Don’t Drink Your Food: More on the Benefits of Chewing

I introduced some of the benefits of chewing in the last post. Did you know that chewing is becoming a lost practice in some fitness circles? Some people drink meal replacement shakes, juices, or flavored water instead of eating food. They drink their meals and snacks in an attempt to lose weight, add muscle, or gain energy. The dangers of not using the jaw muscles to chew outweigh the value of always drinking for nutrition, especially in youth. Let’s look at the link between chewing and your health.

Muscle, Mouth, and Mind

One of the most obvious outcomes of chewing is a strong jaw muscle. The jaw muscle and bone give your face structure and allow for activities such as eating and talking. Drinking your meals rather than eating them does not allow for proper development of the muscle. This is especially critical to children and teens whose muscles develop as they grow.

Chewing increases saliva production. We may want to think of saliva as something disgusting, but we need it to keep our mouths moist. The saliva encourages swallowing, which helps digestion. Saliva washes away acids from our teeth and gums, aiding in the prevention of tooth decay and gum disease. These potential problems are much worse than thinking about saliva!

The chewing activity relates to brain function in ways that you might not expect. When chewing increases activity in the hippocampus, glucose levels in the brain increase. Glucose provides fuel for brain function. More blood flows into the brain during chewing as well. The blood flow helps the body support the brain, allowing the left and right hemispheres to work together, the memory function is enhanced, and alertness and attention are increased.

Learn More

If you have a group that would like to learn more about the benefits of chewing, I am available for presentations. Through my Denton stretch business, I also speak on topics in preventative health, massage therapy, restorative health, and pregnancy.  Visit my Stretch 4 Life website for more information, and contact me when you are ready to schedule a presentation.