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The Back Story is your source for the latest in health, wellness and medical care for you and your entire family. Dr. Jaspal Ricky Singh M.D. and the world-renowned physicians at Weill Cornell Medicine, join forces with an expanded network of experts to bring in-depth conversations covering medical research, trending topics and wellness. Our podcast is a trusted source of information for medical care, combined with real patient experiences and the latest breakthroughs in medicine.
The Back Story
Your Stomach Doesn't Have Teeth- Chew Your Food
When you think about eating, you may think of the work that happens in your stomach and intestines. But the entire digestive process starts in your mouth, with chewing.
Benefits of chewing food
Chewing is the first step of digestion.
- Chewing and saliva break down and mix food together in your mouth. From there, food goes into your esophagus when you swallow.
- Your esophagus pushes food into your stomach.
- Your stomach holds food while it mixes with enzymes that continue breaking down the food so you can use it for energy.
- When food is digested enough in your stomach, it moves into your small intestine where it mixes with more enzymes that continue to break it down. Nutrients from the food are absorbed in the small intestine.
- Wastes are sent to the large intestine, known as your colon. The leftover waste is excreted through the rectum and anus.
Singh Snapshot
Proper digestion starts in your mouth. When eating, be sure to chew your food thoroughly to get the full benefit out of it.
By focusing on chewing many times, you will eat slower. This can improve your digestion, help you eat less, and enhance your overall eating experience.