Why Basketball Players Chew Gum? Well, this is the question that everyone is asking these days. Therefore, we will discuss this well-known question in this article, but first, let’s briefly discuss about NBA. Well, the National Basketball Association, also known simply as the NBA, is a professional basketball league that operates in North America. It is one of the top professional sports leagues in both the United States and Canada and has 30 teams, 29 of which are located in the United States and one in Canada. Also, it is widely considered to be the best men’s professional basketball league in the entire globe.
The Basketball Association of America was the name of the league when it was established in New York City on June 6, 1946. As a result of its merger with the rival National Basketball League, it adopted the name National Basketball Association on August 3, 1949. (NBL).
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is an active member of USA Basketball (USAB), the organization that is acknowledged as the national governing body for basketball in the United States by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). The NBA is among the top four professional sports leagues worldwide and is the third-richest in North America, behind the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB) in terms of revenue.
In addition, if you have ever seen a game of basketball, you have probably observed that some of the players chew gum during the game. It is reported that Michael Jordan was the one who introduced the gum-chewing subtly gesture to the NBA, and ever since then, several basketball players have made it a practice to chew gum while playing the game.
Chewing gum is seen as an ergogenic benefit in basketball. Ergogenic aids might be a substance or a machine that is supposed to boost the production of energy. Thus, the purpose of basketball players chewing gum and the advantages they derive from it are discussed in this article.
Why Basketball Players Chew Gum?
Chewing gum is something that basketball players often do, and there is a purpose to this habit. Studies have shown that chewing gum has a variety of advantages and can help athletes perform better. Gum chewing improves memory and promotes healthy bodily function in basketball players.
Basketball players also chew gum because it is believed to help players relax and momentarily relieve feelings of worry and anxiousness while playing, which enhances focus and productivity. There is, however, a lot more to discover about chewing gum while watching a basketball game. We will discuss the various advantages of chewing gum on the court as well as its disadvantages. If you’re all set, go ahead and start chewing your gum while you keep reading.
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Benefits of Chewing Gum
The various advantages of chewing gum on a basketball court are listed below. It has been demonstrated that basketball players and other athletes can profit from these advantages while they are competing.
1. Strengthen Your Memory
Gum chewing can help sharpen and enhance memory. Gum chewing causes your brain’s blood flow to rise. Numerous studies have demonstrated that this is a real advantage of chewing gum. A game of both physical and cerebral skill is basketball. To compete, you must have an extraordinary memory. You may increase your basketball IQ by chewing gum while watching a game of basketball. One of the numerous reasons why so many basketball players usually have gum in their mouths is because of this.
2. It Stops Players From Getting A Dry Mouth.
Given that you can only drink water during basketball breaks, chewing gum while playing the sport stimulates saliva production and moistens the mouth. A player who has a dry mouth can quickly experience fatigue, tiredness, and thirst. Chewing gum can also help athletes avoid bad breath and dental decay, particularly if the gum contains the natural sweetener Xylitol.
3. Assist In Calorie Burning
Chewing gum will assist in calorie burning. Your entire body, especially the calories on your face, can be helped by it as well as your entire diet. It has been established by numerous studies that chewing gum promotes calorie burning. Chewing gum alone can result in an hourly calorie burn of 11 calories. Basketball players who wish to burn calories can do so by chewing gum. Every basketball player will benefit from quick fat burning, thanks to this.
4. Become More Alert
According to research, chewing gum significantly affects mood. It is thought to raise cortisol levels, which heightens alertness. Being aware of your surroundings is essential for effective ball defense.
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5. Aid In Calming You Down
The vast majority of basketball players experience pregame nervousness before the start of each game. Some basketball players relax and feel confident before the game by smoking cigars, while others listen to hip basketball music. Chewing gum has the advantage of calming you down. The act of chewing gum helps many basketball players relax. Thus, if you play basketball and get tense before the game, try eating one stick of gum to calm yourself down.
6. Fight Sleepiness
Chewing gum on the basketball court is beneficial for a number of reasons, including the fact that it prevents sleepiness. Basketball players can feel drowsy, particularly if the opposing team dumps them. It becomes monotonous to play when the opponent has a 30-point advantage. Thus, if you’re a basketball player who frequently feels sleepy during games, chewing gum is a good option for you to consider.
7. As Part Of Habit
Some basketball players merely developed the habit of chewing gum during competitive games, and they haven’t stopped since. We all know that it takes between 18 and 254 days to acquire a new habit and that once it takes hold, it takes almost as long to break. When players in the sport of basketball become accustomed to chewing gum, there is a good chance that they will continue the habit.
In addition to these advantages, chewing gum also has the following advantages:
- Lessen anxiety and despair • Eliminate nausea and reduce heartburn
- Maintain dental health.
- Sculpt your jawline
Does Chewing Gum Help You Play Basketball Better?
Chewing gum, as was said previously, may assist in increasing the amount of activity in the frontal lobe of the brain, which enhances the cortex section of the brain, which in turn increases cognitive functions and alertness. The basketball player’s response time will translate to a quicker movement or quicker reflexes, which may enhance their basketball performance because there could be an increase in cognitive processes.
An improvement in cognitive abilities would also imply an improvement in agility, which might result in greater muscle function and allow for higher jumps and faster running. Gum chewing, psychologically speaking, becomes a psychogenic aid when it develops into a habit since players are typically more active when they chew gum. Chewing gum has a direct impact on a player’s performance when it comes to this particular scenario.
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Is It A Good Idea To Chew Gum While Playing Basketball?
Some basketball players already have the habit of chewing gum. Basketball players who chew gum report that it helps them stay awake, especially when they’re already bored or sleepy. However, chewing gum has negative consequences on overall dental health, according to the World Dental Federation.
The use of mouth guards is something that medical professionals recommend for those who have a habit of chewing gum to keep their mouths active. Mouth guards are designed to protect the mouth area, including the lips, teeth, and tongue, from the impact that can be received when playing sports like basketball. Basketball players who are accustomed to chewing gum can absolutely change into it because some mouth guards are pleasant.
Negative Effects Of Chewing Gum During Basketball Game
Thankfully, chewing gum has no harmful side effects. Tooth decay is the most frequent adverse effect of chewing gum, although it can be prevented by using sugar-free varieties. The risk of choking is limited, especially when the gum is small, say experts, but athletes who eat gum while competing are more likely to choke.
When chewing gum, players fear that they won’t accidentally spit it out on the court, which is nasty and embarrassing. People who chew gum for long periods of time may experience headaches as a result of the jaw being exhausted from the activity.
Famous Basketball Players Who Love To Chew Gum
1. Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan tops the list of well-known basketball players who enjoy chewing gum. Jordan’s habit of chewing gum is among his many legacies, in addition to his exceptional free-throw shooting techniques. He experiences the advantages of chewing gum while engaging in the sport. According to him, in order to ensure that he is playing to the best of his ability while on the court, he makes an effort to remain more calm.
2. Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant used to keep gum in his mouth while he was playing basketball. This practice makes him more alert and combative while he is playing on the court. However, it did not last very long because it seemed to induce a dry mouth in him. Kobe’s father advised him to simply chew his jersey whenever he feels like chewing rather than gum. After that point, you’ll notice that he has made it a practice to chew on his shirt, and you can see evidence of this in his past games.
Therefore, in today’s world, the practice of chewing gum is beginning to go out of style as a result of the proliferation of mouth guards that serve a dual purpose as protection as well as gear for chewing gum. Even while chewing gum has many advantages, there are still a lot of other things to take into account that will affect how well you perform overall on the court.
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