" As a man ought to eat in an half hour,
they shallow in 3 minutes, gulping under the table, which when a chuck of meat is thrown to it, shallows it before you can
twice" - Brigham Young (1801 -1877)
Chew and Chew and Chew
Food's contact with saliva is not just important because it helps to lubricate the food. The saliva contains
enzymes that contribute to the chemical process of digestion. Carbohydrate digestion begins with salivary alpha-amylase
released by chewing motion as it breaks down some of the chemical bonds that connect the simple sugars that comprise starches.
Additionally, the first stage of fat digestion
also occurs in the mouth with the secretion the enzyme lingual lipase by the glands that are located under the tongue. Protein
digestion begins in the stomach. Gobbling down food quickly causes incomplete 
digestion which can lead to bacterial overgrowth. The undigested food becomes fodder for bacteria causing them to multiply
in the colon. This can lead to an array of problems including flatulence, fatigue, stomach pains and other
symptoms of indigestion like small intestinal bacteria overgrowth (SIBO).
An important note to remember is all of us have a certain number of bacteria in the small and
large intestines. They aid in the healthy digestion of the body. It's only when there is an overgrowth in the small intestine
that we start running into problems. If food fragments are too big there will be less surface area for the enzymes to extract
vital nutrients. This leaves you with a lot of calories but little nutritional value.
Seeing is Believing
The poorly understood cephalic stage of digestion occurs when
you first see, smell and taste food. This starts the digestion juices flowing even before food has entered the stomach.
In clinical studies the enzymes chlecystokinn, somastostatin and nerotension all have been found to increase over 50%
just by seeing and smelling certain foods. In addition certain taste receptors can signal the stomach to release hydrochloric
acid to aid in the absorption of animal meat. To prevent malnutrition, fatigue, obesity and symptoms of SIBO, take your time
when eating your 5 smaller meals through out the day.
