A-Z Challenge is
Aging into Longevity
Living things
would not be able
to sustain life with-
out enzymes. The
name "enzyme" is
a generic term for
a protein catalyst
that is made within
the cells.
When I was younger, I never knew, or gave a
fiddle dee dee about enzymes and why there are
so many different kinds. For instance, the digestive
enzyme, Amylase is found in saliva and reacts only
to carbs. Enzymes are now being recognized as a key
element controlling health.
Chewing is to the 1st stage of digestion, as enzyme is
to saliva when it begins to break down the food.
When I reached 80 trips around the Sun, I began to
realize the importance of good digestion and
it's direct relationship to food and the preparation.
The simple thing to remember is to CHEW, CHEW
CHEW. Let the food turn to liquid in your mouth
before you swallow. The gulpers of big food will
certainly be in trouble as they age.
Now here's a subject I wish I had started on long
before the realization hit me that I was growing old.
I only eat what I can chew, the rest of it, nope. Thankfully I figured this one out, digestion thanks me too haha
ReplyDeletePat
DeleteYou are lucky that you are ahead of the game.
See, I told you it was boring. Ha
My Bollywood Princess Angie is the princess of Chew Chew Land. And, you're right, it works.
DeleteOne of the things my "new" doctor here in Jax found when working up a nutritional analysis for me was that my body didn't make the enzyme that converts folic acid into whatever folic acid does. Ergo, I could take tons of folic acid and have it not do a thing. I think it also related to my constant state of constipation. Anyway, there is something I take now called MTHP (or something like that) that turns that folic acid into something useful. Once I started taking that I became "regular." For the first time. Ever. Who'd a thunk it?
ReplyDeleteNow I know to CHEW CHEW CHEW. The learning never ends:)
Robin
DeleteWell, thank god for that. Nothing worse. Do you think that constipation could be connected to your headaches? It's connected to everything. All I ever used to hear is "death begins in the colon."
That's amazing. I'll have to look at it more. I like to know these things. There is always so much controversy about medical things.
Learning never ends. No way. I learn something every day and there's still tons of stuff out there that I want to learn.
via Google:
Delete"Folic acid is a form of the water-soluble vitamin B9. Folic acid is a key factor in the making (synthesis) of nucleic acid - nucleic acid is one of a family of large molecules including DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).
The human body does not store folic acid, we have to consume it every day in order to make sure we have adequate amounts."
Me: Folic acid is most important in women of child-bearing age as it helps to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida.
Manzi is right, constipation does contribute to headaches, a blocked or sluggish system is the fault of other problems too, such as poor skin and bad breath, and back pain can be caused by an overpacked bowel pressing on other muscles and nerves.
I've learned so much from your posts so far. Will definitely be back! Thanks so much. Enjoy your A to Z :)
ReplyDeleteauntyamo x
auntyamo..com
DeleteI guess you don't have comments on your blog. I was there.
Thanks for visiting with me.
I have to take digestive enzyme supplements. Thank you, screwed up digestive system.
ReplyDeleteThey are important, however you get them.
Ruth
ReplyDeleteI wonder if we got everything just right and it all fit's together, if we can't eliminate the need for the extra help from herbs or chemicals. Just a thought.
Hopefully when I get my gut healed, I won't need them anymore. I am looking forward to that.
DeleteKaren
ReplyDeleteI don't know. I'm just a student in this way of life, like everyone seems to be. Even the medical situation can't seem to agree on what to use and what to toss.
Excellent point and thanks for the reminder. I really try but sometimes I have eaten and don't remember much about it. Pretty sure not much chewing went on. Honest, I will try again.
ReplyDeletePatti
DeleteI've always been a slow eater because I chewed so much. A long time ago someone told me to count to 50 chews and I got in that habit but after a while I no longer counted. lol. Whenever I ate out with people I was always the last one ffinished. Kind of embarrassing though.
OK I'm watching and counting your chews. Ha
I'm trying to think now how I chew, lol!! I think I'm in the middle. I don't gulp and I probably don't chew long enough.
ReplyDeleteRosey,
DeleteYeah, eating is so automatic ..... thank goodness. I used to be macrobiotic for many years and chewing is one thing they stress. At the macro dinners it was always very silent because everyone was so busy chewing. LOL
I remember as a child I was always the last to finish eating my meals because I took so long chewing. A lot of the problem was the meat portion, if it was lamb, which I could chew and chew and chew, but never swallow. Especially if it was fried. Stews and casseroles were easier for me, and still are, as the long slow cooking breaks down the fibres. But I still can't eat lamb, I dislike the taste.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that it took you so long to realise the importance of good digestion.
Carbs are as important as the rest of the diet, just don't overdo it. Carbs are the brain fuel, I've heard.
ReplyDeleteHi Manazanita .. chewing has always been a prerogative ... and yes if we eat chunks of meat ... we almost certainly will have a problem. Breaking our food down is helpful - but we need to have meat to chew because our teeth need to be used ...
ReplyDeleteCheers Hilary
I will chew on this
ReplyDeleteChew, chew, chew.
ReplyDeleteI shall, I shall.
So, choo, choo, choo,
I can, I can.
You know I don't chew my food well enough. I do have a bottle of digestive enzymes in the fridg though.
ReplyDelete