Chew on this - Short Stuff - gum chewing - Brief Article

Girls' Life, Oct-Nov, 2003

You're not allowed to chew gum in school? Your parents are always telling you to stop cracking your Bazooka? Well, we're giving teachers and parents a reason to let you chomp away! A recent study shows that chewing gum actually improves your memory and intelligence. That's right--it makes you sharper! Researchers from the University of Northumbria in Great Britian tested 75 people, giving some gum and some none, while others chomped on air as if they had gum. The result? Those who chewed gum (the real stuff, not air bubbles) did better on tests and memorizing things than those who didn't. What's going on? One of two things: 1) The movement you make when chewing gum makes your body think it's going to get food, which then causes it to release insulin to the brain and help it learn; or 2) chewing gum increases the heart rate, which sends more oxygen to the brain. So next time you're cramming for that big chemistry test ... pop in a wad of Wrigley's and let the juices flow!

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