (which I’ve been suffering from for several years). I’ve been told that I have too much yin. So, I’m taking herbs and I also need to stick to warming foods. For the past few weeks I’ve been told to avoid fruit and salads which is very depressing! But, my stomach has been better during this time. Tonight I tried a salad and I’m in pain again 🙁
So, I basically wanted to ask whether you’ve dealt with anyone who has this type of problem. I really want to increase my raw food and to definitely start the morning green smoothies. However, my chinese doc told me to completely avoid cold breakfasts and fruit/veggies.
Sorry for the extra long message! Any advice will be much appreciated!
Thanks a lot.
I had been researching not only chewing better to reduce symptoms of acid reflux and possible ibs but also concurrently for mindful eating. It’s amazing how it’s all connected. What prompted me to look into more mindful eating (and chewing) is that I often get heartburn, undigested food in my bowels, (although I’m relatively healthy) and general gas and bloating.
Your article has been extremely helpful and eye opening. Thanks!