Health & Fit Chewing Gum While Walking May Have Health Benefits: Study

© Chewing Gum Chewing Gum

Many studies have examined the health effects of chewing gum while at rest. But a new study conducted by Dr. Yuka Hamada and colleagues at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan, decided to focus specifically on its effect while exercising. The findings suggested gum chewing during walking may increase the physical and physiological functions, particularly for middle-aged and elderly men.

The research titled "The effects of gum chewing while walking on physical and physiological functions" was published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science and presented at the 25th European Congress on Obesity in Vienna, Austria.

Is Chewing Gum Bad for You?

“Hey, do you have a piece of gum?” Chewing gum feels like a mix between rubber and plastic in your mouth — not exactly the consistency of anything natural or healthy. And because you were probably banned from chewing gum in school and it seems like something that’s wrecking your teeth, you might think chewing gum is a bad idea.

Chewing Gum While Walking May Have Health Benefits : Study . Chewing Gum While Walking . Chew gum AND walk at the same time? What dark magic is this???

Many studies have examined the health effects of chewing gum while at rest. But a new study conducted by Dr. Yuka Hamada and colleagues at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan, decided to focus specifically on its effect while exercising. The findings suggested gum chewing during walking

46 people were recruited by the researchers to participate in two randomized trials. The participants were between the ages of 21 to 69 and included men and women. 

In the first group, the participants were given two pellets of gum (3 kilocalories per pellet) to chew as they walked at their natural pace for 15 minutes. In the second control group, participants once again walked for 15 minutes but did not chew gum. Instead, they were asked to ingest a powder which contained the same ingredients as the gum.

Both groups performed the 15 minute walk after a one hour rest period.

For both trials, the researchers measured resting heart rate, mean heart rate during walking, distance covered, and the rate at which they took steps. The total energy expenditure during the walk was calculated using the average walking speed and the body mass of each participant.

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Many studies have examined the health effects of chewing gum while at rest. But a new study conducted by Dr. Yuka Hamada and colleagues at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan, decided to focus specifically on its effect while exercising. The findings suggested gum chewing during walking

Studies have found that chewing gum while performing tasks can improve various aspects of brain function, including alertness, memory, understanding and The benefits of chewing gum on memory have only been shown to last while you're chewing the gum . However, habitual gum chewers may

The research team found that the average heart rate when walking was significantly higher in the gum trial than in the control trial. "Walking distance, walking speed, walking heart rate, and heart rate changes in male participants and walking heart rate and heart rate changes in female participants were significantly higher during the gum trial than the control trial," the authors wrote.

Middle-aged and elderly men were found to experience the most positive effect on distance walked, change in heart rate, total energy expenditure etc. when compared to the control trial.

Though the researchers stated needing to do further research to identify the mechanism, they believed that chewing gum may somehow help in the synchronization of the heart rhythm and locomotor rhythm. The process, known as cardiac-locomotor synchronization (CLS), is more likely to occur among the elderly rather than young people.

"Chewing gum while walking affects a number of physical and physiological functions in men and women of all ages. Our study also indicates that gum chewing while walking increased the walking distance and energy expenditure of middle-aged and elderly male participants in particular," the authors wrote.

With regards to methodological limitations, the researchers were unable to measure the number of chews while the participants were walking. "In future studies, it will be necessary to measure the number of chews both at rest and while walking to compare these values," the study stated.

Here's why you should not eat chewing gum

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You've always been advised to have some to prevent your ears from getting caught in the plane and yet ... In the middle of the flight, the chewing gum would not be good for your health.

"Take some chewing gum so your ears do not get clogged with altitude!" Whether from our friends or previous generations, this is THE advice we give to anyone who flies. And that's a shame, because according to Ben MacFarlane , British doctor interviewed by the DailyMail and whose job is to repatriate sick travelers after a stay abroad, chewing gum would be our worst ally on a flight.

Chewing this candy would actually make us swallow air, and would likely trigger unpleasant aerophagia attacks for us, but also for other travelers. Oxygen is precious at this altitude and its effects on our body are different. It makes us swell more easily. It avoids eating then, because no one has very much want to hear you burping and farting. Even worse, chewing gum would increase the jetlag sensation. By inflating our stomach, he would participate in bloating and nausea typical after a long trip ... So it was him!

Feeling bad even without using chewing gum on the plane? If you consume sparkling water, soda or champagne in the air, know that they have the same effect on the body. So prefer plain water or a glass of wine.

Finally, to avoid having ears clogged, Ben MacFarlane advises simply to shake the lower jaw and make false yawning ... That should relieve you during your next vacation.

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