Wood chewing can strengthen your memory – how it works

Pencil ready – now chew!

Chewing gum has been shown to increase blood flow to the brain, increasing readiness, concentration and cognitive function. South Korean researchers found that another substance could be even more useful for the brain – wood.

A new study found that noise in wood medical depressions for five minutes can increase the levels of glutathione (GSH), the primary antioxidant in the brain that plays a crucial role in protecting against oxidative stress. The highest GSH was associated with better memory.

“For the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that shows that manipulation can alternate the level of antioxidants in the human brain, and that an increase in brain antioxidant levels is associated with cognitive function,” the study authors wrote recently in the Frog journal.

Fifty -two healthy university students from Daegu, South Korea, were divided into two groups for study.

Twenty -seven was given to the paraffin wax gum, while 25 received depressions of the language reminiscent of Popsicle sticks.

Participants chewed on their right side for 30 seconds, then rested for 30 seconds, alternating for five minutes.

Researchers used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure GSH changes in their anterior cortex-a part of the brain involved in decision-making, emotional adjustment, motivation and cognitive control.

All participants took a cognitive test before and after the activity. Those who dug depressed had larger jumps in the GSH and performed better in the rehearsals.

While the findings strongly suggest that the chewing of relatively difficult material is closely linked to an increase in the concentration of GSH in the brain, the authors of the study said the exact reasons remain unclear.

They speculated that an increase in GSH simply reflects an increase in cerebral blood flow.

The cerebral blood flow is essential for the distribution of oxygen and nutrients to the brain tissue – an interruption in this flow can lead to stroke or cognitive decrease.

Studies have linked difficulties in chewing with the weakest cognitive abilities .â

“Since there are currently no medicines or practices defined for increasing GSH brain levels, our findings suggest that chewing moderately strong material can serve as an effective practice for increasing GSH levels in the brain,” write South Korean researchers.

One of the restrictions of the new study is that only two materials were tested – gum and wood.

The study’s authors said future research should include a variety of substances, different chewing durations, more participants, broader demographics and an assessment of GSH levels in a range of brain regions.

In the meantime, if you are looking for a brain growth, you may want to consider foods that require more chewing, such as raw carrots, celery, almonds and cheese.

People cannot digest wood because we lack the enzyme cell to disrupt cellulose – plus, wood can contain fragments and toxicity from chemical treatments.