(Some of the) Best of 2010

Going out on a limb, here are a few of our Bests of 2010: Best chewing gum--bar none--Orbit Mist from Wrigley. This gum really does last and comes in enough varieties of mint or fruit to keep any avid gum chewer satisfied.  Best product--there really are a  few in this category but the electric Smart Kettle  from Chef's Choice is still going strong and lives up to is promises. We also want to mention Cuisinart's Smart Power Blender, which has un-complicated the art of blending and looks smart, too. For noteworthy foods we have to list Jovial Foods Einkorn Pasta, Morningstar Farm's Riblets and Lasagna, and  Gardein meatless entrees as well as Smart Life's Vegan Hot Dogs and Sausages (vegan) , Amy's Breakfast Burritos, Quorn meatless entrees (vegetarian). Where would we be without Tabasco Sauce to give zest to meals or Rice Select's varieties of couscous and grains or the lovely teas from The Republic of Tea--all make cooking and enjoying a bit more pleasurable.

New Chewing Gum Flavors

You can’t stop people from chewing. They’ve been doing it for centuries.

The ancient Greeks chewed mastiche, made from mastic tree resin ( and most likely the flavor to match). Ancient Mayans chewed the sap from the sapodilla tree while Indians in North America chewed the sap from spruce trees and gave the idea to the settlers. Early American settlers came up with a chewing gum from spruce sap and beeswax. You can still find this "flavor" in some gift stores.

Many years and steps later we have such a wide assortment of flavors you could choose a different one for each week of the year—at least.

Some newer arrivals include sugar-free Wrigley's Orbit Mist in Mango Surf, Watermelon Spring, and Peppermint Spray. The package says they hydrate and they do indeed and for a pretty long time. The gum doesn't "dry out" in your mouth like some do-- the micro bursts keep the flavor fresh.

The flavor is very intense at first—the Mango Surf and Watermelon Spring pack a knock- you- off- your- chair sweet-tart burst that becomes more subtle but stays with you. The Peppermint Spray is still intense with long-lasting flavor.

Highly recommended.

Chewing Gum For the Mind?

Chewing is also said to reduce stress, control weight and even sharpen your focus.

A study unwrapped at the 2008 10th International Congress of Behavioral Medicine found that chewing gum:
"Relieved Anxiety: When chewing gum, participants reported lower levels of anxiety. Gum chewers showed a reduction in anxiety as compared to non-gum chewers by nearly 17 percent during mild stress and nearly 10 percent in moderate stress.

Increased Alertness: Participants experienced greater levels of alertness when they chewed gum. Gum chewers showed improvement in alertness over non-gum chewers by nearly 19 percent during mild stress and 8 percent in moderate stress.

Reduced Stress: Stress levels were lower in participants who chewed gum. Levels of salivary cortisol (a physiological stress marker) in gum chewers were lower than those of non-gum chewers by 16 percent during mild stress and nearly 12 percent in moderate stress.
Improved Performance: Chewing gum resulted in a significant improvement in overall performance on multi-tasking activities. Both gum-chewers and non-chewers showed improvement from their baseline scores; however, chewing gum improved mean performance scores over non-gum chewers by 67 percent during moderate stress and 109 percent in mild stress. "

It was Frank Lloyd Wright who said: “Television is chewing gum for the eyes.” Does it follow that chewing gum is television for the mouth? If so then these new double duty chewing gums--exotically flavored, teeth whitening, breath freshening and strengthening gums-- could be called the PBS for the mouth—entertainingly flavorful and also good for you.


http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/119826.php
http://www.wrigley.com/wrigley/about/about_story_gum.asp
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2006-03-28-wrigley-gum-institute_x.htm

Not Eating, Just Chewing

Say you aren’t really hungry and can’t justify eating even a small snack just to have something to put in your mouth instead of say, a candy bar or a cigarette (you are quitting, right?). The option that tastes good—at least for a while-- cleans your teeth, freshens bad breath, and just gives your jaw some exercise, minus the talking, is chewing gum.

There are so many flavors and types to choose from. Not just sugarless or sugarfull or fruity or minty. Now there are options like sugarless Wrigley’s 5 ( a soft stick in the traditional long, flat, wide thin shape) in flavors such as Lush, "a crisp tropical” and Elixir, "a mouthwatering berry” or from that same company, sugarless soft Orbit—whether you like, hate or tolerate their ads, Orbit gum is a satisfying choice. The new varieties promise a “just brushed clean feeling” and are available in flavors with names like “Fabulous Fruitini” and Sangria Fresca and Maui Melon Mint (quite nice).

Sugarless crisp-shelled Eclipse now promises “Natural Germ Killing” properties, thanks to Magnolia Bark Extract—who knew? Apparently a few scientists-- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071119111138.htm and http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20071116/magnolia-bark-extract-vs-bad-breath

So, even though no one expects a lot from a chewing gum—the flavor only lasts so long and then it’s time for another piece, now there even more flavors from which to choose. And you will have distracted your mouth until it’s time for the next meal. Or your next meeting.

And keep in mind that lumps of spruce gum, courtesy of the Native Americans of New England, was the chewing gum of availability, if not choice, of the early colonists. They learned to chew the gum-like resin that from on spruce trees when the bark was cut. Never tried it? You won't forget the taste. And you will be thankful for the variety of options we have today.