By Henry J. Fishman, M.D.
ConsumerAffairs.com
February 2, 2006
A tiny bit of exercise -- even chewing gum -- can help you burn off calories and stay thin, according to recently published research.
Researchers found that chewing a half pack of sugarless gum for an hour burns up 11 calories and increases your metabolic rate by 9 percent. If you chew all day long, you could lose up to 10 pounds in a year.
Now, your dentist won't like this because you could crack a tooth or a filling. Still, it does show you that even a tiny bit of exercise can help you burn clories.
For example, walking slowly is great exercise. If you walk in a lazy fashion, very easily, say at one mile per hour, you can double your metabolic rate and burn up 62 calories.
Conclusions: You can stay thin by exercising just a bit -- like walking, bowling or dancing. Your burn up calories and it's good for your heart and mood.
Couch potatoes -- there are no more excuses.
