In March, 2006, the manufacturer of Wrigley's chewing gum announced the establishment of the Wrigley Science Institute (WSI). It is supporting research being conducted around the world on gum chewing's beneficial effects in dieting, stress reduction and concentration. The research studies are expected to be completed in late 2006 or 2007.
The 115-year-old Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company is the world's top gum manufacturer, with 63 percent of the US market. Chewing gum remains a popular snack. According to NPD Group Snack Track, chewing gum was the number one snack choice among U.S. adults aged 18 to 54, in 2005.
"Chewing gum is a simple act many of us do every day, yet we rarely think about its potential benefits," says Gilbert A. Leveille, PhD, WSI Executive Director, in a news release. "Not long ago, the same could have been said about drinking water, but today we know how important and beneficial it is to overall well-being. Chewing gum may be similar and it could help people achieve multiple health and wellness benefits."
The WSI is conducting three to four studies in the U.S. and U.K. on chewing gum as a weight management tool. At five to 10 calories a serving, chewing gum can substitute for a high-calorie snack and help reduce calorie intake. "Preliminary evidence suggests that chewing gum before a snack may reduce subsequent calorie intake," says Tom Wadden, PhD, director of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine's Weight and Eating Disorders program and a member of the WSI Advisory Panel, in a news release. "Future research supported by the Wrigley Science Institute will shed more light on the validity of gum's potential to help as part of a sound weight management plan."
The WSI is also conducting three studies in the U.K. and Asia on the role of chewing gum in increasing concentration. Wrigley cites studies showing that gum chewing increases blood flow to the brain and may improve the ability to retain and retrieve information. Other WSI research in the U.S. and U.K. will study how chewing gum may help reduce stress.
REFERENCES:
1. New Wrigley Science Institute Established, Wrigley Investor Information, Press Release, March 29, 2006.
2. Carpenter, D. Wrigley wants science to prove gum-chewing benefits. USAToday, March 28, 2006:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2006-03-28-wrigley-gum-institute_x.htm
Posted by Elaine Gavalas on August 2, 2006 02:29 PM
