I like gum. I’m no Violet Beauregarde, but I’d say I’m a pretty dedicated gum chewer. I’d given it up in favor of mints a few years back, but I picked up my gum-snapping ways again during grad school, whenever I had to buckle down and study, for I’d heard that chewing gum helped boost concentration and memory.
The makers of Think Gum are aware of gum’s cognitive abilities as well, and have taken them a step further, by infusing their product with a blend of six mood and mind enhancing herbs: Vinpocetine, Bacopa, Ginkgo Biloba, Guarana, Rosemary, and Peppermint. The gum also contains 20 mg of natural caffeine per serving, which is sure to provide a touch of energy.
The website claims that “all six herbal additives work together to improve cognitive function in healthy individuals” and then proceeds to explain, in detail, the beneficial qualities of each ingredient, which is quite interesting and shows that a lot of research went into formulating this product.
Here’s where it gets tricky, though: Think Gum is not a gum for the casual chewer. If you’re looking for a pleasant candy experience, you might want to look elsewhere.
As much as I wanted to like Think Gum, I just couldn’t chew it long enough to get a sense of the true benefits. The gum has a very strong herbal flavor, one that is akin to chewing a vitamin, and though the peppermint faintly covers the herbal mix, it was just too strong for me to handle.
My co-taster, however, enjoyed the gum, and said that once he got past the initial surprise of the flavoring, the gum became much milder and pleasant to chew. He also claimed that he felt his concentration did improve, and that he was more alert after chewing the gum.
It’s best to treat Think Gum not as a candy, but as a supplement. The makers suggest checking with your physician if you’re already taking daily pills or herbal supplements, as Think Gum may interact with certain medications.
This is a gum that was made for a specific purpose, and should be used as directed: for best results, chew the gum for 15 minutes while “studying or learning new information.” It wasn’t for me, but I’m sure it will be a hit with many students and lifetime learners out there.
This is something I’d like to try. The problem I have with gum is that once the flavour is gone I have to toss it out.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:58 pm