July 27, 2020 6 min read
The speed at which you eat can have a direct relationship not only on your overall health but clinical studies also relate fast eating to being overweight. That is right, numerous studies point to the fact that those that gulp down their food and don’t chew enough are far more likely to: consume more calories, derive less nutritional value from their food and gain weight more rapidly than slow-eaters.
The basic action behind this relationship is found in how our bodies tell us when to stop eating–through the release of substances that suppress the hormone Ghrelin (that is a hormone that increases hunger). When your body needs food, it creates hormones that make you hungry and your appetite increases. As you eat, your body starts to create different substances that tell you that you are full and to stop eating.
It is a simple stop-and-go mechanism our body uses to control how much that we eat.
Simple enough, but the process takes time (usually about 20-30 minutes). So, if you are a rapid eater then you will obviously consume a lot more food (and calories) before your body catches up to tell you to stop. But slowest eater get the message and put down their forks and spoons before overeating.
Get the idea of two teams filling up a wheelbarrow with dirt. They both have 20-minutes and the same sized shovel. One team takes its time, moving slow, and fills up the wheelbarrow just to the top. The other team shovels much faster and at the 20-minute mark the wheelbarrow is heaped high and overflowing.
And so, over time, it is easy to see how fast eaters pack in more calories and pack on more pounds.
And while optimal body weight is one key factor in creating good health, there are other health benefits for slow-eaters.
While there are a number of steps you could take, let’s keep it simple with just two steps to start.
And while weight loss results can vary, there are so many other factors involved, one thing is for sure… you will certainly enjoy your meals more and feel more relaxed as a result.
Many people eat their food fast and unintentionally. This can cause weight gain or other health problems. Slow eating could be a better option to take since it can provide many benefits of slow eating.
The number of calories you consume and hormones determine your appetite. After eating, your stomach suppresses the hormone ghrelin, which regulates hunger and releases hormones of fullness. These hormones inform your brain that you've eaten and are reducing your appetite, making you feel full, and assisting you to stop eating.
This process takes around 20 minutes. Slowing down gives your brain the time it needs to receive these signals. Eating too quickly often leads to overeating, as your brain doesn't have enough time to receive fullness signals.
As studies show, overweight or normal weight consume food at different paces. Both groups eat less calories when eating at the slowest pace, but the difference was statistically significant for the normal weight group. The participants felt fuller and fuller for longer periods after eating slower and reported feeling less hungry within 60 minutes following eating slower than after the fast meal. This sudden reduction in calorie consumption should result in weight loss over time.
Eating too fast can lead to weight gain and decreased enjoyment of food. However, slowing down can increase fullness and promote weight loss.
There are some practical tips to slow down and lose weight. Actually, there is. You’re about to read seven tips for how to stop eating fast. They can help you use slower eating to manage your weight. But they might even help your digestion and bring more enjoyment to your meals.
Are you the type of person who eats so fast that you always have to wait for others to finish their meals? Well, you should know that this habit can cause problems for your health! That 5-minute lunch can raise blood glucose levels, increase weight and abdominal circumference, and consequently increase the chances of cardiovascular events. Fast eating increases the risk of metabolic syndrome, that is, the emergence of a set of factors related to diseases that affect the heart, such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. On the other hand, the slowest eater will stay healthy and satisfied.