In the United States, the average person consumes about 1.8 pounds of chewing gum every year. Scientists believe that chewing gum can be used as a substitute for various pills, tablets and syrup, and is regarded as the carrier of a new generation of prescription drugs. As the research continues, more consumer goods and medical products enter the chewing gum market. Eating less gum is good, but eating too much is also harmful to health. Large doses of whitening chewing gum can cause gingivitis. Song Miqin's "Los Angeles Times" feature shows your personality-chewing gum franchise stores always use this slogan to attract customers. The chewing gum with spicy cinnamon flavor is long, the chewing gum with mint flavor is pill-shaped, with shiny white powder, and the chewing gum with strawberry and lemon flavor is pillow-shaped … No matter what your personality, you can always find one that suits you. Now the function of chewing gum is not only to stimulate taste buds and whiten teeth. Chewing gum can slim down and enhance memory, which is nothing new. Scientists are trying to prove its role in keeping healthy and improving vigilance. Major companies are also conducting related experiments, hoping to suppress appetite, treat headaches, fight cancer, prevent tooth decay and so on by adding certain ingredients. Although the research on a new generation of prescription drug carriers is still in its infancy, chewing gum containing green tea, phytoestrogens and calcium has appeared in European and Asian markets. According to the US Census Bureau, in the United States, the average person consumes about 65,438+0.8 pounds of chewing gum every year. In the eyes of those trendy people in the food market, adding herbs, minerals and other beneficial ingredients to food has become the future development trend of the candy, beverage and snack industries. Scientists believe that chewing gum can be used as a substitute for various pills, tablets and syrup, and is regarded as the carrier of a new generation of prescription drugs. "Chewing gum is a good drug delivery system, and its potential needs to be fully developed." Professor of Periodontology, School of Stomatology, University of Illinois at Chicago. Chewing gum can be used as a drug delivery system, which is due to the amazing absorption capacity of cheeks. The European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology published a research result in 2006. Danish scientists found that people who took an antihistamine called loratadine by chewing gum absorbed twice as much as those who took it alone. About 40% drugs will enter the blood circulation system through the inner wall of the mouth, while tablets need to be absorbed by the human body through the digestive system. However, experts in this field believe that there are still many problems in using chewing gum to supplement medicine and nutrition. They pointed out that chewing gum itself contains as many as 70 ingredients, so there are thousands of formulas based on it. The interaction between the internal ingredients is likely to affect its efficacy. Scientists have not yet figured out how many drugs or nutrients a piece of chewing gum can supply, and whether these substances can be released or absorbed by the human body during chewing. "So far, no one will spend millions of dollars to figure out this problem. What we are going to discuss here is the problem of chewing gum itself. " Gary Camley, a physiologist at the Walter Raleigh Army Institute in Maryland, said. Medical products enter the chewing gum market. In the past, the market was very picky about the so-called functional chewing gum, and many products were left out of the market. However, as the research continues, more consumer goods and medical products enter the chewing gum market. Wrigley Chewing Gum Company once produced a chewing gum with reduced breath, in which zinc salt and copper salt can be decomposed to produce sulfur compounds, and the smell is unpleasant. Scientists are studying an antibacterial chewing gum containing protein fragments, which can prevent tooth decay, gum disease and dental plaque like toothpaste. Chewing gum with green tea essence appeared in Asian market, while chewing gum with calcium to strengthen bones appeared in Europe. Bust-Up chewing gum introduced by Japanese B2Up company is said to have breast enhancement because it contains a phytoestrogen extracted from Pueraria lobata. A Mexican company also produces all kinds of sexual chewing gum, including an aphrodisiac called Damiana. At the same time, the chewing gum containing lactic acid bacteria produced by BASF in Germany has the same composition as that contained in yogurt, which can prevent tooth decay. Researchers at the University of Helsinki in Finland have developed an anti-cancer chewing gum, which is said to contain cysteine, an amino acid component that can help smokers prevent cancer in the mouth, esophagus and stomach. When smokers and alcoholics indulge in their bad habits, the chemical acetaldehyde produced is usually thought to be related to cancer of the digestive system. The research team found that eating a piece of chewing gum containing cysteine while smoking can remove most acetaldehyde from saliva. Chewing is healthier. Many companies focus their investment on people's mouths. Last year, Wrigley Gum Company established Wrigley Gum Science Association to support worldwide research. Perhaps one day, functional chewing gum will also appear in their research topic, but at present, the research focus of the association is-what are the benefits of chewing gum on