Pengaruh Frekuensi Mengunyah Nanas (Ananas comosus) dan Belimbing (Averrhoa carambola) terhadap Derajat Keasaman serta Laju Alir Saliva

Abstract

Chewing plays a crucial role in the process of food digestion. Quickly chewing food will detect a lower sense of fullness, whereas chewing slowly can enhance a sense of fullness, reducing intake. High-fiber foods such as fruits can stimulate saliva better compared to chewing instant and soft foods. Consuming an appropriate amount of fiber is essential in preventing obesity and maintaining the body from excess fat percentage. Objective: to analyze the influence of chewing frequency of Pineapple and Starfruit 16 times and 32 times on the flow rate and acidity level of saliva. Method: pre-experiment with a one-group pretest-posttest design. The sample consisted of 30 individuals with two groups, and each group underwent two treatments, measuring before, at the 5th, 15th, and 30th minutes after chewing Pineapple and Starfruit 16 times and 32 times regarding the acidity level (pH) and saliva flow rate. Results: there were significant changes in the saliva flow rate after chewing Pineapple and Starfruit (P≤0.05). There were significant changes in Pineapple chewing, but no significant difference was found in Starfruit chewing regarding acidity level (P≥0.05). Conclusion: there is a significant difference in chewing time on the saliva flow rate, but there is no significant difference regarding saliva pH. between the chewing frequency of Pineapple and Starfruit.