The recent research has given one more reason to indulge in pleasure of chewing gum. A team of researchers led by Andrew Scholey, professor of Behavioural and Brain Sciences, Swinburne University, Australia has found out that chewing gum can reduce stress and anxiety, and can help to improve memory.

Researchers analyzed the data collected from a group of 40 persons between the average age group of 22 years. These study subjects were divided into two groups of chewing gum eaters and non-chewing gum eaters. Performance of these individuals was assessed on the basis of the test conducted on Defined Intensity Stressor Simulation (DISS), a multi-tasking platform that measures the stress and performance level while at continuously rising stress level during performing multitasking work. Their level of anxiety, alertness and stress were measured before and after completing the DISS.  

Researchers found that the chewing gum eaters showed a reduction in anxiety at 17% during mild stress and 10% during moderate stress. Moreover chewing gum eaters measured 19% greater alertness during mild stress and 8% during moderate stress as compared to non-gum chewers. Chewing gum eaters had 16% less levels of salivary cortisol, a physiological stress marker during mild stress and 12% less in moderate stress as compared to non-chewing gum eaters.

Researchers also found that chewing gum resulted in a significant improvement in overall performance in multi-tasking activities. Both gum-chewers and non-chewers showed improvement from their baseline scores but chewing gum eaters improved mean performance scores over non-gum chewers by 67% during moderate stress and 109% in mild stress.  

After the research, the researchers reached the conclusion that chewing gum can reduce anxiety and stress level, improve alertness and also enhance the concentration level for any individual while performing multitasking activities.

This research shows that eating chewing gum can act as stress buster along with improved efficiency in multi tasking. Chewing gum during stress would be beneficial.