oral cavity and health? "What we can understand at present is that the benefits of chewing gum come from the chewing gum itself, not because of its taste or form." Jill Levell, head of the association, said. Many studies have confirmed that chewing gum after meals can prevent tooth decay, because saliva produced during chewing can inhibit acidic substances produced by oral bacteria. A study in 2004 found that chewing a large piece of red gum can immediately kill bacteria that produce bad breath in the mouth. Xylitol is said to prevent tooth decay, and its oral benefits may also benefit the whole body, because many studies have shown that oral health can reduce the chance of premature birth and the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Last February, the Journal of Surgical Archives published a research result. Researchers in California found that among 34 people who underwent cecal surgery, those who ate gum during recovery were discharged relatively early. Abdominal surgery can stop or slow down gastrointestinal function, so people usually can't eat immediately after surgery. Just like chewing food, chewing gum stimulates the secretion of hormones that help the internal organs recover. Levell said that chewing gum is also good for strengthening brain power. He quoted a research result, saying that researchers in China found that chewing gum can increase the blood supply to the brain by 40% after investigating nine people. Appetite magazine also published a research result in 2002. The researchers tested 75 Britons and found that people who chewed gum performed relatively well in memory tests. There are 15 words in the test table. People who chew gum can remember 8 to 9 words immediately, and after 25 minutes, it will be reduced to 7. People who don't eat gum can only remember six or seven at first, and then there are only five left. Scientists don't know the specific reason, but they infer that it may be because human chewing activities can speed up the heart rhythm and enhance the oxygen supply to the brain. Weight loss effect of chewing gum In addition, the weight loss effect of chewing gum also belongs to the hot field of research. For a long time, people have always thought that chewing gum will reduce people's desire to eat snacks, but there is no practical and consistent evidence. For example, after studying 60 people, Dr. Marion hetherington of the University of Liverpool found that people who chew gum consume 36 fewer calories than others within three hours after meals, and their desire for sweets is not so strong. However, Richard Mantes, a nutritionist at Purdue University, found in the study that among the 47 subjects, whether they were hungry or chewed gum two hours after meals, or didn't eat at all, their final intake of calories was basically the same. "I think this problem needs further discussion," said Mantes. Can adding something to chewing gum suppress appetite? Some small brands have produced chewing gum containing chromium, which is said to have the effect of suppressing appetite. British scientists are studying a hormone called pancreatic polypeptide and making it into injections and chewing gum. However, although scientists have found that the human body produces this hormone when faced with food, there is no evidence that it has the effect of losing weight, said Gail Canfield, a registered dietitian in Florida. In her opinion, chewing gum can never be a panacea for losing weight. Eating less gum is good, but eating too much is also harmful to health. For people with chin and temporomandibular problems, repeated muscle pressure will aggravate the pain. Dr Eric Shapira, a spokesman for the General Dental Association, said that large doses of whitening chewing gum would cause gum inflammation, and the acidic environment created by chewing gum containing vitamin C would wear the enamel on the tooth surface. If children often eat chewing gum containing vitamins, they will be in danger of iron poisoning. A strip of chewing gum is equivalent to a 6-ounce cup of coffee. A kind of chewing gum called Stay Alert is sold to soldiers and developed by Marketright Company. A strip of cinnamon-flavored chewing gum generally contains 100 mg of stimulant, which is equivalent to a 6-ounce cup of coffee. Drinking a cup of cappuccino takes an hour for the caffeine in it to take effect, while "vigilance" chewing gum takes only a few minutes, which is five times faster than taking capsules. "It's like pouring coffee directly into your circulation system," Camille said. Camille's research confirmed that soldiers can stay awake for 72 hours by eating two pieces of chewing gum every two hours and chewing for about five minutes at a time, even if they drive across the desert in the middle of the night. He said that chewing gum is a good carrier, and its properties are stable whether it is hot or cold. Chewing gum doesn't need water, and it doesn't make people run to the toilet like liquid coffee. This function is favored by people who work at night, such as ambulance workers and truck drivers. Now there have been chewing gum containing caffeine on the market, which is similar to "keeping alert", but the composition and efficacy of caffeine contained in it have not been strictly tested. Roger Clemens, spokesman of the American Association of Food Technology Experts, believes that the business opportunities contained in chewing gum are infinite, and it may indeed become a carrier of certain nutrients and drugs for the benefit of mankind. Even if it can't be realized, chewing gum itself has unlimited benefits.