It's in the saliva

Yes, I agree. I certainly don't have the enzyme!

But then, how do they account for putting the weight on in later life - after a slim youth? The gene would still be there. Does it stop working? Or do we stop moving around as much? (whilst still eating the same)

It might be that you spit more when you talk now jingle with the falsies and everything. Perhaps not holding on to the saliva for long enough for it to work it's magic

I haven't got false anything thank you very much!

Are those people who say you should chew every mouthful at least 30 times (or whatever) slimmer than those of us who just can't get it down fast enough? Or do some people have the right saliva and some don't?
I don't.

That's good jingle it was just a thought.

I do eat quickly! That could be it!

No, wait a minute. I always have done.

I didn't when I was very young - I was an incredibly slow eater and a very skinny child

Same here when I was very young. Very bad eater and skinny.

Isn't the enzyme ptyalin - starts the digestive process by breaking down carbs into sugars? I seem to remember that from "O" Level Biology!

So- have we all got it, and do some have more than others?

I am going to chew every mouthful 30 times to see if it makes a difference.

Aridane Has already said what I had started writing.

They knew all this when I was at school 50 yrs ago! How come someone has just rediscovered this?

Saliva reacts with starches and makes sugars you can do an experiment with a dye revealing marker. The problem is the amount of carbohydrates you take in. Saliva does not make any difference to the level of "carb's" it just changes the nature of them.

Need to eat less as you get older or you get fatter.

Simples!

I think that chewing each mouthful 30 times would mean that you would feel fuller sooner as the longer it takes you to eat the more time your body has to adjust to the feeling of having eaten enough. Usually I don't feel full until about 20 minutes after eating.

Sorry to put a damper on all those who don't eat a lot and still get fat but I saw a programme about this a few years ago and all those who thought they were not eating a lot turned out to be wrong!

If you don't have a medical condition which makes you put on weight (or even if you do) try myfitnesspal.com for 3 months and enter everything you eat. It is very revealing!

I thought it was an amylase AMY1 . Unless you did Exams recently it's only just been discovered. I'm calling it fatty spit.

Eurgh! (fatty spit)

Yes. I'm afraid you are right Aka

#soddingonethingafteraneffin'otherwhenyougetonabit