Chew well to get more energy from food you eat

A new study suggests that it is not about how much you bite off, but how much you chew, to retain more energy from the food that we consume.

"Particle size has bioaccessibility of the energy of the food that is being consumed," Dr. Richard Mattes (CQ), professor of foods and nutrition at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, said.

"The more you chew, the less is lost and more is retained in the body," he said.

Each individual has their own chewing habits, he said, and although those are often difficult to change they should be considered when making energy food choices.

The study found with fewer chews, the larger particles were eliminated by the body.

With more chews, the smaller particles were more readily absorbed into the system.