People have been chewing gum for about 9,000 years, with ancient Greeks, Mayans and Native Americans popping wads of tree sap or resin in their mouths to freshen their breath.

Surprisingly, the habit is not only good for your breath -- but good for your body.

Here are some health benefits of chewing gum:

• Better Mental Performance -- People who chewed gum five minutes before taking a written test outperformed non-chewers in a big way.

• Higher Grades -- A study of 8th graders found that students who chewed gum while doing their math homework had a three percent rise in standardized math scores and higher final grades.

• Improved Memory -- British researchers found that the increased blood flow to the brain caused by chewing gum improves memory.

• Energy Boost -- Instead of drinking coffee in the afternoon, you might want to consider chewing mint gum, which dramatically reduced daytime sleepiness in a recent study.

Source: Yahoo Health