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December 21, 2007, Planting Trees
Many people know that eating slowly and chewing thoroughly is not only beneficial for digestion but also a good way to prevent weight gain. In fact, the benefits of chewing more while eating go far beyond these. Researchers from the Chewing Society at Gifu University in Japan found that subjects who chewed their food for just two minutes saw a 30% increase in the accuracy of their answers to questions compared to usual. This result suggests that two minutes of chewing can enhance memory.
Researchers discovered that chewing stimulates the part of the brain responsible for memory. The cells in the hippocampus, the area of the brain that governs learning, tend to decline with age, leading to a decline in short-term memory. However, the act of chewing can increase the activity of hippocampal cells, preventing their aging. Researchers from Northumbria University in the UK also confirmed that chewing more can speed up heart activity, increase hormone secretion in the brain, and thereby improve thinking ability and memory.
Additionally, chewing can stimulate saliva production, and the area of the brain responsible for saliva secretion is closely related to memory and learning. Therefore, chewing more while eating, rinsing the mouth after meals, and frequently tapping teeth can help enhance brain vitality. For children, chewing more can promote brain development; for young and middle-aged adults, it can help improve work efficiency; and for the elderly, it can prevent brain aging and dementia.
So, how many times should one chew each bite of food? According to experts from the Chewing Society at Gifu University in Japan, each bite of food should be chewed at least 20 times to benefit from the saliva, and 30 times is even better. However, many people have developed the habit of eating quickly, making it difficult to switch to slow and thorough chewing. They either forget to do so or swallow after fewer than 10 chews.
For such individuals, it might help to include more chewy foods in their meals. For example, when cooking rice or porridge, consider adding corn, oats, peanuts, walnuts, sesame seeds, or various beans. When stir-frying or making salads, don't discard the stems or leaves of chewy vegetables like shepherd's purse, celery, spinach, Chinese cabbage, or amaranth. Nuts like chestnuts and sunflower seeds can also be added to dishes. For those who enjoy making soups, adding seaweed or lotus root can provide both nutrition and chewiness.
Source: Health Times
http:/ / big5. ce. cn/ gate/ big5/ ……/ 21/ t20071221_13995439. shtml
Xinmin Evening News, March 24, 2008
Many elderly people suffer from "old age tooth loss," where their front teeth fall out, molars (molars) become decayed and loose, and their teeth become incomplete. However, they are reluctant to seek treatment at the hospital's dental department. Some fear the pain of dental treatment, others find it troublesome, and some worry about the cost. As a result, they make do with what they have, eating only soft, mushy foods for their three daily meals, or swallowing food without chewing it properly. Little do they know that this practice is detrimental to their health for the following reasons:
1. Chewing with teeth serves to cut and grind food, and while chewing, it stimulates the salivary glands to secrete saliva, which reflexively promotes the secretion of gastric juices, aiding in digestion. If food is swallowed without being properly chewed, it does not mix with saliva containing digestive enzymes. Large chunks of food entering the stomach cannot fully interact with gastric juices containing stomach acid and digestive enzymes, inevitably affecting digestion.
2. Having incomplete teeth or no teeth at all limits one to eating only a few types of food, leading to a monotonous and bland diet. Over time, this will inevitably result in malnutrition.
3. Frequent daily chewing can exercise facial muscles and reduce facial wrinkles.
4. Not chewing regularly can lead to a dull brain, increasing the risk of senile dementia.
This is not an exaggeration. It is important to understand that the act of chewing is governed by the cerebral cortex, and the two have a mutually reinforcing relationship. During chewing, the repeated movement of the jaw joint promotes blood circulation in the brain and provides beneficial stimulation to the brain, thereby enhancing the function of the cerebral cortex and making the brain more agile. Additionally, chewing inevitably involves the movement of the tongue (which helps manipulate and arrange food in the mouth), and through neural reflexes, it stimulates the brain, enhances cognitive activities, improves comprehension and memory, prevents brain atrophy and degeneration, and boosts bodily functions, thereby preventing aging.
Researchers from Tohoku University in Japan have found that the nerve endings in teeth and periodontal tissues are connected to the brain, particularly to the areas responsible for memory. As elderly people lose teeth, the corresponding areas of the cerebral cortex responsible for memory also shrink. When teeth are incomplete or lost, the nerves around the teeth and gums lose their function, and the beneficial stimulation to the brain weakens. Over time, this will inevitably affect brain function.
Researchers from Nagoya University in Japan conducted an animal experiment where they extracted the teeth of 11-week-old rats to observe whether toothless rats would develop dementia. The results showed that among the rats that exhibited dementia symptoms around 130 weeks, the toothless rats had a significantly higher incidence compared to those with intact teeth.
From this, it is clear that taking care of your teeth and chewing thoroughly during meals can enhance brain function and improve overall bodily health. Elderly people who suffer from "old age tooth loss" should not ignore the issue. As people age, they should not resort to tooth extraction unnecessarily. If extraction is unavoidable or if teeth fall out naturally, they should be repaired as soon as possible, and dentures (false teeth) should be installed to maintain chewing function and prevent senile dementia.
