By Ashima Sharda Mahindra

Copyright timesnownews

Eating with your hands is an ancient Indian concept, still followed in most households. While using cutlery does define a more sophisticated way of eating, using your fingers has always been given priority among Indians, who love to feel their food as well. However, it’s not just that; there are many scientific reasons behind doing so—and proper digestion is one among them. Not just in India, many other cultures—Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Greek – some of the most advanced civilizations of their time—always practiced eating with their hands as a way to intuitively prepare their bodies for stress-free digestion. How does eating with your hands help? According to experts, using your hands to eat emphasises the role of touch in stimulating digestive enzymes and balancing your body’s energies. Apart from helping you get into mindful eating, eating with your hands also helps slow down the process. Since you can feel the food, the texture, aroma, and the visual connection with your meal, sensory engagement is a major part of regulating digestion. Prevents bloating Doctors say eating slowly helps you chew the food properly – thereby increasing the production of saliva, which contains enzymes that are critical for breaking down carbohydrates. Slow eating also prevents bloating – a major component of indigestion and discomfort. When your senses get fully involved, your alertness levels can prevent overeating. Reduces stress One of the major physiological benefits of eating with hands includes reducing stress levels. Experts say when your stress is really high, digestion tends to slow down – leading to bloating, acidity, and poor nutrient absorption. And so, eating with your hands naturally promotes mindfulness, which lowers cortisol, the stress hormone, and improves overall gut function. Improves gut health Eating with your fingers not only makes the food enjoyable but also strengthens your gut health. Doctors say the moment your fingers touch food, your brain gets the message to prepare for digestion, stimulating the gut-brain axis and enhancing saliva production, digestive enzyme release, and gut motility. It reduces bloating, indigestion, and discomfort as well. Helps in the formation of beneficial bacteria Since your hands naturally carry beneficial bacteria, they contribute to gut health. When you eat with your hands, the gut gets exposed to these microbes in small amounts – supporting microbial diversity. How to eat with your hands without making a mess? If you have not tried it earlier, you may wonder how you can eat without making a mess. The good news – experts say – is that this practice is not about grabbing handfuls of food but about eating with intention, control, and refinement. Here’s how you can do it: Always wash your hands with soap and water right before eating, as cleanliness is an essential part of digestion and a stress-free life. Eating using your hands should be extremely refined, so use only your fingertips to mix and pick up food, ensuring that your palm stays clean. Make sure to take smaller bites and chew thoroughly to allow digestive enzymes to work effectively. Whether you prefer wiping your hands with a napkin or rinsing them in a finger bowl, make sure your hands are clean after you are done.