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Parkinson’s patients test gum to help swallowing
Researchers in southwestern Ontario are trying to determine if chewing gum will ease swallowing problems among people with Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's is a degenerative nerve disease that affects more than 100,000 Canadians, and can cause swallowing difficulty as the disease progresses, according to the Parkinson Society Canada. That's because Parkinson's symptoms such as tremor, stiffness and slow movements can affect the mechanisms used in speaking and swallowing, said neurologist and researcher Dr. Mandar Jog of the London Health Sciences Centre. Early research points to improved swallowing among Parkinson's patients who chew gum several hours a day.
Mouth exercise
Chewing is a form of exercise for the mouth. The researchers think that having gum in the mouth and chewing it may help to train Parkinson's patients to also move their tongues while eating and swallowing.
"Gum acts like sensory cue to train the system," said Jog, who is also director of the Movement Disorders Centre.
Other types of training have helped people with Parkinson's. For example, when lights are placed in front of patients, the visual cue seems to help them improve their gait, Jog said. Now the team is investigating how long the benefits of gum chewing last. "We have patients regularly coming back to the clinic that are remarkably better at swallowing."
Jog and speech pathologists Angie South and Stephanie Somers are conducting a year-long pilot project to learn more about how chewing gum may help improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson's.
Source: wwww.cbcnews.ca
Sugarless Surge
It’s been widely reported that candy is recession-resistant, and although this notion is up for debate, at least one category seems to be holding its own, despite a down economy: sugarless gum.
Whereas regular (sugared) gum brands saw a decrease of 10.6% in sales for the latest 52 weeks ending May 17, 2009, compared to one year ago, sugarless gum brands accounted for $1.14 billion in sales during the same period — that’s a 9.6% increase over the same period one year ago, says Chicago market research firm Information Resources, Inc.
The success of the sugar-free gum category stems from escalating consumer interest in better-for-you products with functional health benefits, even in candy. An increasing number of introductions offer teeth-whitening and -strengthening, and plaque- and cavity-fighting attributes, all in an often minty, sometimes fruity package.
Take Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.’s Orbit brand, which carries the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Approval. Orbit products have been proven to help fight cavities, strengthen teeth and reduce harmful plaque acids, ultimately helping chewers to maintain good oral healthy, the company claims.
Then there’s new Orbit Mist line of “hydrating” gum with micro-bursts, which also play on the popularity of fruit-flavoured gums that freshen breath, too.
And Wrigley’s upscale 5 brand capitalizes on the sugar-free fruit gum direction with its new Solstice (a warm and cool winter flavor) and Zing (a sour to sweet bubble experience) varieties.
Additionally, The Hershey Co. embraces functional demands with its Ice Breakers Ice Cubes White Chewing Gum. Unlike stick and shell gums, the new product features a “cool cube shape” that’s frosted through a proprietary process for an extra-cold alternative.
New sugar-free varieties of Cadbury North America’s Trident brand answer the call for a cavity-fighting chew that “cleans and protects teeth,” as well, through the use of xylitol.
Another trend driving the category is convenience. For example, Cadbury now offers its sugar-free Dentyne brand gum in a bottle that holds 60 pieces;
Another company making strides in the gum category is Verve, Inc., whose Glee Gum line takes into account not just health benefits but allergens. Glee Gum is free from almost everything, including artificial preservatives, flavors, colors and sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin and cyclamate. It’s also all-natural, made from sustainably harvested rainforest chicle.
Another factor motivating the consumer to continue to purchase from this successful category is value. In most cases, gum remains an affordable luxury, and as such, it often sails under the radar, Klein notes.
That said, consumers do look at cost, even when it comes to gum. Consequently, in today’s economy, manufacturers and retailers have an incentive to run specials to keep it a truly recession-proof purchase.
Source: www.retailconfectioner.com |