Hello everyone and welcome to my tenth blog!
I am in Stellenbosch at the moment settling my last born into a private residence. It’s the third time that I am doing this, and each time the experience differs. It’s awesome to show friends the places I have grown to love and see this magnificent town through their eyes. Blessed to be able to do this. I am dreading saying goodbye to “my baby” next week, but know he is happy and it’s all good, and not about me.
So, why on earth a blog about chewing gum? Well, actually there are various reasons for this. Let me explain further
I have always loved chewing gum. Back in the day before the war on sugar (which I fully support!) I loved my many squares of Chappies bubble gum and used to adore blowing these pretty awesome bubbles and then popping them. I also had a penchant for Wicks bubble gum and performed the same routine with these. I do have to say at this point that my mother and father did not approve of this at all and so this was done at the bottom of the garden away from their prying eyes. As I got older and got fully into my eating disorder, I found sugar free chewing gum and this replaced the sugar-laden bubble gum. I relied on it heavily during my so-called starving days. I honestly believed that those artificially sweetened sticks of gum were 100 percent an appetite suppressant and were so going to make me skinny. Needless to say, it never worked but I have always been fascinated by this whole chewing gum story and weight loss.
Let’s consider this whole gum-chewing thing from a nutritional point of view. Research has brought some interesting things to light.
Chewing like a prize cow at an agricultural show may just help you decrease your mindless eating, distract you from your hunger pangs and perhaps help you cut down on those sugary snacks. However, if it is just a mask for hunger, sadly, it is only a matter of time before you dive into the pantry or fridge to satisfy those hunger pangs. This is due to the fact that your digestive system has been stimulated into thinking its receiving food, which it obviously isn’t, and this will lead you to the kitchen later. This is due to the sugar alcohols (common sugar-free sweeteners) that are in chewing gum and are not absorbed by the body. Your blood sugar does not rise and then you end up so very hungry. Been there, done that.
Research shows that chewing sugar-free gum may lower your appetite, but others show that the artificial sweeteners in gum could trigger a craving for more sweets and more eating. All a little bit conflicting!! Some minor studies have shown that chewing gum may help those people who want to eat at regular times every day to balance blood sugar and energy. By chewing and chewing in-between meals, one might be able to break the habit of unnecessary snacking. Chewing gum may also be useful as a treat after meals if you are used to reaching for something sweet and are trying to break that habit. This has never worked for me.
One also needs to be aware of any pain in your temporomandibular joint, which is where the jaw attaches to the skull since chewing gum may cause overuse and fatigue of the muscles holding this joint. This may cause jaw pain, earache, toothache and reduced motion or locking of the joint.
Other facial muscles responsible for moving the jaw during chewing may become fatigued. This may result in headaches and migraines, particularly if you chew hectically and vigorously.
The acidic flavourings and preservatives in sugar-free gum may wear the enamel of your teeth.
Chewing gum may relieve nervous energy and reduce tension. One study has shown that the rhythmic motion of chewing gum can help lower levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.
It can also increase the blood flow to the brain (possibly by 25-40 percent), which then increases oxygen to the brain. This can help enhance your memory and cognitive performance. Your hippocampus may be activated. This is the part of the brain that’s crucial to your memory and learning. The chewing could stimulate areas in your brain associated with arousal, which may help you feel more awake, helping to increase your focus and awareness. Apparently mint flavoured gum is really good for this.
Chewing gum increases your saliva flow, which helps wash away harmful sugars, food debris and decay-causing acids from your mouth. It can help fight bad breath, prevent stains, reduce plaque and protect against cavities and tooth decay. Best is obviously sugar-free gum and gum sweetened with xylitol.
Sugar-free mint or ginger chewing gums can help with a dodgy tummy or nausea. Both mint and ginger are natural remedies for nausea, be it morning sickness or motion sickness. I think this is really cool.
To conclude, chew that sugar-free gum, have fun doing it and blow those bubbles!!
My ninth tip
Breaking habits are so very hard to do and forming new ones even harder. Older research says it takes twenty-one days to beat an old habit, but this has definitely not been true for me. Just when I think I have it waxed; it goes pear. Happily, recent studies have shown that the actual number of days range from eighteen to two hundred and fifty-four days for the old mental image to dissolve and a new one to gel. So, don’t stress if you are experiencing a similar thing. It’s all good and we will just keep trying. Also, never forget the power of positive thought! Have an awesome week!