Cephalic Digestion: Metabolically Preparing to Eat

There is an important phase of digestion called cephalic digestion. Many of us don’t realize this is occurring, and it’s really what’s missing when we don’t cook at home.

As we see food, smell it, and think about it, we start metabolically preparing to eat, even though we don’t realize it.

What that means is our mouths start generating more saliva. There are enzymes in saliva that help us break down carbohydrates. As we swallow that saliva, it gets into the stomach, and the stomach says, “Oh, it’s time! Get ready for food. Get ready to break down proteins and absorb minerals.”

So stomach acid comes up, and everything is primed. Then the stomach acid tells the pancreas, “Hey, start producing some digestive enzymes, because food is incoming.” Basically, we’re getting ready.

So once you finally start eating, especially when you eat mindfully and slowly, chew well, and aren’t distracted by phones, screens, or the news, you have an opportunity to slowly digest the food and absorb it. This holiday season, that’s a lovely thing to give yourself at the table.

Learn more about your own personal digestion, gut health and more with a 1:1 Nutrition information session with Dana today.