The Forgotten Magic of Smelling, Tasting, and Chewing: Why Digestion Starts Before You Swallow
- Orie Quinn
- May 19
- 3 min read
There’s something sacred about the moment we sit down to eat. But too often, food becomes a checkbox. A chore. A multitasking moment between emails, car rides, or Netflix episodes. Yet the human body—your body—was never meant to digest in a rush. It was designed with intention, with intelligence, and with a rhythm that starts long before your first bite. Let me show you what I mean.
Digestion Begins Before You Swallow
Your digestive system doesn't wait for food to reach your stomach. It starts the moment you see or smell a meal. This early stage, known as the cephalic phase of digestion, is your body's way of saying, "Get ready—something nourishing is coming." In fact, this phase alone accounts for up to 30% of your digestive secretions. It's a symphony of responses that begin the moment you pause and truly engage with your food. Let’s look at what’s happening under the surface…
Smell: The First Whisper of Digestion
When you smell food—whether it’s the earthy richness of roasted garlic or the sweetness of a fresh peach—your brain gets the first signal. Your olfactory system sends messages to the hypothalamus, activating your parasympathetic nervous system (that’s your rest-and-digest mode). This kicks off:
Saliva production
Gastric juice release in the stomach
The quiet anticipation of insulin and digestive enzymes
It’s subtle. But powerful. Your body starts preparing before a single bite enters your mouth.
Taste: The Body Listens Closely
Once food touches your tongue, your taste buds awaken. They don’t just give you flavor—they speak to your brain. Sweet, sour, bitter, salty, umami… each one tells your body what’s coming and how to respond. This phase:
Signals the vagus nerve, deepening the digestive response
Encourages gastric acid production
Primes pancreatic enzymes and bile flow
Even triggers a small release of insulin, preparing your cells to receive incoming glucose
Every flavor is like a messenger, guiding the body with what to expect and how to respond.
Chewing: The Sacred First Step
Then comes the often overlooked art of chewing. This isn’t just about breaking food down into smaller pieces (though that matters too—it increases the surface area for enzymes to work more effectively). Chewing also:
Increases saliva filled with amylase (for carbs) and lipase (for fats)
Stimulates the jaw’s mechanoreceptors, reinforcing your vagus nerve’s "green light" for digestion
Gives the gut a chance to prepare, easing the load on the stomach and small intestine
Slows you down, helping your body register fullness and calm your nervous system
It’s your first act of intentional nourishment.
Why This Matters
We live in a world that prizes speed, but our biology was built for slowness and connection. When we smell, taste, and chew with presence, we allow our body to do what it was beautifully designed to do—digest, absorb, heal, and thrive. This is why so many people struggle with digestive discomfort, blood sugar swings, fatigue, and food sensitivities… not because their bodies are broken, but because their rhythms have been disrupted.
A Purposeful Relationship With Food
Food is not just fuel—it’s a relationship. And relationships need attention, care, and intention. So here’s my gentle challenge to you:
Next time you eat, let it be a ritual, not a routine. Smell your food. Let your mouth water. Taste each bite. Chew slowly. Breathe between bites.
Let your body fully receive what you’re offering it. Because this isn’t just about digestion.
It’s about trust. Connection. And a return to the innate intelligence that lives within you.
Want to explore more about how your body communicates through food and digestion?
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