Some dishes, such as soups and noodles, require cutlery to indulge in. Other foods, like burgers and naan, are better enjoyed when eaten with hands. However, there are many dishes in between where the debate on the utility of cutlery rages on.
“There's a reason some people believe eating with your hands can improve your digestion, but it's probably not the one you've heard of,” shared Dr Sood. He was referring to the popular theory that the fingertips send signals to the brain before one starts to eat, triggering the digestive process.
However, that is not the case, as the physician pointed out, “Just seeing, smelling, and even touching your food sends signals to your brain that a meal is on the way.”
Before a person swallows a single bite, their brain is already telling their salivary glands, stomach, and pancreas to get ready by releasing saliva, stomach acid, and digestive enzymes. This is called the syphalic phase of digestion.
According to Dr Sood, “Eating with your hands may add to that sensory experience because you're feeling the texture and temperature of your food.”
While there is no strong evidence yet that the fingertips contain special nerves that directly improve digestion, a major reason for the apparent benefit may simply be that eating becomes a more sensory experience, allowing the brain to better prepare the digestive system before that first bite, noted Dr Sood.
Dr Kunal Sood, MD, is a double board-certified physician in Anesthesiology and Interventional Pain Medicine. He did his residency and fellowship in anesthesiology at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, followed by a one-year fellowship in interventional pain medicine. He later became the Medical Director of the office in Germantown, Maryland.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.
Debapriya Bhattacharya is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times. He started his career in 2022, working in newsrooms in beats like education, US news, trending stories, and entertainment. In his new role in the lifestyle desk, he seeks to deliver a balanced blend of research-driven reporting and creative storytelling from health and recipes to art and culture. Science, philosophy, food and pop culture are what pump his veins and help bring heart to his stories. Debapriya tries to see out subjects that will allow him and readers to explore new frontiers and improve the quality of life for all. The explorations can be both external and internal, as thoughts seek to be as chaotic as the greater universe. As a citizen of the world, Debapriya has been fascinated by the lives of people across the globe throughout time. His curiosity leads him to explore new linguistic and cultural landscapes to broaden his horizons and deepen his understanding of global narratives. Beyond the newsroom, Debapriya loves to participate in debate and theatre, spaces that he considers to be holy grounds for nuance and self-expression. A graduate from Ashutosh College, University of Calcutta, Debapriya completed his Master's degree from the same university in 2022. An ambiverted bibliophile, he loves his solitude as much as he adores stimulating conversations. And despite his reverence for tech, libraries continue to be his favourite place for research.Read More
