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/cheetonian Mar 03 '25

I’m gagging just thinking about it…

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u/Lemons_and_lace29 Mar 05 '25

Ive been scrolling looking for this. I have goosebumps just thinking about it. I can’t handle it

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u/kshump Mar 05 '25

Same for me. I can't stand wood utensils. Bamboo is fine, but proper wood like that...shudder.