The mouth is the only part of the gastrointestinal tract that we have a say over. In other words, we can control what we do and how we do it in regards to our mouth. So let’s discuss those 5 actions…
- We Decide what to eat; we choose whether or not to eat nourishing, wholesome foods or processed unhealthy foods. Will you eat that Whopper with fries or will you eat the salad topped with fresh veggies & olive oil & vinegar dressing? You Decide!
- We Decide how much to eat; Now the stomach can only hold so much food; and overeating puts a burden on the stomach, causing it to expand beyond its normal size to adjust to us overeating. Additionally, to digest the extra food, the stomach produces extra hydrochloric acid, which in turn may cause a backup into the esophagus, resulting in heartburn. So, will you go for seconds on that holiday dinner plus add desert or will you have one plate & take the desert home? You Decide!
- We Decide how long the food stays in the mouth. Now, the stomach does not do all the work when it comes to digestion. The teeth are very important for breaking down food into small fine pieces. This breakdown is the beginning of the digestive process; it increases the surface area for enzymes and saliva to break down food, and release nutrients. When food is not effectively chewed, the process of digestion is compromised. Your food should be chewed slowly and thoroughly. As a matter of fact, for optimal digestion, some experts suggest chewing each bite 20-30 times, depending on the consistency. If you “wolf” down your food and don’t chew it thoroughly, it can lead to bloating, gas, stomach pain or indigestion; therefore, You Decide!
- We Decide how often we eat. The stomach squeezes food and mixes it with acid and enzymes to break it down. Now this process takes about 3-4 hours to digest a meal; therefore, it is very important to give this process time so that the stomach, can rest at least an hour after digestion. Why? So that the gastric glands have time to replace the stomach juices, in preparation for the next meal. If you decide to eat prior to the 3-4 hours, you run the risk of indigestion, bloating, or acid reflux. So, You Decide!
- Lastly, We Decide what environment we eat in. Mealtimes should be pleasant and relaxed. If you rush to eat, discuss controversial issues while eating, eat in the car while driving or even eat while looking at the news, the digestion process is suppressed, and the “fight or flight” process is triggered. The brain will slow down the contractions of the digestive muscles, and decrease the amount of hydrochloric acid, which is required to process the food. Eating your meals in any of the scenarios above will interrupt the digestive process. Will you allow the “fight or flight” process to occur while eating or will you “rest & digest?” You Decide!
Listeners, when you know better, you do better! Please consider the 5 actions as mentioned above while eating. A healthy meal, not overloading your plate, chewing your food thoroughly, giving your food time to digest and eating in a pleasant environment are all very crucial factors to a healthy gut. In 1 Cor 6:19 the apostle Paul tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and therefore to glorify God with our physical bodies.
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