Who knew chewing gum was good for your health? That's precisely what a study from Tufts University has concluded, attesting that chewing sugar-free gum is associated with lower calorie intake and the consumption of healthier foods.
According to Science Alert, the study analyzed information from around 15,000 people who responded to the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a questionnaire that provides information on the health conditions and nutritional status of Americans.
ScienceAlert Staff
According to the analysis, respondents who said they had chewed sugar-free gum 24 hours before answering the questionnaire had a better diet than people who didn't have this habit.
In addition, those who chewed gum had a diet with fewer sugary foods and also consumed fewer snacks between meals.
But the benefits don't stop there and go beyond those related to diet. "The action protects tooth enamel, significantly reduces tooth decay, helps control stress and mood swings," said Taylor C. Wallace, a professor at George Washington University and Tufts University.
For all these reasons, Wallace advocates encouraging this habit as a strategy for adhering to healthier eating behaviors. "We see potential in encouraging the habit of consuming sugar-free gum to help build healthier lifestyle habits, because better choices and healthier diets don't just happen in a vacuum."
More research is needed to understand exactly why sugar-free gum has all these effects. However, the implications are important for the health community, nutritionists and the general public to implement in both professional and personal practices.
The scientific article was published in the Journal of the American Nutrition Association.
