Chewing gum may help you concentrate

by Shayna Glick, Posted Sep 8th 2008 @ 9:01AM

Close up view of a chewing gum dispenser filled with colorful little squares of gum.

(Click the photo for 5 Foods That Make You Smarter)

It's Monday morning, and if you have a lot of work to catch up on or a deadline to meet, consider popping a piece of gum.

There's a new study from Australia that found chewing gum not only raises alertness, it also reduces stress and anxiety. Study participants were subjected to a test called DISS (Defined Intensity Stressor Simulation). The gum chewers also had "significant improvement in overall performance on multi-tasking activities."

The study was done in conjunction with Wrigley, and their Wrigley Science Institute. I'm not discounting the study results, but I also think that's something to keep in mind. What do you think about this study?

5 Foods That Make You Smarter

Filed Under: Science
Tags: alertness, anxiety, Australia, chewing gum, ChewingGum, featured, stress, study

Chew on This

Royal Wedding Cake Details Revealed! - YumSugar

Make Your Own Pop Tarts - CHOW
Denny's Introduces a Maple Bacon Sundae - Eater
Whole Foods Opening Bars in Stores - USA Today
Rules Of Bar Etiquette -- For The Bartender - HuffPost Food

Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-08-2008 @10:05AM Almost Vegetarian said... I'm not surprised.

The ingredients in chewing gum (sugar substitutes and the such) are often pretty terrible, but even though I try to eat healthy foods, I still reach for the odd piece of gum. Sigh. But it is so soothing.

Still. It could be worse. I could smoke.

Cheers!
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

9-08-2008 @7:35PM RobynT said... Not sure about reducing stress but increasing alertness is good enough for me. I also read (in Real Simple I think) that gum is good for digestion--it keeps the digestive juices flowing in your stomach or something. I've never chewed gum and started chewing for this reason--but only Juicy Fruit as it is the only thing I could find without xylitol/sorbitol/etc, which can also cause gas (and would thus negate the digestive help!).
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

9-09-2008 @9:25AM Karol said... I love chewing gum as it keeps me from eating too much as I am a compulsive overeater. My favorite gum is Dentyne Fire. It is a cinnamon gum that keeps it's flavor for a reasonable amount of time. I chew at least 2 packs a day. I am trying to chew less as I also chew like a cow.

I find that if I don't have a good breakfast I can't concentrate. All I keep thinking about is what am I going to have for lunch and that I am hungry.

My best tip for weight loss or maintenace in general is to eat a healthy filling breakfast and not eat donuts, muffins or bagels! I feel
eating a healthy breakfast helps me to make smarter decisions all day. If I don't eat breakfast as I want to save calories, I usually end up pigging out later in the day and making poor food choices. I
also think that flax seeds are huge in helping with weight loss.

I have the same breakfast every day. I recently lost 30 pounds following the weight watchers program http://www.weightwatchers.com and I now just am more watchful every day of what I eat. I have a
banana low fat yogurt with golden roasted flax for breakfast every day. It is filling, keeps me regular and tastes fabulous. My Weight Watchers leader recommended fitflax to me and it definitely helped
the last 10 pounds to melt off. It is a flax and chia blend and I think I read about it in O mag. They also listed a code to get 15%
off. The site is http://www.fitflax.com and the code for 15% off is FIT15

Reply

Vote upVote downReport

9-09-2008 @10:29AM Pat said... If it helps you concentrate, perhaps we should all chew some and concentrate on who did the study?

A study done "in conjunction with Wrigley, and their Wrigley Science Institute." and it says chewing gum is good for you - MMMMMMMMmmmmmmm.

Perhaps we could get another study done by the oil industry that says driving SUVs is good for you?

Or maybe a study done by Archer Daniels Midland that says we should fund more ethanol production so they get 50% of those funds nationwide - instead of the 40% they get now?
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

10-25-2008 @11:32AM violet said... iz it really so????????
and v r so much told not to chew!
huh! this fact needz to be known!!!!
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

9-14-2008 @7:35PM Margo said... I think that is great and all, but the only reason I chew gum is so I don't have bad breath whenever I talk to someone since there are people that you would not believe that they have breath that smells like a hundred year old dirty sock.
Reply