Any starches (complex sugars) in food are usually first broken down by saliva in the mouth while chewing. The enzyme amylase in saliva breaks starches into simp

Any starches (complex sugars) in food are usually first broken down by saliva in the mouth while chewing. The enzyme amylase in saliva breaks starches into simpler sugars. Drinking food likely reduces the amylase content of the bolus (dose of food entering stomach) and should consequently slow the digestion of starches and sugars in that food. The pancreas secretes another form of amylase, so starches would eventually be digested anyway, just not as quickly. So your stomach would hold food longer and your pancreas would have to work a bit more. Not a bad thing: I often eat only because "my stomach feels empty". Perhaps this would reduce that feeling. "Amylase": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amylase https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amylase "Role of Amylase": http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/role-amylase-8526.html http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/role-amylase-8526.html