People have been chewing gum for at least 8,000 years, starting with birch bark pitch and moving to tape rolls of Hubba Bubba bubble gum. It’s worth saying that humans like chewing so much that we conducted more than 50 studies on the effects that chewing gum can have, from pain relief to improved concentration. Let’s chew on some of these studies.
How to Chew
In some experiments, researchers made people chew gum for 40 minutes and perform memory and attention tasks on the computer. Gladly, scientists from St. Lawrence University figured out that there is no benefit to chewing the entire time to be alert.
Researchers concluded that chewing gum helps alertness like a cup of coffee. Scholars theorize that it elevates blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol levels, and even cerebral blood flow, linked to improved cognitive function.
To improve your focus, chew gum for five minutes before . The effect will last up to 20 minutes. Chewing heightens arousal that then slowly dissipates.
Effects
A study conducted at Cardiff University in 2015 showed that chewing gum had the following positive effects:
- Faster encoding of new information
- Greater alertness
- Positive mood
- Quicker reaction time
- Improved attention
- Reduced attention lapses
Another study by Cardiff University and University College Cork suggested that gum chewing can also:
- Reduce fatigue during a working day
- Enhance productivity
- Reduce cognitive errors at work
Some studies argue that chewing gum can improve memory, while others say it doesn’t help. Scholars also disagree on whether flavors such as mint or fruit make a difference. And several studies point out that chewing gum can impair attention in children with ADHD.
What Does It Mean For You?
Chew and see the effects! If you want to try something different for your concentration, consider self-dissolving tablets of a lithium supplement.