r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Mar 03 '25

Neuroscience Chewing different materials affects the brain and a new study found that chewing on wood (wooden tongue depressors), compared to chewing gum, led to a significant increase in a natural brain antioxidant called glutathione, and better performance on memory tasks.

https://www.psypost.org/chewing-wood-may-boost-memory-and-brain-antioxidants-study-finds/
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201

u/HeyWannaShrek Mar 03 '25

Good news for those that chew on pencils

87

u/GenePoolFilter Mar 03 '25

Unfortunately the paint the Chinese manufacturer uses is highly toxic, so it’s a wash.

12

u/NeuroticKnight Mar 03 '25

BMW sells organic Natural rubber pencils

https://lifestyle.bmw.com/en/bmw-organic-pencil/701225236001000.html

15

u/JonnyRocks Mar 03 '25 edited Mar 03 '25

if they are rubber than they wouldnt be wood....

1

u/Matra Mar 03 '25

You know rubber comes from trees, right?

Although the linked pencils just have rubber erasers.