A new study shows that chewing sugar-free gum can help to control appetite, decrease cravings for snacks, and reduce calorie intake, while helping to maintain alertness and energy levels through the afternoon. The new research, led by Paula J. Geiselman, Ph.D., is from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Louisiana State University. Brand name Extra® sugar-free gum was used in the research.

Main results of the chewing gum study:

• Chewing Extra® sugar-free gum significantly reduced intake of an afternoon snack by 40 calories. Chewing Extra sugar-free gum specifically reduced sweet snack intake by 60 calories.

• When participants chewed gum, hunger, desire to eat and sweet snack cravings were significantly suppressed between lunch and an afternoon snack as compared to when they did not chew gum.

• When participants chewed gum, they reported that their energy levels were maintained between lunch and an afternoon snack, and that they were significantly less drowsy as compared to when they did not chew gum during this same timeframe.

Overall, this study demonstrates the role of chewing gum in helping to decrease calorie intake from an afternoon snack, controlling appetite and reducing snack cravings. Nutritionists report that even small changes in caloric intake can have a significant impact in the long term. This research study supports the role of chewing sugar-free gum as an easy, practical tool for helping to manage snack intake and reducing sweet snack cravings (Courtesy of EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS).

Extra® is a registered trademark of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company.

Reference: Geiselman PJ, et al. Short-Term Effects of Chewing Gum on Specific Macronutrient and Total Calorie Intake. ASN Scientific Sessions and Annual Meeting at Experimental Biology 2009. New Orleans, LA. April 2009.