Stressed and unfocused? Try chewing gum, according to science

You know that feeling when you just can't seem to focus, no matter how hard you try? Or when stress has you feeling tense and wound up tighter than a top? Well, believe it or not, exploring the benefits of chewing gum might help get your head right again. Quite weird, right? 

While it may sound odd, multiple studies suggest chewing gum could offer some legitimate cognitive and mood-boosting benefits. From increasing alertness and productivity to reducing anxiety, the simple act of chewing on a piece of gum may provide more brain gains than you'd think.

The idea of gum helping with concentration and chill vibes isn't just some marketing gimmick cooked up by the candy companies. Major brand Mars is rolling out a new gum specifically marketed as a brain booster, but the notion came from a nurse who found herself chewing gum to stay calm and focused during crazy COVID shifts. It turns out there's some science to back up her hack.

Multiple studies over the years have suggested that gum could legitimately aid with learning abilities, productivity, and managing anxiety levels. The prevailing theories chalk it up to increased blood flow to the brain from all that jaw action, which stimulates neural activity. One psychologist, Sanam Hafeez explained to Yahoo Life that the act of chewing "can stimulate neural activity, potentially leading to improved concentration and attention span" on demanding mental tasks.

It's like giving your brain a little workout by moving those facial muscles. A social worker compared it to fidgeting with a spinner toy—that repetitive, mindless motion somehow keeps our gray matter engaged just enough to help us power through and stay sharp. She called it "mastication-induced arousal," allowing for "intense focus on the work at hand."

Research from 2018 found a link between chewing gum and better test performance. Study participants were given a series of cognitive tests, and the gum chewers consistently scored higher on measures of alertness and overall learning ability compared to the non-chewers. The researchers theorized that repetitive chewing motion boosted activity in brain regions involved with focus and memory retention.

Another study from 2015 carried things into the workplace, exploring how gum affects productivity. Workers who munched on gum throughout the day self-reported better levels of alertness and were able to do more tasks than their non-gum-chewing colleagues. Observational data backed up their accounts, with the chewers exhibiting fewer distracted behaviors like zoning out during meetings or taking random breaks.

Even way back in 2009, scientists were finding that gum had a positive effect on moods and anxiety. Stressed-out participants who chewed gum during the experiment consistently rated their overall emotional state and feelings of calmness higher than the non-chewers. The evidence is adding up in favor of gum's mental benefits.

So what's actually happening upstairs when we chew? Experts think the muscle movements in the jaw and face increase blood circulation to the brain, delivering more oxygen and nutrients to keep us firing on all cylinders. This "chewing effect" is sort of like giving your brain a healthy shot of fuel to enhance cognitive performance. The repetitive chewing motions also activate certain regions of the cerebral cortex involved with sensory processing and intentional muscle movements. It's a weirdly simple way to stimulate your gray matter.

But before you establish a gum-chewing hobby, know that taking it too far can significantly backfire on both your physical and social welfare. Going overboard on the chomping might strain your jaw muscles and temporomandibular joint, the hinge linking your jaw to your head. The Cleveland Clinic and other experts warn this repetitive stress can lead to problems like discomfort, fatigue, lockjaw, and even TMJ disorder if you really work those jaws into overdrive.

Your digestive system might not be too appreciative of an excessive gum wad, either. All that chewing makes you swallow more air, a recipe for unpleasant gas pains and bloating. Many sugar-free gum varieties are sweetened with sorbitol, which can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and general intestinal distress in large doses. No, thank you.

There's also the obnoxious coworker factor to consider if you insist on constantly chomping away in shared office spaces. Let's be real; nobody wants to be trapped listening to the never-ending smacking and phlegmy mouth noises of someone incessantly working their cud. For folks with misophonia (extreme sensitivity to eating/mouth sounds), it would be straight-up torturous to sit near an obnoxious gum champ. You could easily become the most loathed cubicle-mate this side of the break room.

At the end of the chew, gum does seem to offer some legitimate focus and stress relief benefits for certain people by stimulating the brain through that repetitive jaw motion. But like most things, moderation is key to avoiding issues like jaw strain, stomach problems, and being a generally annoying person. An occasional piece when you need a brain boost is fine. Just don't let it become some sort of obnoxious oral fixation that has you smacking and clucking away 24/7 to disrupt those around you. Then, it just defeats the purpose of using gum to be more chill and productive.