The habit of chewing food thoroughly does more than aid digestion — it may also enhance memory, concentration and help relieve stress, according to recent research.
The BBC recently reported that chewing can provide a range of benefits for cognitive function and mental health, the medical community said Tuesday.
In a survey of more than 28,500 adults aged 50 and older across 14 European countries, those with better chewing ability scored higher on cognitive function tests. Participants who did not use dentures recorded relatively higher scores in various tests evaluating memory and thinking skills.
Researchers attributed the results to neural circuits connecting the chewing process to the hippocampus, the brain's memory center. They explained that the stimulation generated during chewing can activate brain activity and help maintain cognitive function.
Moderate chewing activity is also known to contribute to increased blood flow to the brain. A gum-chewing experiment conducted in Japan reported that chewing activity is associated with increased cerebral blood flow.
The effect on concentration was also confirmed. A meta-analysis combining 21 studies found that participants who chewed gum while performing difficult tasks showed significantly higher concentration than those who did not. However, Professor Trulsson of the Department of Dental Medicine at the Karolinska Institute (KI) in Sweden explained that such effects may not last long, likely only 15 to 20 minutes.
Chewing also appears to help with stress management. In a study by Turkish researchers involving 100 nursing students preparing for midterm exams, those who chewed gum for more than 30 minutes a day reported lower levels of stress, anxiety and depression than those who did not. A domestic study of women preparing for surgery also found that chewing gum had a positive effect on relieving preoperative anxiety.
Jianshe Chen, an oral processing researcher at Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research, said, "Some people unconsciously start chewing when they are stressed. Chewing can be a natural response in tense situations."
However, experts stressed that excessive chewing is not always beneficial. It can adversely affect health by placing excessive strain on the temporomandibular joint or worsening teeth grinding habits. Accordingly, they advised maintaining a balanced chewing habit — chewing food slowly and thoroughly while avoiding excessive jaw use.
