Why Cooking Matters
What if you could improve your health simply by cooking more meals at home and dining out less?
Does it really matter if you cook at home or dine out? Is the food you prepare at home healthier than fast food?
I believe that it does matter. And that food prepared at home can be healthier than fast food or restaurant food. Or even healthier than the latest trend I’ve seen locally of ready-to-cook or heat meals prepared in the grocery.
For many reasons:
You know exactly what is in your food. Without having to decipher a label.
You know the quality of the ingredients, since you choose them all.
You also know how fresh your food is. Especially if you’re buying locally.
You control portion size.
You can avoid allergens, with more certainty.
You can avoid unhealthy oils and other unhealthy ingredients.
You can involve the whole family!
Perhaps you don’t know it, but there is one more important benefit to cooking at home. That is the benefit to your digestion. And that goes beyond the quality of the ingredients. It’s something you may not know about digestion.
WHERE DOES DIGESTION BEGIN? AND, WHY DOES IT MATTER?
To understand how to optimize digestion or even to just remedy or prevent indigestion, it helps to first understand how digestion works. The first thing to know is where it starts.
Most people might say that digestion starts in the stomach or even the intestines. Yet, chewing is the first step in the physical digestion of our food. And, in the mouth we have enzymes that begin to digest starch. You might say, then, that digestion begins in the mouth, right?
Not really. The actual, physiological digestion of food does begin in the mouth, but that’s not the whole story. In fact, digestion begins in your brain.
THE BRAIN STARTS IT ALL
When you see or smell or even think of food, your brain transmits signals through the vagus nerve that begin to wake up your digestive system. Production of enzymes, bile, and stomach acid increase, preparing the digestive tract for food.
The mouth begins excreting enzymes, hence we talk about mouth-watering foods. The stomach increases its acid production, essential for proper digestion. Enzymes are ready and waiting for that anticipated food. Digestion is improved when the system is notified in advance and can prepare for incoming food. Without that advanced warning, your system isn’t ready for the food. Thus it may not be properly digested.
Think of the difference between preparing a meal at home or even smelling food as it is cooked versus grabbing a hamburger at the drive-thru. In the former case, the digestive system is prepared for the meal. The latter, though? Not so much. That drive-thru hamburger may have been thought about, but it’s not likely to have prepared your digestive system. You’ve set your system up for failure. And indigestion, since your system doesn’t have what it needs to digest that burger.
IT’S ALSO THE BEST NATURAL REMEDY FOR INDIGESTION
Hmmm. Is it possible that the reason for indigestion following a fast-food meal is because of poor digestion? When you eat fast food, you don’t give your system any time to prepare for the food you send it. The problem is compounded because we typically eat that drive-thru meal in a hurry. And too often that meal is full of poor quality, processed foods. All of which set us up for indigestion.
What is the best natural remedy for indigestion? It’s the same as how you can optimize your digestion. Here are some suggestions:
OPTIMIZE YOUR DIGESTION
One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. — Luciano Pavarotti
When possible, plan and cook your meals at home.
Be mindful when you’re eating. Focus on eating and not on television or social media.
Chew each bite thoroughly.
Become aware of the quality of the foods that you’re eating. Learn to make better choices.
And if you must eat that drive-thru burger, start thinking about how good that burger will taste on your drive to the burger shack. Stop and take the time to eat it slowly, savoring every bite. (But make that burger the exception, not the rule.)
How do you make the change? Simple. One step at a time. You can’t change everything at once. That’s a recipe for failure. You have to start with just one change. And making that one change a bit of habit. Then move on to the next change. And the next. Some find that my simple steps program is a good way to start making those changes. If that interests you, check out Simple Steps to a Healthier You.
My husband and I made the switch at the start of the pandemic. Which made it easier. We had been averaging, pre-pandemic, 7 to 8 meals out each week. Which was a lot! Now it’s more like 2 to 4 depending on the week.
NOT CONVINCED?
Here are some other things to consider:
Overall, you’ll spend less time on meals. Even with planning & shopping, preparation and clean up. Compare that to time driving to and from restaurants plus all the time spent waiting.
You’ll definitely save money!
You’ll feel healthier.
You’ll eat less.
Less temptation to have dessert!
What do you think? Do you already cook at home? Good for you?
Or are you ready to learn more?