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/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/lionturtl3 Mar 03 '25

Cinnamon toothpick ftw

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u/HolidayFisherman3685 Mar 03 '25

Mint toothpicks only, you swine!

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u/Successful-Peach-764 Mar 03 '25

Cinnamon over Mint any day, you fresh breathed heathen.

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u/lionturtl3 Mar 03 '25

Nah! The ONLY downside to the cinnamon toothpick is that you don't get the Big Red foil wrapper that you can lick and stick on your forehead.