The Sugar Free Dad’s Secret to Power Walking: Chew Like You Mean It!

Hey everyone, Keith here. Welcome back to the Sugar Free Dad blog! Today we are talking about fitness. You know what is tough? Trying to squeeze in a decent workout between fixing the leaky faucet, managing the yard, and accidentally falling asleep in your favorite armchair.

​But I just stumbled across an article from HuffPost that completely blew my mind. It turns out I have been sitting on the ultimate dad fitness hack without even knowing it. Are you ready for this?

​Chewing gum.

​Yes, you read that correctly. The simple act of chomping on a piece of sugar free gum while you walk actually makes your walk faster and much more efficient.

​Here is the breakdown of why you need to start chewing and stepping:

​Your Legs Keep Up With Your Jaw

A 2018 study found that people who chewed gum while walking had higher heart rates, burned more energy, and walked further. And here is the absolute best part for us guys. The results were especially strong among middle aged men! We are finally the prime demographic for an athletic advantage.

​Scientists think it comes down to something called Cardiac Locomotor Synchronisation. That is just a fancy, scientific way of saying your heartbeat and your footsteps decide to get in a rhythm together.

​Fast Chewing Equals Fast Walking

Another study from 2019 discovered that if you chew your gum faster, you actually walk faster. Your body naturally syncs your stepping rate to your chewing rate. It is basically like having a tiny, mint flavored personal trainer right inside your mouth yelling at you to pick up the pace.

​The Ultimate Power Move

If you want to take things to the next level, the article notes that vigorously swinging your arms will help you go even faster. So picture this scenario. You are speed walking down the street, vigorously swinging your arms like an orchestra conductor, and furiously chomping on a piece of peppermint gum. The neighbors might stare, but you will be the undisputed king of neighborhood cardio.

​A Tiny Bonus Tip

The article also casually mentions that sugar free gum tricks your body into thinking it is eating, which can apparently help get things moving if you are ever dealing with constipation. We will just file that fun fact away for later.

​So next time you head out for a stroll, grab your favorite pack of sugar free gum, lace up those pristine white sneakers, and hit the pavement.

​Stay minty and keep stepping!