Chewing gum

Chewing gum can help your brain function more efficiently.
Chewing gum is one of those things you do mindlessly while working, while driving or while sitting in class. You might pop a piece of gum into your mouth to ward off bad breath , or to satisfy a craving for something sweet, but you have probably never stopped to think about the effects that a piece of gum can have on your body. Surprisingl...y, gum chewing can have a positive effect on your health and can even prevent certain conditions from developing.
Cognitive Benefits Of Chewing Gum
1. Chewing Gum Can Help You Concentrate
Before heading to work each morning, you probably have a cup or two of coffee to wake up and feel alert. Instead of ingesting all of that caffeine, how about chewing a piece of gum for the same effect? Studies show that chewing gum can give your braina boost and help with concentration. That boost will last for about 20 minutes, but that’s enough to wake your brain up and get ready for the day.
2. Mint Gum Can Wake You Up
If you’re really feeling sleepy, chew some mint-flavored gum. Researchers at CoventryUniversity have found that people who chew mint-flavored gum tend to feel less sleepy than before they chewed it. The researchers also found that people tend to look less sleepy after chewing mint gum, so if you look like you haven’t gotten a good night’s sleep in a while, pop a piece of mint gum into your mouth and chew away.
3. Chewing Increases Blood Flow To The Brain
Chewing gum can also increase the flow of blood to the brain by 25 to 40 percent. This is important because an increase in blood flow means an increase in the amount of oxygen delivered to the brain. An increase in oxygen, in turn, means the memory can work more efficiently. Andrew Sholey, a professor at the British Sciences Institute inAustralia, has shown that the short-term memory can improve by up to 35 percent just by chomping on a wad of gum.
4. Gum Chewing Helps You Pay Attention
Other studies show that chewing gum can improve attention spans, induce a quicker reaction time and even put chewers in a positive mood. Research involving students showed that those who chew gum while taking a test tend to have higher scores than their non-gum chewing peers. Students also tend to take fewer breaks and pay more attention in the classroom when chewing gum.