By Alessandra Perez
Around this time of the year, the Hammer lab is filled with people, many who put off their massive amounts of homework and papers until the last minute. All-nighters, stress overloads and sweatpants are only a few of the signs that finals are approaching.
Instead of procrastinating by watching T.V., playing sports or going shopping, try chewing gum while you study as a new alternative to relieving stress.
Recent research has discovered that chewing gum might increase blood flow to the brain by 25 percent according to the Journal of Stomatological Society.
“Chewing gum may help relieve stress and improve focus and concentration while studying and test-taking,” said Jennifer Jackson-Luth, Wrigley’s marketing communications manager. “According to a recent study from the Wrigley Science Institute, gum chewers were more calm and relaxed in dealing with life’s everyday stresses when they chewed gum. One hypothesis is that the act of chewing helps to release nervous energy.”
Wrigley, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chewing gum, hopes that this new information about the benefits will lead to more consumption.
Students at the University have also discovered the benefits of chewing gum. Dave Sarrafian, a junior majoring in film studies chews gum everyday and said that it helps him relax and pass the time, especially while he waits for the train or bus.
A study conducted by Appetite magazine in 2002 indicates that chewing gum might also help learning and retaining information. Research indicates that subjects chewing gum seem to retain more information when doing a word call exercise than the rest of the subjects.
“I think gum does relax me,” said Jen Kauffman, a sophomore journalism major. “If I am nervous or stressed about something, I will start grinding my teeth, and chewing gum prevents me from doing so. In essence, calms me down.”
The Wrigley Science Institute is also working on scientific research to measure the effects of gum in managing weight, increasing alertness and concentration, and improving oral health.
“A main benefit of chewing gum is prevention of bad breath, and I definitely only chew sugar-free mint gum,” Kauffman agreed. “I chew gum either because I have a bad taste in my mouth or because I feel like I have bad breath.”
However, not everything about gum is perfect. Make sure you brush your teeth after chewing gum that contains sugar, since it is like consuming any other type of candy. When it comes to sugarless gum, they usually contain replacements like sorbitol, mannitol, xylotol or others that have the reputation of being dangerous when in great amounts. In addition, chewing gum releases acid in your stomach and might lead to gastric problems when consumed in excess.
End-of-semester jitters and summer heat can be cooled down with Extra’s Cool Watermelon, one of the many flavors of Wrigley’s gum.