Friday, May 25, 2012 11:08:55 AM
What's so gross about that? One of the enzymes that your saliva contains is called alpha amylase which is responsible for breaking down the starches that you eat into smaller molecules that the cells in your body can use for energy. When your food is not chewed properly, the alpha amylase in your saliva does not have the opportunity to break down these starches, leaving body cells starved.