So what does this have to do with chewing? If you do not properly to your food, what you have eaten will go through your digestive system as large pieces of food. You do not have teeth anywhere else in your body. After you swallow your food, there are no other opportunities to break up large pieces of food. The acid from your stomach and enzymes from your small intestine will only be able to act on exposed surfaces. Chewing properly is only way to grind up your food so that it is small enough to allow rest of your digestive system to extract as many of available nutrients as possible.

So next time you eat, put a little thought into first step of digestion. Chew your food.

The bottom line is that stress is a killer, and that meditation really can help you defend yourself. Traditional meditation may have most beneficial effects, but maybe you're short on time, or uncertain about learning to meditate. In that case, there are two simple techniques you can learn in a few minutes, and start using today.

The first is a breathing meditation. Close your eyes, let tension drain from your muscles, let go of your thoughts (to extent possible), and breath deeply through your nose, paying attention to your breath. As thoughts or sensations arise, just acknowledge them and return your attention to your breath as it goes in and out. Do this for five or ten minutes.

To use second technique, stop whatever you're doing when you feel stressed, and take three deep breaths. Watch yourself until you identify what is bothering you. Are you worried about something? Is there a letter you need to write? Maybe your neck is sore. Note everything you find.

Now deal with these stressors. Write letter that's on your mind, take an aspirin, put things on tomorrow's list. If best you can do is recognise there's nothing you can do right now - then do that. With practice, you'll get better at finding what's just below surface of consciousness, irritating you. After you address these things, close your eyes, take three deep breaths, and you'll feel more relaxed and able to think clearly. Try it now.