Source: http://cn. beyondwhitespa. com/ Articles/ Tabloid/ Media/ 360. aspx
Chewing Boosts Saliva and Memory
Many people know that eating slowly and chewing thoroughly is not only beneficial for digestion but also a good way to prevent weight gain. In fact, the benefits of chewing more while eating go far beyond these. Researchers from the Chewing Society at Gifu University in Japan found that subjects who chewed their food for just two minutes saw a 30% increase in the accuracy of their answers to questions compared to usual. This result suggests that two minutes of chewing can enhance memory.
Researchers discovered that chewing stimulates the part of the brain responsible for memory. The cells in the hippocampus, the area of the brain that governs learning, tend to decline with age, leading to a decline in short-term memory. However, the act of chewing can increase the activity of hippocampal cells, preventing their aging. Researchers from Northumbria University in the UK also confirmed that chewing more can speed up heart activity, increase hormone secretion in the brain, and thereby improve thinking ability and memory.
Additionally, chewing can stimulate saliva production, and the area of the brain responsible for saliva secretion is closely related to memory and learning. Therefore, chewing more while eating, rinsing the mouth after meals, and frequently tapping teeth can help enhance brain vitality. For children, chewing more can promote brain development; for young and middle-aged adults, it can help improve work efficiency; and for the elderly, it can prevent brain aging and dementia.
So, how many times should one chew each bite of food? According to experts from the Chewing Society at Gifu University in Japan, each bite of food should be chewed at least 20 times to benefit from the saliva, and 30 times is even better. However, many people have developed the habit of eating quickly, making it difficult to switch to slow and thorough chewing. They either forget to do so or swallow after fewer than 10 chews.
For such individuals, it might help to include more chewy foods in their meals. For example, when cooking rice or porridge, consider adding corn, oats, peanuts, walnuts, sesame seeds, or various beans. When stir-frying or making salads, don't discard the stems or leaves of chewy vegetables like shepherd's purse, celery, spinach, Chinese cabbage, or amaranth. Nuts like chestnuts and sunflower seeds can also be added to dishes. For those who enjoy making soups, adding seaweed or lotus root can provide both nutrition and chewiness.
Source: Health Times
http:/ / big5. ce. cn/ gate/ big5/ ……/ 21/ t20071221_13995439. shtml
Elderly Chewing Habit May Prevent Dementia
Many elderly people suffer from "old age tooth loss," where their front teeth fall out, molars (molars) become decayed and loose, and their teeth become incomplete. However, they are reluctant to seek treatment at the hospital's dental department. Some fear the pain of dental treatment, others find it troublesome, and some worry about the cost. As a result, they make do with what they have, eating only soft, mushy foods for their three daily meals, or swallowing food without chewing it properly. Little do they know that this practice is detrimental to their health for the following reasons:
1. Chewing with teeth serves to cut and grind food, and while chewing, it stimulates the salivary glands to secrete saliva, which reflexively promotes the secretion of gastric juices, aiding in digestion. If food is swallowed without being properly chewed, it does not mix with saliva containing digestive enzymes. Large chunks of food entering the stomach cannot fully interact with gastric juices containing stomach acid and digestive enzymes, inevitably affecting digestion.
2. Having incomplete teeth or no teeth at all limits one to eating only a few types of food, leading to a monotonous and bland diet. Over time, this will inevitably result in malnutrition.
3. Frequent daily chewing can exercise facial muscles and reduce facial wrinkles.
4. Not chewing regularly can lead to a dull brain, increasing the risk of senile dementia.
This is not an exaggeration. It is important to understand that the act of chewing is governed by the cerebral cortex, and the two have a mutually reinforcing relationship. During chewing, the repeated movement of the jaw joint promotes blood circulation in the brain and provides beneficial stimulation to the brain, thereby enhancing the function of the cerebral cortex and making the brain more agile. Additionally, chewing inevitably involves the movement of the tongue (which helps manipulate and arrange food in the mouth), and through neural reflexes, it stimulates the brain, enhances cognitive activities, improves comprehension and memory, prevents brain atrophy and degeneration, and boosts bodily functions, thereby preventing aging.
Researchers from Tohoku University in Japan have found that the nerve endings in teeth and periodontal tissues are connected to the brain, particularly to the areas responsible for memory. As elderly people lose teeth, the corresponding areas of the cerebral cortex responsible for memory also shrink. When teeth are incomplete or lost, the nerves around the teeth and gums lose their function, and the beneficial stimulation to the brain weakens. Over time, this will inevitably affect brain function.
Researchers from Nagoya University in Japan conducted an animal experiment where they extracted the teeth of 11-week-old rats to observe whether toothless rats would develop dementia. The results showed that among the rats that exhibited dementia symptoms around 130 weeks, the toothless rats had a significantly higher incidence compared to those with intact teeth.
From this, it is clear that taking care of your teeth and chewing thoroughly during meals can enhance brain function and improve overall bodily health. Elderly people who suffer from "old age tooth loss" should not ignore the issue. As people age, they should not resort to tooth extraction unnecessarily. If extraction is unavoidable or if teeth fall out naturally, they should be repaired as soon as possible, and dentures (false teeth) should be installed to maintain chewing function and prevent senile dementia.
Source: http://cn. beyondwhitespa. com/ Articles/ Tabloid/ Media/ 360. aspx