Your Stomach Starts Working Before Food Arrives: What 30 Seconds of Chewing Actually Does
Gastroenterologists have discovered that your stomach begins its digestive work the moment you start chewing—before food even reaches your stomach. This cephalic phase response, first identified by Pavlov, can account for up to 62% of your stomach’s acid output and 50% of your total digestive response. Most people chew only 5-7 times per bite; experts recommend 20-30.