Chewing Gum

I did a little research and i found out that chewing gum can actually help you lose weight! I love to chew gum, and it always keeps my breath fresh. before i decided that i was going to chew gum when i felt the urge to snack, and then i looked it up on google. turns our it can help your diet, and help you lose weight. here’s some of the cool stuff i found:

Chew while you chop. A taste here and there while you’re cooking can derail a diet. To stay on track, pop a piece of gum in your mouth. The taste of tomato sauce, or mashed potatoes or mac and cheese doesn’t mix so well with, say, the flavor of spearmint.

Let gum satisfy your sweet tooth. When a craving hits, grab a piece of gum instead of a high-calorie, sugary snack. That burst of sweetness you get as you chomp down may give your taste buds just what they’re looking for–without doing damage to your waistline.

End a meal with gum. If you’re the kind of person who can’t stop eating once you start, then chewing gum after a meal may be a good way to tell your mind that the kitchen’s now closed.

[above from: http://www.ehow.com/how_2153386_use-chewing-gum-lose-weight.html ]

Reduced Overall Calorie Intake

• The study results revealed that chewing gum, sweetened or sugar free, reduced snacking on sweets in the study subjects by approximately 39 calories per snack.
• Build on these results by keeping healthy snacks readily available and by prepackaging low calorie, energy enhancing, nutritious snacks. Great “on the go” snacks in lieu of sweet treats can include baby carrots, low fat yogurt, low fat cheese, whole grain crackers or any fruit. Focusing on snacks with a high soluble fiber content will help speed weight loss and ensure between meal satisfaction as well.

Read more at Suite101: Lose Weight Chewing Gum: Studies Show Gum Chewers Save Over 2200 Calories Per Month http://generalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/chew_gum_to_lose_weight#ixzz0jJtNHiO3

Reduced Overall Cravings

• The researchers found that cravings in the study subjects were reduced significantly in the gum chewing group at one, two and three hours after meals.
• To further reduce cravings and build on this finding, add distractions and/or activities during in between meal periods such as outdoor activities, reading or creative projects.

Improved Mood

• Subjects in the study reported improved moods, increased contentment and relaxation with gum chewing between meals.
• Use this improved mood to expand your social network or focus on a personal reward such as a trip to a favorite boutique, a nail salon or day spa.

Reduced Anxiety and Stress

• Gum chewing has recently been theorized to increase both concentration and focus. In this particular study, participants reported both anxiety and stress reduction as well. Could a refocusing mechanism be responsible in the brain? It’s possible, but further, more defined studies are needed.

Studies on gum chewing, appetite suppression and overall calorie reduction with larger subject populations are necessary (these studies included 60 subject populations) however, this study both replicates and enhances the researchers’ previous studies and hypotheses. It is important to note that this group’s earlier study, (Marion Hetherington, D. Phil., Professor of Biopsychology, Glasgow Caledonian University in Glasgow, Scotland) in May of 2007, demonstrated these effects in a younger subject group that was not trying to lose or reduce hunger, cravings or achieve weight loss. There was also a reduction in cravings for salty snacks in the recent study (reduction of 11 calories of salty snack intake) which was a variable as well; however, the reductions in sweet snack cravings were greater.

It is important to note that, as reported recently in the British Medical Journal, some individuals may experience severe gastric distress from the ingestion of sorbitol (the sweetener in most sugar free gums). Individuals sensitive to sorbitol (especially those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome) should chew sugar containing gum only and avoid all sorbitol containing products (even the minute quantities found in sugar free gum or mints).

Read more at Suite101: Lose Weight Chewing Gum: Studies Show Gum Chewers Save Over 2200 Calories Per Month http://generalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/chew_gum_to_lose_weight#ixzz0jJuW19Ad

i am certainly going to be trying this [: