Training & Nutrition - Chewing food

I don't think I chew my food enough, and that may result in some digestion problems. As a general rule, how many chews would suffice as enough? I've heard 8, 30, and 40, but wow that's a lot. Of course it depends on the food (potatoes VS ribeye) but I wonder. I ate sushi rolls tonight, and I think there was plenty of rice that wasn't even chewed on. I think from now on I'll start by at least 10-15. Any input about importance of chewing?

i dont chew my food at all, well i do but not that much, i end up having to drink allot of water tho kuz it gets clogged in my throat, well like halfway down the food pipe. But thats fine with me haha.

As long as it goes down my pipe I'd say it's chewed up enough. Having digestion problems from food being too large sounds strange, but I'm the farthest thing from a doctor. I think counting the numbers of chews would drive a person insane though. I'd say chew whatever it is you're eating until it's a paste and slides on down.

this thread is the silliest thing i've read today.

Counting the number of times you chew your food is a sign of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Well apparently the more you chew the food the more its pulverized and the easier it is for you digestive system to break down the food even more. Also if you chew your food say 40 times it gives your intestines time to signal to your brain that your not hungry anymore so you won't over eat. I'm not sure what you've been eating but make sure you eat some roughage, it helps out a lot. Also i find that probiotics/flora helps out quite a bit with food digestion. It fills your intestine back up with healthy bacteria which aids in digestion. It also supposedly acts like our second immune system which is why we get tired after a crappy meal becuase these little guys attack unknown foriegn evil doers in our so called food which takes a lot of work causing us to get sleepy so our body can get this crap while we nap.

Here is the answer to your dilemma. Prior to eating, run all of your food through this:
http://www.cuisinart.com/share/img/full/46_full.jpg