Chewing gum can chew stress and anxiety: Study

Australian Researchers have given the chewing gum eaters a reason to rejoice, as according to a new study chewing gum can reduce stress, anxiety and can even improve memory.

As we know, some chew gum for dental hygiene, some for mouth muscle exercise, some for escaping to thirst, some for mind concentration but most of us for fun.


However, the recent research has shown that ‘Chewing gum’ is no more an ordinary game, but it can prove vital to several health reasons as stress buster and by enhancing alertness.

The Australian researchers led by Dr. Andrew Scholey, the professor of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Swinburne University in Melbourne have claimed that chewing gum can reduce anxiety and stress level, improve alertness and also enhance the concentration level for any individual while performing multitasking activities.

The researchers had presented their study on August 30, 2008, at the 10th International Congress of Behavioral Medicine Rissho University in Tokyo.

The study result was based on research over a group of 40 persons between the average age group of 22 years old in which scientists conducted the test on Defined Intensity Stressor Simulation (DISS), a multi-tasking platform that measures the stress and performance level while at continuously rising stress level during performing multitasking work.

The group was divided into two parts: Chewing gum eaters and non-chewing gum eaters and their level of anxiety, alertness and stress were measured before and after completing the DISS.

After the completion of the test, the scientists observed that the chewing gum eaters showed a reduction in anxiety at 17% during mild stress and 10% during moderate stress, and measured 19% greater alertness during mild stress and 8% during moderate stress in as compared to non-gum chewers.

The levels of salivary cortisol, a physiological stress marker, were found 16% less during mild stress while 12% less in moderate stress as against non-chewing gum eaters.

The best thing that had been observed from this test is the noteworthy enhancement in overall performance on multitasking activities. During the test, both groups have shown better performance from the baseline scores but gum chewers have registered more mean performance scores in both mild stress and moderate stress by marking 109% and 67% more scores respectively.

The latest research may prove profitable for chewing gum makers too, who from time to time face criticism due to some wrong speculations on health related issues.