Eating is the way we take in food to give our bodies the
energy and nutrients we need to grow and stay healthy. For thousands of years,
people in the East have been eating with their hands, and it's considered a
refined, scientific, spiritual, and logical way of eating that connects our
body, mind, and soul.
When you think about it, our fingers are pretty amazing
tools that have evolved over time to help us eat. They make eating a more
natural and enjoyable experience, and they even help us digest our food more
effectively. It's like they were made specifically for this purpose! Eating
with our hands is not only practical but also a satisfying way to nourish
ourselves.
The Science of Fingertip Sensitivity:
Did you know that our fingertips are incredibly sensitive
and sophisticated? They have millions of nerve endings that are so precise,
they can detect even the tiniest details. These nerve endings communicate with
the brain and the rest of the body by processing and sending relevant signals.
In Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, it's
believed that the nerve endings in our fingertips can actually improve
digestion. This is because they are hyper-sensitive to the temperature and
texture of the food we touch. Studies have shown that our bodies even react to
the touch of food by releasing necessary chemicals, even before we put the food
in our mouths. It's amazing to think that our fingertips can play such a big
role in the digestive process!
Our fingers play an important role in preparing our bodies
for digestion. When we touch and handle our food, the information is sent to
our brain, which triggers the release of digestive juices that are needed to
break down the food. This preps our stomach to receive the food and starts the
digestion process quickly and effectively. It's like our fingers are working
together with our brain and stomach to make sure we can digest our food
properly.
Transfer of Energy from Finger to Food:
According to ancient texts, the Universe is made up of five
basic elements: Fire, Air, Space, Earth, and Water. In Ayurveda, the fingers
are believed to be an extension and receiver of these elements, with each
finger representing a specific element from nature.
The thumb represents Fire, the index finger represents Air,
the middle finger represents Space, the ring finger represents Earth, and the
little finger represents Water. When we touch our food with our fingers, we
activate these five components and infuse the food with cosmic energy.
But that's not all - when we touch our food, it also helps
to release digestive juices in our stomach and transfer the energy from the
food to our fingers and then to our body. The collective energy and transfer of
these five elements also help us to assimilate our food better. It's pretty
amazing to think that our fingers can play such an important role in the energy
and digestion of our food!
Amplification of Sensory Experience:
Food has the power to make us feel secure, connected,
satisfied, and even passionate. Eating is a very sensory experience that
engages all of our senses - our senses of smell, sight, touch, and taste. When
it comes to enjoying food, texture plays a big role, and our hands are the
perfect tool for exploring the feel, consistency, and makeup of what we're
eating.
Using our hands to eat brings together all of these sensory
experiences in every bite. The touch and feel of the food on our fingers send a signal to our brain, preparing our body to receive the food. This is why we
start to salivate as soon as our fingers touch the food - our body knows that
something delicious is about to happen! Ultimately, eating with our hands is a
more wholesome and satisfying experience that makes our food taste and feel
even better.
Help with Weight Loss:
According to a study published in the Journal of Consulting
and Clinical Psychology, families who ate with their hands were more aware of
their eating habits. They were less likely to indulge in unnecessary snacking
and ate only when they were hungry. Additionally, they were more mindful of
their fullness cues. The research found that overweight children between the
ages of 8 and 12 reduced their binge eating after being trained to eat with
their hands, ultimately leading to improved health over time.
Eating with your hands helps regulate the hormone Leptin more effectively. Leptin is made by your body's fat cells and sends a signal to your brain when you've had enough to eat. When you eat with your hands, you take smaller bites and eat slower, giving Leptin enough time to work properly and communicate with your brain. Two studies published in the journal Appetite showed that people who ate with their hands while watching TV or reading a newspaper felt less hungry a snack time, leading to smaller snacks and fewer calories consumed throughout the day. Researchers found that eating with your hands can promote a feeling of fullness and satiety, which can help you lose weight more quickly than using utensils.
Helps to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes:
Assists in Managing Portion Control:
Eating with hands involves more careful consideration of
each bite. This means paying attention to factors such as how the food is
picked up, its temperature, how much can be taken at once, and how the hand
must be held to keep the food in it. Since every hand is unique in size and
shape, each bite is proportionate to an individual's specific needs, unlike a
standardized spoon size for all.
For example, a child's fingers will only be able to hold a
small amount of food that is proportionate to the size of their mouth and body.
Similarly, someone with a smaller body type will have smaller fingers, while a
taller person will have larger hands. Eating with hands also tends to be a
slower process, allowing enough time for the food to reach the intestines and
for hormones to signal the brain when the body is full. This process aids in
better digestion and helps avoid any stomach-related issues.
Performs as a Pre-Filter:
When eating with hands, one can use their fingers as a
safety check to ensure that the food is safe to consume. They can check the
temperature and feel for any bones or seeds before putting the food in their
mouth, preventing any potential burns or choking hazards. This process allows
individuals to assess the texture and aroma of the food before deciding whether
to eat it or not. It acts as a filter for every bite, ensuring safety and
enhancing sensory engagement with the food. This also helps to improve
awareness of the textures, flavors, and aromas as one eats.
Makes Blood Circulation Better:
Conclusion:
In conclusion, we have seen that eating with our hands is
not just a tradition or cultural practice, but it also has several health
benefits. From improved digestion to increased awareness of the food we eat,
using our hands to eat engages our senses and enhances our dining experience.
Additionally, using our hands to eat is a sustainable practice that eliminates
the need for disposable utensils and reduces waste. While there may be some
cultural stigmas or social pressures against eating with our hands, we should
feel confident in embracing this practice as a healthy and natural way of
enjoying our meals. By using our hands to eat, we can connect with our food in
a more meaningful way and foster a greater appreciation for the nourishment it
provides.
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