NUTRITION NEWS

Chewing Gum Conundrum

Is chewing gum good for your health?

Teachers may outlaw chewing gum in class: it sticks to desks and hair, not to mention that bubble-blowing is a big taboo. But the sticky stuff is gaining ground as a potentially good-for-you treat. Preliminary research suggests that regular chewing can help you remember names, make you thinner, whiten teeth, and more. Just last year, the Wrigley Company formed the Wrigley Science Institute to fund gum studies around the world.

chewing gum for health

Supporting Evidence

In a 2002 study of 75 people out of Northumbria University in England, gum-chewers performed better than nonchewers on a memory test. From a list of 15 words, chewers remembered eight or nine words immediately after hearing them and seven words 25 minutes later. Nonchewers and people who pretended to chew remembered six or seven words immediately and just five words later. How could that be? The simple act of chewing can get your heart pumping significantly more blood to the brain, suggests a small Japanese study. And more blood carries noggin-nourishing oxygen. It’s one theory, anyway.

If you’re trying to lose weight, gum might help with that, too, suggests a 2006 study in the journal Appetite. Of 60 people, those who chewed gum for 15 minutes every hour after eating lunch snacked on 36 fewer calories three hours after the meal and craved fewer sweets than people who didn’t chew gum during the study.

Cons: Much of the work on gum is still in its early stages, and for each purported benefit, different studies turn up opposite results. The repetitive stress of chewing can exacerbate pain in people with jaw problems, such as TMJ. “Chewing gum will never be a suitable replacement for good nutrition and exercise,” says Gayl Canfield, Ph.D., R.D., a dietitian at the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa in Aventura, Florida.

Our verdict: Some research suggests that chewing sugarless gum can help fight cavities and bad breath. As for other touted properties and added health-boosters, it may be too early to tell. As long as your jaw muscles and pocketbook tolerate the habit, a stick or two a day is fine.

—Emily Sohn

dotted line

Metabolic Myths: Understanding Your Metabolism
Explore our Health & Diet Centers

Stay current with the latest issue of EatingWell. Subscribe Risk-Free Now!

USER COMMENTS — Add Your Comment

But the aspartame used in most gum is said to cause a health risk and the gum would release a cancerous substance after chewing for 15 minutes or more--released by some Taiwanese health articles.

Siewso, Ashland, OH

Well I believe that chewing gum should be allowed because kids then are more comfortable and they can focus a lot better in school

Jennifer, Miami, FL

Chewing gum is also said to benefit your memory because of the chewing itself. This action causes our hearts to pump more blood to our brain than it usually does.

Anonymous, Woodland, CA

I think that chewing gum should be aloud beacause i think it helps you learn more.

Anonymous, ,

I am so glad that i read this article. Now that i read this article, i can have a debate with the principal of my school, that gum really helps you learn more. Thanks a whole lot.

Alexiania Gomez, Bayshore, N.

I think that gum chewing should be allowed especially during big tests.

Jessica, Norristown, PA

I love to chew gum. I am chewing it right now. I believe the same stuff that everybody else does about gum. And it make me mad that our school does not allow it.

Amber, Taylorsville, KE

Some types of gum helps make teeth stronger.

Kishen, Paramus, NJ

I was using this site for a school project on chewing gum. It really helped a lot. Many people want to chew gum at my school, including me. I hope I can convince my principal into allowing gum chewing!!!

Alaina, Roswell, GA

This site has helped so much with my persuasive essay to my principal. I hope it works!

Alaina, Roswell, GA

Only chewing 100% xylitol gum is good for you. Xylitol, prevents cavities, helps you on your diet, has no chemical properties and is sweetened by a natural plant extract. EVERY GUM COMPANY in this country is using succrolse, aspartame, splenda in their gum. These ingredients will kill you! They are chemicals produced by a scientist using a genetic engineering process!! They produce BRAIN tumors, brain damage, MS, Parkinsons disease and a total of 92 different side effects after prolonged use. I have extensively researched this! Once you chew gum the sweetners turn into methanol (Gasoline, turpentine) in your stomach, which turns into formaldhyde (embalming fluid) and Formic acid which is the same as ANT POISON!! These chemicals cant be digested and they stay in your body and your intesines thereby destroying your tissues, especially your brain! I know I have been ill for awhile and lost part of my sight in one eye because I had chewed two packs a day for a year. That is one of the horrible side effects of prolonged use. If you want to learn more GET yourself educated and check these web sites OUT: Dorway.com and Aspartmekills.com. There are real news brodcasting reels you can watch, they will tell you the whole ugly truth about what we have been consuming for years, and how these huge companies have put our lives in DANGER and made us the guinea pigs! FOR MONEY!!! Especially read ALL about DIET COKE!!!!

Michelle, Houston, TX

I could really relate to this topic! I am currently enrolled in a nutritions class in college and i needed an interesting topic to get the class captured in, so i chose this one! I like how it talks about how it stimulates your blood to get to your brain faster. Which i can relate to since i am shooting for my RN degree. Thanks again! Keep it Up!!

Crystal, Minneapolis, MN

Bubble gum helps you get smaarter!! CHEW ON!

Charlye, Boston, US

I am doing a speech on bubble gum and I researched that mental tasks are done 20% more effectively while chewing bubble gum and that it MAKES YOU SMARTER! I convinced my principal that bubble gum is good for our brains and we should be allowed to chew it at school! THANKS FOR HELPING! IT really works so try it and you'll see. SO TRY IT!

Madison Suelle, Diamond Bar, CA

It helped me on my speech.

Anonymous, Flint, MI

I think chewing gum in school can help kids think clearly, they should be allowed in school.

sheyla, Las Vegas, N.

I am a chewing gum freak there isnt a second that i am not chewing i think its kinda getting bad now cos if i dont have gum in my mouth i literally get mad...

Sara, London, w3

I've been getting as many ads, articles, etc. to persuade my principal to at least let us chew gum when we have standardized testing, tests (in general), & quizs. Also, I'm going to get people to sign a petition. =)

Chrissy, Fanwood, NJ

Gum is awesome. I am doing a persuasive essay on gum to convince my teacher to let us chew gum in class.

AJ, Regina, SK

I'm doing a persuasive essay about chewing gum at school and in class.

Shon, Mesa, AZ

Hi guys i do believe that gum should be allowed.

Matt, New York, NY

Hells yeah I love gum !!! :)

Kim, San Bernardino, CA

Gum is tite.

Reggie Bush, Green Bay, WI

I like the topic on chewing gum, i m a Nutritionist but i didnt know any about chewing gum.

Lameck Musumba, Mzuzu, Ma