Comments
lemachet t1_iucpnju wrote
Oh wait,.does this explain corn?
jlharper t1_iucq4z3 wrote
No, like other whole grains we digest corn very efficiently with little to no trace of the grain left once it passes through our system. The shell around the kernel - called the pericarp - is much harder to digest though, so we just pass it whole.
EspritFort t1_iucryru wrote
>is much harder to digest though, so we just pass it whole.
That's the point though - properly masticated that thing absolutely gets digested.
jlharper t1_iucssdw wrote
Better strap in and set aside some serious chewing time if your goal is to entirely masticate all 800ish corn kernel pericarps, assuming you're eating a whole cob.
bah77 t1_iudun7n wrote
Does it, or do you just not notice 500 little bits of corn rather than one whole bit when it comes out the other side?
[deleted] t1_iucqaxs wrote
[deleted]
hasdigs t1_iucne2p wrote
Because it would take to long. Let's say you have a gobstopper and you want to disolve it in acid. You could put it in acid but the acid is only contacting the out side layer. Once the outside layer is dissolved then it can start on the next one, then the next one. But if I smash the gobstopper into dust then put it into acid now the acid is in contact with all of it at the same time. Chewing also mixes saliva through the food which aids in digestion.the stomach also churns the food to help mechanically break it up but it isn't very good compared to chewing so if you didn't chew anything you are making more work for your stomach.
StrangeDimension2 t1_iuddk4e wrote
Everyone already explained that chewing breaks food down into smaller pieces which are easier to digest (which is true). But there's more: the first digestive enzyme that has contact with food is im your saliva. It's called amylase and breaks down carbohydrates into sugars. That's why bread starts to taste sweet if you chew it for a really long time. Also, chewing and swallowing send out signals to your stomach/ bowels so that it can prepare for the arrival of food to digest
Prestigious-Pitch-60 t1_iucx6v0 wrote
Aside from being hard to swallow..
You have chemicals in ur stomach called enzymes that break down the food so your body can absorb all that nutrients. When we chew food, we increase the surface area of it, meaning we break it down to smaller pieces. When the surface area is increased, the enzymes in your stomach are able to break down your food much quicker and easier. Think of it like if you put a 10g sugar cube into a cup of hot water and put 10g of sugar crystals into another cup of hot water which do u think will dissolve first? It’s gonna be the sugar crystals because all the sugar molecules can easily be reached rather than the cube because it still has to break down as it dissolves. Chewing works the same way. So technically you don’t have to chew your food because the enzymes in your stomach will break everything down anyway, but it’s nicer to have a healthy digestive system that will give you pain free toilet times ^^
[deleted] t1_iuckfdv wrote
[removed]
_Prncess_Brde_sux_ t1_iuckl4b wrote
Because if you don't chew your food you could block your airwave and die because you're not getting enough oxygen and you're sitting there getting all blue because your food won't go down your throat because our bodies aren't made to swallow things whole.
Iranor90 t1_iuckwwx wrote
That and to create more surface on the food so that the acid in your stomach has an easier time breaking it down
Cloutless6722 t1_iuckvhu wrote
Also, a good safety mechanism. If you can't chew it, you probably can't swallow/digest it.
[deleted] t1_iuckub9 wrote
[removed]
MikuEmpowered t1_iucyh9z wrote
Ever chucked a huge chunk of sugar block into water? note how its extremely slow to dissolve?
Same with food, the more you chew, the smaller the food bits become, this overall increases the total area your stomach acid can interact with the food.
When you don't chew, and just swallow an entire brisket full, it will take a long time and too much energy for the body to process, and in turn, decide that it's not worth the effort/energy and just pass it out.
VulcanVisions t1_iuk7bty wrote
Surface area, the area available for your stomach enzymes to attack to break molecules down, increases with the smaller a particle is.
So the more you masticate (chew), the smaller the pieces, the greater the surface area, and the easier time the enzymes have digesting the food.
EspritFort t1_iucn4om wrote
>what is the point of chewing food thoroughly if your stomach will digest everything anyway?
Your food having been chewed thoroughly is a requirement for it to be digested properly. Otherwise all the enzymes and carrier fluids involved in the digestion process have no surface area to attack. In that case the food will be excreted undigested.