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The Stomach has no teeth according to ancient Chinese wisdom therefore the recommendation is to chew your food '100 times' or 'until it is water'. Of course, it is the chewing of food and mixing it with saliva is the first stage in the digestive process. Next time you have something to eat, count how many times you chew. While 100 chews may be a little extreme, the idea of chewing your food more is worth consideration.   It is also noteworthy that chewing while not actually eating is also detrimental to the digestive process. This means chewing gum or god forbid chewing tobacco, straws etc...

The way one eats is also important – we should eat in a calm and relaxed environment, enjoying and focusing on our food. If we are distracted; for instance if we eat in front of television or whilst reading, then our digestion suffers. Sadly, fewer and fewer of us really take pleasure in food, and modern life dictates that we must eat 'on the run'. However, if you can, eating sitting at a table and taking time to enjoy your food allows your Qi to do its work undistracted and your digestion will benefit.  Ancient Chinese wisdom also says better to not eat than to eat while emotionally disturbed.

Finally, the time we eat is important. The American nutritionist Adelle Davis is best known for  her sound advice to 'eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper' which fits exactly with the Chinese viewpoint. The digestive system is at its strongest from 7-11am and at its weakest from 7-11pm, so it is wise to have a large breakfast and a small evening meal (ideally no later than 7pm). For those looking to lose weight, this is doubly important – if any further proof were needed, bear in mind that Japanese sumo wrestlers do the opposite and eat massive meals late in the evening in order to maintain their weight!

As a reminder, we will be closed on Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th for Christmas.  We will be back in the office to fulfill orders on Saturday the 26th.  Happy Holidays!

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