Ruminations

Enjoying Food ... Slowly

"Eating more slowly may be a crucial lifestyle change to help prevent metabolic syndrome."
"When people eat fast they tend not to feel full and are more likely to overeat. Eating fast causes bigger glucose fluctuation, which can lead to insulin resistance."
Dr. Takayuki Yamaji, cardiologist, Hiroshima University

"It's a reminder that many of us have hectic lifestyles which may include eating quickly at the desk over lunchtime, or in a rush commuting home."
Professor Jeremy Pearson, British Heart Foundation

"Being overweight increases your risk of ischemic stroke by 22 percent, and if you are obese, the risk increases by 64 percent, so tackling obesity is crucial."
"There are a number of steps we can all take ... including eating a balanced diet, taking regular exercise, and having a regular blood pressure check."
Esmee Russell, British Stroke Association

Taking time over food could help prevent obesity Credit: Getty

Scientists conclude as a result of their studies that eating too quickly results in the brain not 'noticing' when too many calories have been taken in. The body then stores those calories that are unneeded, extraneous to energy needs, as fat. And the eventual build-up of fat, particularly in the region of the abdomen, places internal pressure on the viscera, the heart and other internal organs. It has become evident through studies that eating too quickly appears to cause blood-sugar spikes.

Maturity-onset (Type 2) diabetes occurs when people in their mid-years of adulthood are sedentary and overweight. The combination of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity not only can damage blood vessels, but any body hosting all three of these health conditions spells a dangerous threat to longevity. Recently, research was presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2017 that point out people eating food too quickly are five times likelier to develop symptoms raising the risk of a heart attack, than those who eat their food thoughtfully and leisurely.

Japanese scientists discovered that people who take the time to deliberately eat slowly are also less likely to put on weight, or to develop metabolic syndrome, representing a group of dangerous health problems, exemplified by high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. These are symptoms that lead to other, even more serious health conditions, threatening to life and limb, literally. Diabetic neuropathy is the cause of serious eye failure and neuropathic conditions that can lead to amputations.

For their study, the Japanese researchers tracked over a thousand middle-aged men and women for a five-year period, where their eating patterns and general health were monitored. That led to a finding that 2.3 percent of the slow eaters developed metabolic syndrome, while 6.5 percent of medium-speed (normal) eaters, and a whopping 11.6 percent of the fast eaters came away with metabolic syndrome, reflective of the manner in which they consumed their food.

The obvious conclusion is that those who eat taking the least amount of time to do so turned out to be five times likelier to develop symptoms raising the risk of a heart attack, diabetes and stroke. Average weight gain of roughly 19 pounds was also three times more likely to occur in the speedy eaters.