Does chewing impact performance in sports activities?

Abstract

Chewing is a simple and effective method for managing psychological stress and maintaining optimal physical and mental health. This study aimed to systematically review the potential benefits and disadvantages of chewing in sports. We conducted a comprehensive literature search for all relevant articles sourced from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, and PUBMED. We used “chewing OR mastication OR masticatory” and “sport OR sports OR training OR exercise OR physical fitness OR athletic OR athlete OR performance.” We adopted a three-step screening process for titles, abstracts, and full-texts to select eligible articles. After applying our inclusion and exclusion criteria, we performed a full-text screening of 101 articles. The results showed that chewing could improve muscle activation, force production, muscle strength, and postural stability, positively affecting sports performance, especially in rugby, judo, kendo, and climbing. The beneficial effects of chewing on sports performance may be associated with the activation of central nervous system circuits, an increase in arousal level and alertness, and improvements in cognitive ability. In contrast, chewing gum poses a potential risk of laryngeal spasm during activities, such as swimming or cricket. Attention should be paid to chewing gum while engaging in sports.