When I was growing up we always said grace before every meal. It was a tradition that was part of the religion I grew up with.

Now taking a picture of your meal seems to have become the norm.

But should you stop saying grace just because you put it in the category of religious and you're not really a religious person?

I would argue no.

There is actually a very practical reason to take a few minutes and a pause before eating a meal.

Digestion is a parasympathetic activity. The parasympathetic nervous system is the part of your nervous system that controls rest, relaxation, repair, and digestion.

As opposed to the sympathetic nervous system which controls fight, flight, or freeze.

You can't be in both at the same time. It's like a light switch. And the fastest way to switch from sympathetic to parasympathetic is taking a few deep breaths.

So if you want to optimize digestion, and reduce bloating, belching, burping, heartburn, and even constipation, think about switching the light switch.

Slow down before you eat. Take a few deep breaths. Have gratitude for the meal in front of you. Chew your food several times before swallowing. When you eat, only eat...no driving, working on the computer, watching TV, etc.

Optimize conditions for your body to digest properly.

You are not just what you eat. You are what you absorb.

Now I would love to hear from you! Do you take your time to digest properly? Leave a comment below and I'll be back next week with another edition of Doctor as Teacher Tuesday!