Do You Eat too Fast?

Can eating too fast cause you to gain more weight?  The answer is yes. 

There have been several studies on this dating from the early 1900's.  A guy named Horace Fletcher said you should chew every bite of food for at least 32 times.  He even said you should chew liquids.  Don't know how you can do that, but that is what he said.

But, there is some truth to what he said.  It seems the brain needs some time to register the fact that it is eating and that it is getting full.  If you gulp down your food, the brain doesn't have time to register that it is getting full.  Therefore you eat more. 

What happens is this:  You start eating and your stomach starts filling up.  This causes the body to release certain hormones which signals the brain to let it know that you are getting enough food.  The brain then signals your appetite control center in the hypothalmus to slow down because you are getting full. 

This whole process can take up to 20 to 30 minutes.  So if you are eating fast, none of the slowing down signals reach your hypothalmus because there isn't enough time.  

As it turns out if these signals don't reach your brain and your hypothalmus you end up eating more.  Several studies have supported this. 

And a double whammy is that eating faster also causes a greater release of insulin, putting you on the path to insulin resistance.  This also helps increase your body fat levels. 

So as the song goes:  Slow down, you eat too fast.  You have to make the meal last.

Thanks,

Mike Val
http://www.valshealthsite.com/