From coffee to energy drinks, there are plenty of caffeinated beverages claiming to keep you going throughout the day. Now, gum companies are putting out products to give you that jolt.
"Chewing gum on a whole has been on a slow decline...but if you separate the category of functional gum, they are on a steep increase," said Boyd Wilkinson with Apollo Gum.
From gum to help you quit smoking or to lose weight, to now gum with CBD, functional gum can be found at nearly every grocery store.
"Chewing gum makes the perfect delivery system for any active ingredient that's included," said Wilkinson.
Wilkinson says the latest product gaining mainstream popularity is energy gum.
"Energy gum is a combination of active ingredients like natural caffeine and B vitamins that we put in a regular non-sugar zyletol sweetened shell," said Wilkinson.
American’s love their caffeine. About 90 percent consumes it in some way every day, according to a recent study from Kuakini Health System.
"Apollo Gum has about 80 milligrams of caffeine in it, which is equivalent to a small cup of coffee," said Wilkinson.
That’s a similar amount to other energy gums on the market right now.
"If your caffeine intake is around 100 milligrams to 400 milligrams a day, that's pretty safe," said Rose Medical dietitian Jessica Crandall Snyder.
Snyder says while caffeine in moderation is not bad for you, it can cause problems in some cases.
"You may have an increase of tachycardia or increase in heart-rate and dehydration,” said Snyder. “It can also impact you digestively."
While the caffeine is a functional additive, Boyd says that no matter the type of gum, it offers other benefits. Evidence shows it helps reduce stress, heightens focus and enhances memory recall.
"Maybe I can get the cognitive benefits from the chewing that are absent from all the ways I’ve consumed caffeine from the past and get that boost beyond just the caffeine," said Wilkinson.
