Chew up to Stress Down

I found this in the January issue of Women's Health Magazine.

Chewing gum can reduce stress and improve performance. People who chomped during a mild stress test had 16 percent less of the hormone cortisol than those who took the test gum-free. Their attention and memory scores also increased. Chewing boosts blood flow to the jaw and perhaps the brain. Added oxygen may boost mental sharpness, and if you're on top of your game, you'll feel less stressed, says Andrew Scholey, Ph.D., of Swinburne University of Technology.