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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u/Stonks-13 Mar 03 '25

Reject gum, embrace the beaver within

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u/NeuroticKnight Mar 03 '25

Reminds me of the traditional image of a thinker chewing ona pen or a wooden stick or toothpick.

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u/omfghi2u Mar 03 '25

The toothpick people were on to something!

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u/jtw1n9 Mar 03 '25

Benson Henderson an MMA fighter is known for always having a toothpick in his mouth during fights. He's been using performance enhancing chew sticks this whole time.