Should students be allowed to chew gum at school? Today, an increasing number of students are showing more signs of anxiety, stress and ADHD. One solution to the problem is to allow children to chew gum while in class. Evidence shows that the process of chewing gum increases blood flow to the brain and heart, as well as increases saliva in the mouth, which offers the individual some benefits. Students should be allowed to chew gum while in class because they demonstrate increased memory and attention, higher test scores and concentration, as well as decreased stress and anxiety (Pooley, Smith). Most people believe that the process of chewing gum can be distracting not only to the chewer, but to surrounding people. Gum can be distracting if people don't respect others around them, but gum itself isn't distracting. It's how the chewer handles the gum that determines whether it's distracting. Studies have shown that students with ADHD who chew gum are less distracted and are able to concentrate more easily. Additionally, students with high levels of anxiety and stress also benefit from chewing gum while at school because they have lower levels of stress and anxiety (Smith). A study from Bournemouth University in Dorset, England, confirmed that the chewing motion helps students maintain their attention span for longer because they are moving rather than sitting completely still. Carolyne Cybulski, an elementary school teacher in Toronto, encouraged her students to chew gum a few times a day while working in class. He reported that the result of the strategy was impressive and that his students were calmer, less distracted. Their attention span was longer, they showed fewer signs of anxiety and were in a more positive position...... middle of paper ......d rubber after lunch they ate fewer high-calorie snacks and had fewer cravings for sweets and unhealthy foods (Gajilan). Works Cited Dhingra, Arun. “Middle School Student Supports Chewing Gum at School Cause.” Web log post. Think Gums blog. WordPress.com, April 21, 2011. Web. April 12, 2014.Gajilan, A. Chris. “Chew this: Gum can be good for your body and mind.” CNN. Cable News Network and Web. April 13, 2014.Pooley, Erin. “Can chewing gum really help students concentrate?” The globe and the mail. Phillip Crawley, December 17, 2013. Web. April 12, 2014. Smith, Andrew. “Effects of Chewing Gum on Cognitive Function, Mood, and Physiology in Stressed and Non-Stressed Volunteers.” Nutritional Neuroscience 13.1 (2010): 7-16.Academic Search Premier. Network. April 14, 2014.Smith, Shelly. “Does chewing gum help you concentrate?” Education.com. Education.com, Inc., 2006-2014. Network. April 15. 2014.