GeneralThe Underrated Benefits of Chewing Gum

By Bill Wirtz

When I was discharged from the hospital following septic shock (caused by a Strep A infection) recently the last thing I thought the doctor would recommend to me was chewing gum. I would occasionally grab a pack of gum at a newsstand or a gas station, but had never considered there being any health benefits to popping a mango-pineapple gum (outside of the fact that I love both mango and pineapple). “It’ll help you focus”, the doctor told me while writing a prescription for the (slightly more critical) antibiotics I was on.

Most recoveries are frustrating – and as someone who reads and writes most of his working days, loss of focus was the most challenging. There are only so many TV shows you can watch before you feel the urge to do something useful. Afraid that my teeth would be affected by using regular gum, I opted for sugar-free options, which retained the benefits of gum without adding more sugar to my daily consumption.

In fact, the recommendation I received is sustained by scientific evidence. A 2017 study found that “chewing gum during the workday was associated with higher productivity and fewer cognitive problems, raised cortisol levels in the morning and did not affect heart rate. The results emphasise that chewing gum can attenuate reductions in alertness, suggesting that chewing gum enhances worker performance.” Another study from 2015 showed that chewing gum also improves mood and stress relief, all while also improving and sustaining attention.

It turns out that research conducted to explore the benefits of chewing gum isn’t new at all. In 2002, with the help of a controlled group totalling 75 subjects who chewed gum, researchers found improved aspects of memory through gum. Chewing gum also has antiviral properties, helps quitting smoking, and earns the American Dental Association’s seal of acceptance for improving dental health.

The body of research on the benefits of chewing gum is extensive, which is why it’s all the more perplexing to see chewing gum merely displayed as a treat on shelves next to chocolate bars, energy drinks, and scratch lottery tickets. Incidentally, research also shows that shoppers who chew while shopping are less likely to select “cravings” related items such as potato chips and instead increase their share of healthier food products.

My personal experience has made chewing gum less of an impulse purchase and instead developed it into a habit that helps with concentration, stress release, and overall oral health. It certainly goes into the category of underrated health helpers.

This post has been sponsored by Consumer Choice Center