For years, many people in my life have always wondered why I eat the same types foods as them, but never seem to pack on the same pounds. Often times, my answer would be, “I eat over-chew my food, and eat slower; therefore, I consume less because I get full faster.”

Well, The New York Times just made my claim stronger. Their article published this week, “The Claim: To Cut Calories, Eat Slowly” sums up exactly what I’ve been trying to explain for years–and they even have a study to prove it.  Basically, as you eat, there are hormones that tell your brain that you are indeed “full.” For example, as I chew and eat my first sandwich slowly, most of people around me are already moving onto to seconds. When I find out I’m full and stop eating, I’ve had one sandwich, and everyone else has inhaled two. Thus, eating slower = less caloric intake.