HEALTH

Wellness

Is bubblegum giving you a headache? Science says yes


All it takes is one familiar twinge in your forehead to totally derail your plans for the day. From hanging with friends to plowing through your homework, there’s a whole lot that suddenly becomes impossible when you have a headache. And for those who suffer from chronic headaches or migraines, the pain is magnified. Yowtch.

There’s some good news on the horizon though, hunnies—and it doesn’t have anything to do with a new drug (and a crazy long list of side effects). Scientists have been curious about the effects of chewing gum on chronic conditions like headaches, so some researchers pulled together a small study of 30 adolescents to see what happens when the gum-obsessed group (who also experienced chronic headaches) were told to put aside the Double Bubble for a whole month.

After 30 days of no gum, 87 percent of the patients reported significant improvement in the headaches. And the 20 who went back to chewing gum after the study was over saw their symptoms return. Hmm…

While the study doesn’t offer an explanation as to why chewing gum would affect headache symptoms, researchers tend to think it has something to do with all that chewing and the stress it places on your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). That joint functions as a hinge, so when you’re spending hours chewing away, you’re constantly forcing that joint to open and close. That sort of continual jaw strain can lead to a headache.

Read more about the study here.

LOVE THIS POST? YOU’LL HEART THESE, TOO…

+ Want flat abs? Join our New Year, New You Facebook chat for pro-in-the-know tips

+ Nix negative thoughts for good this year

+ The indoor workout that’ll keep ya slim and warm

GL GIVEAWAY! Watch your shows in style with a 40“ LCD HDTV.

MAJOR PLUS Get the latest from GL on Google+ and Instagram.

POSTED IN , ,

by Brittany Taylor | 2/1/2016
share