Chew On This

That Minty Freshness

Most of us chew gum fairly regularly to keep our breath fresh and our jaws busy. You likely choose sugar-free gum to keep the fat off. But I'll bet you didnt know that chewing sugar- free gum not only helps to prevent fat gain due to the fact that it's basically carb and calorie free, but it can actually help you to burn off more body fat, boost your brain power and protect your teeth.

Fat Loss with a bite

How does gum increase fat loss? By helping you to reduce hunger and eat less, according to a recent study from Glasgow Caledonian University (Scotland). The Scottish researchers had 60 subjects come in to the lab to eat lunch and a snack. One group chewed gum in between meals, while the other group did not chew gum. They reported in the journal Appetite that the subjects chewing gum between meals not only reported being less hungry than those not chewing gum, but also ate less of the snack.

Proven Results

Gum can also help to boost your brain power. A study from Baylor College of Medicine had over 100 eighth-graders either chew gum while in math class, doing math homework and taking math tests or not chewing gum. They reported at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Experimental Biology that after 14 weeks the gum-chewing group's grades were better and they increased their scores on a standardized math by significantly more than the non-gum group. This study supports previous research showing cognitive benefits of chewing gum. It's been theorized that chewing gum boosts brain function because it helps to increase blood flow to the brain.

But the benefits of gum don't end there. Sugar-free gum can also help to protect your teeth. In fact, the American Dental Association has even given sugar-free gum its stamp of approval. The research shows that chewing gum increases saliva production, which washes away harmful acids that are produced by bacteria breaking down food in your mouth. These acids could contribute to cavities, if left alone. Reducing the acid in your mouth reduces the risk of tooth decay.

So consider chewing sugar-free gum between meals, it can help you drop fat, increase brain power, and even protect your teeth

References:

Hetherington, M.M., et al. "Short-term effects of chewing gum on snack intake and appetite." Appetite. 2007 May;48(3):397-401.

Burt, B.A., et al. "The use of sorbitol- and xylitol-sweetened chewing gum in caries control." J Am Dent Assoc. 2006 Feb;137(2):190-6.

Johnston, C., et al. Experimental Biology, 2009.

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