Zohran Mamdani’s Video of Eating With Hands Goes Viral, But DYK It’s Actually Great For Your Gut (Credits: Pexels)
In recent news, Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for the post of New York mayor was seen eating a piping hot plate of biryani with his bare fingers. As the video got out, a lot of Republican supporters got triggered while the South East Asian were supporting throughout. Many of them even felt seen by Zohran’s move. After this, a lot of experts have pointed out that using one’s hands to consume food is an old-age practice and offers several benefits.
While the video of him eating with hands is up for debate all over the internet, science is definitely on his side. Here are some of the major benefits of eating with your hands:
There is more than practice involved. According to Eastern cultures and that of India as well, eating with the hands is not just a tradition, it is an act of mindfulness. Ayurveda also recommends eating with the fingers to stimulate digestion and connect the food with your body. This is because touching your food before you eat sends the signal to your brain, preps the gut and activates the enzymes in your tummy before the first bite.
Good bacteria = happy gut
Our hands also consist of natural skin microbiota, that is the good bacteria that support digestion. Eating with the hands (when done hygienically) helps transfer some of these microbes to the gut. This helps in building a more diverse and resilient microbiome. This is because your gut microbiome actually thrives on diversity.
Mindful eating, better digestion
Eating with hands helps in slowing you down, and makes you more present with the food that is in front of you. It helps with portion control. It also lets you feel the temperature and texture of your food which ultimately makes you less likely to binge or eat mindlessly. According to studies, mindful eating improves digestion and reduces bloating.
Hygiene matters
Hygiene is a big thing when it comes to eating with your hand. Plus, none of these benefits apply if basic hygiene isn’t followed. Thus, you should always wash your hands thoroughly before and after meals.
