The Mouth

We use it for talking, singing, screaming, kissing, and even making odd noises. The mouth, however, serves another important function that many people neglect—helping us get more nutrients from our food and keeping the gut working well. Many gut problems begin in the mouth, and many can be significantly improved by using the mouth more.

Gut problems often come from not properly chewing food or rushing our meals. Gut problems can sometimes be due to teeth issues, such as loose teeth or other neglected problems. The jaw joint (TMJ) can also be a problem, such as when it is not balanced, causing the bite to be out of alignment and resulting in a poor chewing mechanism. The chemistry of the mouth can also be a problem, such as low salivary pH, which can contribute to poor use of digestive enzymes.

广告：个人专属 VPN，独立 IP，无限流量，多机房切换，还可以屏蔽广告和恶意软件，每月最低仅 5 美元

The mouth, and its connection to the brain, can help athletes in other ways too. The taste buds on our tongue are important for sending messages to the brain, informing it about the nutrients coming into the body. For example, studies show that during physical activity, just the taste of sugar in the mouth can improve performance. Beginning very early in my career, I instructed my athletes who were competing in long events to suck on salt tablets, which often made them feel better and stronger almost instantly. Today, scientists know the important connections between the taste buds in the mouth and the brain, which can even help improve muscle activity.