We all know that eating fast is very harmful for our health. However, we frequently regard eating as nothing else but just a routine activity and eat really fast. Is there anyone who is not aware that eating fast leads to various problems with digestive system, overeating and weight gain? Look at the French or the Japanese: they seem to be healthier and more fit because their culture of eating has been developing for centuries and these people find eating to be a truly enjoyable experience.

Our fast rhythm of life is a real evil. Sometimes it does not allow us enjoy simple moments of peace and relaxation. The reports show that an average meal in the US is only 11 minutes, and sometimes the time for having breakfasts decreases down to 2 minutes. This problem should be taken as a serious matter of social concern and every modern person should think carefully about own eating habits. Below, you can find 5 reasons why you should consider eating slowly as one of the most beneficial and advantageous practices:

1.Eating slowly can help you avoid overeating and prevent weight gain. Many experts agree on the fact that fast eating is strictly linked to overeating. Usually, it takes 15-20 minutes for our brain to receive information that we are full. Therefore, eating slowly can help to avoid eating extra food and prevent consuming extra calories. Besides, according to a research of the specialists from the Energy Metabolism Laboratory at the University of Rhode, eating slowly eventually leads to eating less.

2. Eating slowly can improve your digestion and help you prevent possible problems with the digestive system. If you have a habit of eating slowly, your stomach will have more time to process and digest the meals consumed. In addition, eating slower always connected with more chewing and better mixing the food with saliva, that also favors better digestion and lowers the burden on our digestive system.

3. Eating slowly can make you learn to enjoy what you eat. Start developing this habit of enjoying your meals from eating your most favorite meals as slowly as you can. Enjoy every bite, every piece of your favorite pizza, or fries, or lasagna. You should learn to receive pleasure from what you are eating, but not from the amounts of the meals consumed. This way you will start paying attention on what you eat and slowly shift to eating tasty, natural and healthy foods.

4. Eating slowly can help you avoid unnecessary stresses. Eating can be a pleasurable event, which should bring you more of positive emotions and help you to calm down your worries and anxiety. Turn your eating ritual into a sort of meditation, enjoy every piece of your meals and forget about everything that possibly brings you trouble. You will definitely feel happier and calmer after such a relaxation.

5. Eating slowly can help you understand a real taste of life. Slow eating can not only help us to learn enjoying the taste of good meals, improve our digestion and learn to relax. It can also define our life style and help us to be more sociable. Taking more time for eating in a company of friends or in your family environment is a unique opportunity to talk to the people you love, get closer and share the most special things and moments of your life.

Hi! My name is Carla and I am a 5th year medical student at HYMS. I am interested in alternative medicine and I have done months researching the topic of herbal medicine. Besides, I like interviewing people and learning more about their experiences with one or another type of herbal treatments. I am willing to contribute to this site with my knowledge, and I would be happy to help you out to the best of my ability with any specific questions or problems related to alternative medicine.