The act of chewing gum could in fact make us smarter, according to British research.
Peppermint gum, menthol or spearmint--it makes no difference. The key is the repetitive chewing motion. The researchers said the improved performance in a range of memory tests could be attributed to an increase in heart rate coupled with a surge in insulin to the brain.
The mild increase in heart rate associated with chewing gum may improve the delivery of oxygen and glucose to the brain, enough to improve cognitive function. It is also possible that chewing gum induced a surge of insulin due to the mouth watering in anticipation of a meal.
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