Competitive eater Joey “ Jaws ” Chestnut set a young record this Fourth of July when he scarfed down a walloping 70 hot dogs and buns in just 10 second at the annual Famous Nathan ’s hot dog consume competition in Coney Island . How do he and other champ competitive eaters do it ? Witha mates of savvy tricksof the trade , anda act of skill .
Dipping the food item of choice in water system is key , since it softens the food and makes it wetter , so it ’s easier to chew and swallow . Top eatersalso break their food into smaller patch so they can fit more in their mouthpiece at the same metre . Former Nathan ’s famed champ Takeru Kobayashi is make love for his so - called “ Solomon technique , ” breaking a live dog in one-half and stuff both piece into his mouthpiece at the same time to speed up the process .
TheInternational Federation of Competitive Eating(IFOE ) rules say that competitors do n’t have to devour both raging dog and bun together , and you ’re allow to vomit it all up — dubbed a “ Roman incident”—once the contest has formally ended . Since 50 hot dogs and buns contain around 12,500 calories , that ’s probably a wise to move , despite the risk of tum Elvis damage your esophagus and tooth enamel .
But none of that explains how Chestnut and his like manage to material so much food into their breadbasket in such a short time span . harmonize to a 2007 studyby researchers at the University of Pennsylvania , the stomachs of competitive eaters can amplify to truly alarming dimensions .
The author describe the breadbasket of their 35 - year - old male test subject ( after use up 36 hot domestic dog in 10 mo ) as being a “ massively distended , food - satiate sac occupying most of the upper abdomen . ” The discipline importune he felt ok — no bloating or stomach pain — and could keep pass away , but the researchers cease the experiment , revere he was at risk of gastric perforation .
The subject ’s abdomen expanded so much that it overcame his “ satiety reflex . ” normally when we ’ve eaten a sufficient amount of food , the genius sends signals telling the body it is full ; outdo that , and it triggers the emesis reflex . That did n’t happen in the run subject ’s causa , presumptively because he had practiced for months , gradually eat large and larger amount of food to extend his breadbasket . This also kept the abdomen from breaking down the food for thought consume viagastric peristalsis .
So what happens to phratry like Chestnut who debase out their stomachs this much twelvemonth after year ? Nobody really eff . But the Pennsylvania team monish of “ intractable sickness and vomiting , ” and ask for stomach surgery after in life because at some stage they might not be able to eat at all without it .
Is the risk worth the Mustard Yellow International Belt and $ 10,000 loot grant to the winners of Nathan ’s illustrious annual contender ? Chestnut must imagine so : this is the ninth time he ’s won the competition . But odds are that $ 10,000 barely cover his annual food market bill .
[ USA Today ]
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