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Mastic Gum
Health

Why Mastic Gum is a Healthy Gum to Chew

When you want to freshen up your mouth or breath, do you reach for gum or mints? If you’re a frequent gum chewer, you know plenty of options are available, and many of them contain added sugars. Instead of kicking the habit completely, why not turn to a healthier option like mastic gum? Put simply, mastiha or mastic gum is dried sap. Find out where it comes from, what mastic gum tastes like, and why you should replace your chewing gum with this healthier option.

What is mastic gum? 

Mastiha is the natural resin that comes from the trunk and branches of the mastic tree. Sometimes called Chios mastic gum, the resin produced from these trees is often called “tears” because of the teardrops they resemble. These “tears” are typically translucent white or pale yellow and darken with age.

You can chew mastic gum like regular chewing gum. However, you can also ingest it in a capsule or powder and find it in essential oil form.

Where does mastic gum come from? 

Mastiha comes from the Greek isle of Chios in the Northern Aegean Sea. More specifically, mastic gum comes from a Greek evergreen, the Mastic tree (Pistacia Lentiscus). The sap that drips from the tree is an aromatic, resinous material that harvesters collect and polish after they harden.

Why is mastic gum a better chewing option? 

Regular chewing gum does have some benefits. When you chew it, it helps you produce more saliva and, in turn, eases the pain associated with acid reflux. Producing more saliva can also prevent plaque acid from building up, strengthen your teeth, and reduce tooth decay. You also burn calories when you chew gum. However, most chewing gums are made with a lot of additives, including sugar. With mastic gum, you’re not only receiving the benefits of regular chewing gum, but you’re getting them through a more natural solution.

Unlike regular chewing gum, this natural option has notes of citrus, pine, juniper, lemon zest, and anise. Moreover, mastic gum can help aid in digestion and improve your overall dental health due to the high level of antioxidants in the sap. Other health benefits associated with chewing mastic gum include:

  • Kill off Helicobacter pylori bacteria, a gut bacterium related to ulcers
  • Ease symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease and other irritable bowel diseases
  • Help lower cholesterol
  • Improve overall liver health
  • Prevent cavities
  • Treat allergy-related asthma symptoms
  • Help lower blood sugar levels

It may also have heart-protecting properties, help prevent prostate and colon cancers, and relieve heartburn.

Other uses for mastic gum in the kitchen 

As an ingredient of Greece, you can often find mastiha in Greek baking. For instance, tsoureki, the famous Greek Easter bread, and koulourakia, Easter cookies, call for mastiha. People also use mastiha in cocktails containing Mastika, a similarly named liquor that uses the tree sap as a flavoring agent.

Here are some additional ways you can use mastiha in the kitchen:

  • Pair it with berries, chocolate, or cheese
  • Rim cocktail glasses with the ingredient
  • Combine with salt and blend into whipped feta cheese
  • Mix ground mastiha into fresh herbs and apply to chicken or pork

Fortunately, you don’t have to go to Greece to find natural gum. You can find mastic gum online, allowing you to experience the overall benefits of chewing gum in a healthier, more natural way!

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