Wait Loss

I read, recently, this most useful bit from a book called ‘Complications’ by Atul Gawande, a surgeon.
Quote
Human beings are subject to what scientists call a ‘fat paradox’. When food enters your stomach and duodenum (the upper portion of the small intestine), it triggers stretch receptors, protein receptors and fat receptors that signal “I am full”. Nothing stimulates the reaction more quickly than fat. Even a small amount, once it reaches the duodenum will cause a person to stop eating. Yet, we eat too much fat. How can this be?

The reason is speed. Foods can trigger receptors in the mouth to accelerate our intake – and, again, the most potent stimulant is fat. A little bit on the tongue, and the receptors push us to eat fast, before the gut signals shut us down. We eat fast not by chewing faster, but by chewing less. In other words, we gulp.
Unquote.

The lesson that I took away from Complications was to mimic the bovine: eat slowly, chew your food and enjoy your meal (have you ever seen a dissatisfied cow?).

Any benefits other than keeping your weight in check ? Yes, eating less apparently means living longer as well.

The first evidence that mammalian longevity could be increased came in 1935; restricting calories (without malnutrition) in rodents could delay the onset of diseases and extend life. In the July 2009 issue of Science, scientists reported that a 20 year study on rhesus monkeys showed substantially reducing caloric intake leads to longer lifespans in primates. An interesting lesson in this study was also that a low calorie diet started at any point in adulthood brings rewards of a longer lifespan, complete prevention of diabetes and, indeed, remarkable brain health. While humans live longer than primates and are (allegedly) more capable, the conclusions are obvious. Poetically put:

Fend off potent yellow fat
Keep the carbs far way
Chew in
deliberate circular motion
Prolong your stay.

(with apologies for some poetic licence)