Mastication, specifically the act of chewing gum, has been clinically shown to increase blood flow to the brain and significantly improve alertness, memory retention, and cognitive performance.

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Mastication, specifically the act of chewing gum, has been clinically shown to increase blood flow to the brain and significantly improve alertness, memory retention, and cognitive performance. The repetitive jaw movement stimulates the trigeminal nerve, sending signals that wake up the cerebral cortex and lower the stress hormone cortisol in your bloodstream. Basically, chomping on a cheap piece of minty rubber makes you temporarily smarter and less panicked about your impending deadlines. It is a wonderfully stupid biological hack, proving that humans do not necessarily need expensive nootropic supplements or intense meditation retreats to function better in society; we literally just need to mimic the mindless, cud-chewing behavior of a very relaxed cow