We're constantly being cautioned to slow down when we eat - not just to avoid an application of the Heimlich Maneuver, but also to take the time to enjoy and be more mindful of what we're eating. But it's also been said that eating more slowly can help you reduce the number of calories you're eating. This week, The New York Times tackled this question (Really? The Claim: To Cut Calories, Eat Slowly by Anahad O'Connor).

So is it true that eating more slowly helps you cut calories?

Apparently researchers have in fact found that people who eat more quickly tend to eat more, and people who slow down and methodically chew every bite tend to eat less. A recent study points to the effect that eating fast can have on hormones. Last month, scientists found that subjects who were given identical bowls of ice cream released more hormones that made them feel full and satiated when they ate the ice cream in 30 minutes instead of five. And the subjects who took longer to eat their ice cream not only ate less, but they also reported greater satisfaction with the amount they had eaten.

Most of us gobble our food if we're stressed or in a rush - which is often also when we cave and eat the most convenient but worst foods around - and it is amazing how mindless food becomes when you're in such a state. So if you slow down and enjoy each bite, you won't just cut down on calories but you'll enjoy your food that much more. Sounds like a pretty convincing argument, huh?