Is Gum Bad For Your Health?

Treating ourselves to a piece of bubble gum or a candy bar is one of the things we do mindlessly to satisfy our craving for something with a sweet taste. We do this while carrying out our daily activities, anywhere and anytime.

However, the myth surrounding bubble gum and candy bars is that if it’s too sweet, then it’s no good for your health. Surprisingly, this is not truly the case, because they have been found to have so many positive effects on health and general well-being. Being a connoisseur of chewing bubble gum, I can testify to some of the health benefits that can be derived from pleasing my sweet tooth.

Here are some of the ways you can please your sweet tooth and also improve your health while at it:

Aids Concentration and Memory

Chewing bubble gum can help you stay focused and boost your mental performance. Various studies have shown that chewing gum enhances mental health and also cognitive functions such as concentration, reaction times and memory. It is believed that this boost comes from increase in the flow of blood to the brain while chewing gum. This increased blood flow therefore leads to an increase in the level of oxygen supplied to the brain.

Improves Dental Health

Brushing your teeth regularly or after every meal is the best way to prevent tooth decay. But brushing your teeth after every meal may not be easy to achieve, so chewing bubble gums is the next best option. Chewing bubble gum helps to fight bad breath and also reduces the formation of plaque on the teeth. This is because it helps in stimulating the production of saliva that helps to flush sugars and reduce acids in the mouth responsible for tooth decay.

Aids in Weight Loss

Chewing gum while watching TV, or when doing other mindless activities, can save calories by helping you suppress your appetite, making you consume less. It can also help you develop less craving for foods with high calorie content.

Improves Digestion

Chewing gum after a meal helps to improve intestinal functions. This is because chewing promotes more frequent swallowing which aids the increase in saliva flow. This action helps to prevent acid reflux.

Helps In Combating Stress and Anxiety

Chewing on bubble gum can serve as a healthy substitute to nervous habits such as leg shaking and nail biting. This is because the rhythmic motion of chewing helps to reduce stress hormone, cortisol, responsible for inducing stress and nervous habits.