The Power of Chewing

How many times did your mother told you to chew your food thoroughly? It turns out there is a valid reason to do so. A recent study from Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana) showed that foods yield significantly different levels of nutrition, including calories, depending on hoe much they're chewed. On this study they used almonds, which contain healthy doses of both fiber and good fat, but the implications for other foods are quite broad. When foods are chewed less thoroughly, the body has a hard time digesting them and subsequently absorbing the nutrients. This doesn't bode well for those who are often in a hurry and tend to eat on the go. Even hormone levels are affected, showing that something as simple as chewing can have physiological consequences.