More good news on the nasty habit/I-thought-this-was-junk front. Turns out all the gum-smackers of the world (myself included) have got a good thing going. Jeez, between this and the news from last week, could life get any better?!?
Here, a few reasons why sugarless (operative word) gum is great for you:
* Alert! Alert! Yes, chewing gum can help boost alertness. In fact, one study showed that students and shift workers who chewed gum during the wee hours felt less tired than those in the same situation who didn’t chew gum. The reason? Chewing motions, blowing bubbles and the burst of flavor are all mentally stimulating.
* Burn Out. Chewing gum makes your mouth involuntarily produce more saliva, which neutralizes the acids introduced by food and drinks. What’s more, swallowing encourages the esophagus to push acids down into the stomach instead of allowing them to back up and wreak havoc. So the next time you nosh on fatty or acidic foods, grab a stick of sugarless and chomp away (just avoid mint flavors, which can actually worsen heartburn).
* Dentist be Damned. Okay, so you won’t get to skip your bi-annual cleanings, but your visits to the dentist may go much smoother once gum-chewing becomes second nature. Why? Because chewing sugarless gum actually helps fight tooth decay. Again, saliva is at the helm here, keeping away acids and flushing out bacteria and food particles. This is especially handy for that spinach chunk or poppy seed stuck front and center between your teeth.
* Kind of Ear-y. According to a Finnish study, kids who chewed gum made with xylitol (a natural sweetener) got half as many ear infections as those who didn’t chew, since xylitol is said to slow the growth of bacteria in the ear. Could this be the answer to our antibiotic over-usage issue? Hmmm. Maybe it’s worth a try…
Other areas gum has been said to be beneficial:
Stress reduction
Smoking Cessation
Weight Loss
Nail-Biting
Cheek/Lip Nibbling
Jaw Strengthening
Dry Mouth
If you’re not already a gum-chewer, give it a whirl. If you are, smack and snap away - guilt free!
Tags: Gum Chewing, Junk Food That Isn’t, PreventionShare This (Source: Healthbolt)