Chewing bubble gum provides more than sweet flavor and a chance to blow bubbles. It may also offer benefits to your health so talk to your health care provider about chewing gum for the mental and physical benefits as well as its possible hazards.
Relieves Stress
Whether it is your job stressing you out, or situations at home have you pulling your hair out, consider chewing bubble gum. A study published in the June 2009 issue of "Physiology and Behavior" followed 40 test subjects over the course of two days under varying stress levels. Participants demonstrated a reduction in anxiety after chewing gum. Researchers theorize that increased blood flow to the head may be responsible for the decreased stress levels. However, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas notes that chewing bubble gum can put stress on your jaw and trigger fatigue, soreness and pain if you chew too much or with too much vigor.
Boosts Oral Health
Chew bubble gum to improve your oral health. Evidence featured in the May 2008 edition of the "Journal of the American Dental Association" suggests that chewing gum increases the health of your mouth and prevents cavities, but warns that it may present a choking hazard when chewed by young children. Choose sugar free bubble gum varieties, though, as the sugar in regular gum may mitigate the effects of chewing -- too much sugar in your diet contributes to the formation of cavities.
Improves Focus
Preparing for a test or a presentation may present a problem if you have focus. Chewing bubble gum as you study may help boost your recall and focus according to research available in the April 2009 "Nutritional Neuroscience." Researchers observed participants over two days and determined those who chewed gum demonstrated improved alertness and intellectual performance, although short-term memory was not influenced. This action may correlate to better testing scores. Evidence available in the October 2009 journal "Appetite" suggests that any memory benefits are mitigated when bubble gum is consistently flavorful, however.
Helps You Quit Smoking
While your physician may recommend specialty nicotine-replacement gums to curb smoking, you may also chew bubble gum to help you quit. A study published in the September 2001 issue of "Health Psychology" reports that stud participants experienced fewer withdrawal symptoms from smoking when they chewed gum.
References
- "Physiology and Behavior"; Chewing Gum Alleviates Negative Mood and Reduces Cortisol During Acute Laboratory Psychological Stress; A. Scholey, et al.; June 2009
- Drugs.com; Health Tip: While Chewing Gum May Relieve Stress; August 2007
- "Journal of the American Dental Association"; The Potential of Dental-Protective Chewing Gum in Oral Health Interventions; K.A. Ly, et al.; May 2008
- Cleveland Clinic; Eating Too Much Sugar? It's Time to Tame Your Sweet Tooth; M. Ohlson; December 2009
- "Nutritional Neuroscience"; Effects of Chewing Gum on Mood, Learning, Memory and Performance of an Intelligence Test; A. Smith; April 2009
- "Appetite"; Chewing Gum Does Not Induce Context-Dependent Memory When Flavor is Held Constant; A.A. Overman, et al.; October 2009
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