Why do athletes often chew gum during competition?

You must have seen players from your favorite football club chewing gum during a game. Maybe you think it's just their hobby. You might even think that chewing gum while running on the field has great risks like choking. So why are the players taking such risks?

Few people would have thought that chewing gum would affect cognition, yet numerous studies have found a link between chewing and brain function. When we chew something, receptors in the mouth sense taste and the pressure from jaw movement sends signals to the brain. Nervous system signals travel to the brain to help the mind stay in a more alert state. That's why the ability to concentrate improves.

Chewing gum helps to increase concentration.

In addition, increased brain activity means more energy is provided for those mental metabolisms, so blood flow to the brain also increases when chewing. The greater demand for blood from the brain causes the heart to beat faster. In short, chewing helps activate receptors in our gums that send information to the brain, and as a "reward" - the heart works better allowing the muscles to receive more blood.

Chewing harder gum promotes better concentration than soft gum. Similarly, chewing flavored gum is also better for cognitive function, as it activates more receptors in the mouth than chewing unflavored gum.

This is why so many professional soccer players and basketball players chew gum. They will think faster, speed up their actions and reflexes.

Chewing gum has also been noted to reduce stress and anxiety levels, helping to improve concentration. Brain activity from chewing gum occurs in the prefrontal cortex, the area of ​​the brain located just behind our forehead. Once this area of ​​the brain is stimulated, it makes our nerve cells work to release serotonin - the neurotransmitter that helps relax the mind.

If you feel jittery during an exam or taking on an important challenge, try chewing gum while taking the test. With lower stress levels and better focus, athletes will have better decision-making abilities mid-match. They can create more accurate passes or move the most logically at the necessary times. Chewing gum also helps them manage their anxiety levels during big matches like the final or the title-defining match.

Chewing gum also helps athletes control anxiety levels.

Most athletes are constantly in motion throughout their matches. It is estimated that football players run about 6-7 miles per game. So their mouths are quite dry if they don't drink water regularly because the constant movement makes athletes dehydrated. Even intense daily matches or training sessions can leave you with a dry mouth due to dehydration.

When you chew gum, your mouth will continuously produce saliva. It's the body's natural response, as saliva contains enzymes that help break down food. Saliva is 99% water, so it helps keep the mouth moist and prevents dry mouth. This also helps the players control their thirst on the pitch.

Athletes chew gum to create competitive advantages. With a high level race and a long journey, surely small differences will create big effects that will help them go a long way. But scientifically, chewing gum can't double your focus, it just gives your body a little boost.

In addition, if you have a habit of chewing gum, you should also be careful while exercising or playing sports. With sports like football or rugby, there can be situations where you have to swallow chewing gum that causes choking. Keep yourself safe by chewing only one candy bar to reduce the risk of choking.

In addition to chewing gum, another booster that athletes also use is caffeine. Athletes use coffee's special ingredients to boost their endurance, alertness and heart rate. Typically, athletes will drink a caffeine-rich beverage or take a caffeine pill before a competition, but caffeine-containing gum will give athletes the benefits of both chewing and caffeine. This is thought to be healthier than drinking energy drinks and because the body also readily absorbs caffeine from gum.

However, you should only use a moderate amount of gum before a workout or during a big game. Chewing too much gum can make you feel nauseous because the sugar used in the gum can have a laxative effect.