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.

[u/mvea]

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

[u/geekpeeps]

Interesting. Infant behaviour to mouth and chew might have other purposes than teething (although that’s definitely a thing), but if it enhances or accelerates learning and memory, that would be reasonable.

It also explains children still chewing pens or ice block sticks or grass stems… boredom and cause it’s there is usually the reason, but a useful outcome could be possible. Fascinating.

[u/Improving_Myself_ → u/geekpeeps]

I'd be interested in the comparison vs the other side of the coin here. What's the discrepancy between someone that eats soft stuff all the time (i.e. McDonald's) vs. someone who has more food that requires some effort (e.g. apples, carrots, beef jerky maybe). I feel like that would be tough to isolate while keeping actual nutrition, exercise, and misc other factors equal, but could still be interesting.

Just in general, we've had quite a few studies the past few years that paint an overall picture that we benefit from things that are "difficult." Exercise is difficult with obvious benefits, this study with harder to chew foods being good for the brain, plenty of studies saying that more fibrous harder to digest foods are good for our gut health, and others in various fields.

[u/eucalyptusmacrocarpa → u/Improving_Myself_]

Chewy foods help jaw development. If your jaw is underdeveloped it remains slightly too small for your tongue. This means your tongue sits back in your throat and obstructs your airway, leading to bad sleep. 

[u/apcolleen → u/eucalyptusmacrocarpa]

And often crowded or impacted teeth.