Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Do you masticate when you drink?

I know it sounds kinky, but it's a perfectly innocent question. To masticate is to chew and some people advocate "chewing" your juice before swallowing it despite the fact there is nothing of substance to grab hold of. Chewing stimulates the production of saliva and with it digestive enzymes that help get things going, as it were.

I had read that you aren't supposed to mix fruits and vegetables when you juice (with the exception of the "cross-over" fruit and vegetable, the apple and carrot. Apparently these are confused vegetative forms that are AC-DC, if you will). They have fundamentally different enzymes and can upset your guts when thrown together. However, the masticating camp says this is bunk, that as long as you drink slowly and mock-chew every bite, you're body can prepare for what is about to hit it. Ultimately, it would have the same effect as eating a salad followed by peach cobbler.
Personally, my verdict is still out. I will certainly heed the advice of slowing down to enjoy my shakes more, but superstition and/or past experience still has me segregating my fruits and veggies.

No comments: