Chewing food changes the metabolism resulting in weight loss, a new research shows.
Researchers at the Tokyo Institute of Technology studied previous studies to see any association between chewing food and energy expenditure from food digestion, absorption and storage.
Researchers Yuka Hamada Hideaki Kashima and Naoyuki Hayashi said that the latest study is the first quantitative study to understand the link between chewing and physiological factors following a meal such as circulation and energy expenditure. "If chewing alters digestion-induced thermogenesis, its importance should be incorporated into weight management strategies," researchers wrote in the study, reports MedicalXpress.
For the study the researchers at Kyushu University and Tokyo Institute of Technology examined 21 healthy participants with normal weight. Half were given 100kcal solid food and the other half were told to take 300 kcal of solid food. Participants underwent two experiments. In one experiment they were asked to swallow the food as rapidly as possible and in the other to chew as many times as possible.
The study results showed that the energy expenditure from digestion, absorption and storage of food, which is also called 'diet-induced thermogenesis," correlated with the number of chews.
The study found that slower eating and more chews resulted in more energy expenditure. Researchers noted that previous studies found that increased orosensory stimulation enhances energy expenditure. They said they believe that the findings may have something to do with the effects of food consumption on diet-induced thermogenesis. "These findings suggest a partial link between obesity trends and chewing," researchers concluded.
The study titled "The number of chews and meal duration affect diet-induced thermogenesis and splanchnic circulation," was published in the journal 'Obesity.'
