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 It is a well-known fact that in order to lead a healthy lifestyle we need to eat right, exercise regularly, relax and get adequate sleep. However, in case you are really serious about healthy living, you may want to add chomping on a stick of sugar-free gum to that list too!

People all over the world have been chewing gum for centuries, probably even millennia. It all started with the Greeks, who used to put blobs of mastic tree resin in their mouth, in order to sweeten their breath. This trend continues even today and is especially common in children as well as teens. Many young adults try to quit the habit, mainly because they believe that gum can be bad for the teeth. Moreover, chewing on a sticky mess, aimlessly in front of others can get embarrassing after a point.

However, if you are in the habit of popping a piece of gum in your mouth a few times a day, you'll be glad to know that this habit isn't really as unhealthy as people may say it is.

In fact, according to a study conducted by psychologists at St. Lawrence University, chewing gum can be a great way to improve your mental performance. An experiment conducted on a group of 159 students at this University shows that those who did chew gum out-performed the ones who didn't, by a significant margin, in five of six tests. The content of sugar in the gum had no impact at all, on their performance in the sixth test.

In another study conducted at the Coventry University last month, it was observed that individuals who chew gum experience a considerable reduction in feelings of sleepiness. During the Pupillographic Sleepiness Test, the subjects who chew gum looked less exhausted, as compared to the others. This shows that when you chew gum, you gain attention and alertness, without feeling jittery.

The website of the American Dental Association states that chewing on a piece of sugarless gum for about 20 minutes after a meal could prevent tooth decay. There are several other studies that have been conducted by establishments like Wrigley Science Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Louisiana State University and Cardiff University, which claim that chewing gum can have various health benefits, which include:

• Boosting Mental Abilities: The chewing motion of the jaw stimulates the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain that regulates memory. Chewing gum also increases your heartbeat rate, because of which more blood and oxygen is transported to the brain.
• Reducing of Stress: Many adults light up a cigarette every time they are stressed, in order to calm down. However, chewing gum can have a similar affect on your body and it is a lot healthier.
• Improving digestion: Chomping on a stick of gum after a meal can help improve your digestion. This is because the chewing motion stimulates the glands that produce saliva. It also causes the digestive acids to stay down, in your tummy.
• Freshening Breath: Of course, there is no replacement for proper dental hygiene, which means that you should brush your teeth, floss and use mouthwash twice a day. However, after a meal, pop a wad of gum in your mouth to sweeten your breath. The increased production of saliva caused by the chewing motion is beneficial for oral health. Chewing gum is also said to get rid of food debris in the mouth.
• Suppressing Appetite: People generally have the habit of munching on snacks, not because they are hungry, but because they are bored. Chewing gum mimics the eating motion and therefore, suppresses your appetite. However, this effect only lasts for as long as you are chewing gum. Once you spit the gum out, you will need to satisfy those hunger pangs in another way. Several people also satisfy their sweet cravings with gum!
  

Do remember that too much of anything is not good! If you are in the habit of chewing gum, try to do so in moderation. Make sure that you chew gum no more than 3 times a day, for about 20 minutes each time.

References:

1. Addy M, Perriam E, Sterry A. “Effects of sugared and sugar-free chewing gum on the accumulation of plaque and debris on the teeth.” J Clin Periodontol. 1982; 9(4): 346-354

 

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

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