A lot of us are constantly on the lookout for ways to boost our mental focus. But many of the suggested techniques for doing so -- like listening to classical music -- haven't been borne out by science.  However, research supports the claim that chewing gum -- yes, gum -- offers various cognitive benefits. The mint in gum increases blood flow to your brain, which in turn improves your memory. In fact, studies show that chewing a stick of gum can improve your short-term memory by as much as 35 percent. People performed better on math and verbal problems -- from repeating numbers backwards to solving complex logic puzzles -- and were about 10 percent more alert when chomping away. (It's important to note that after 20 minutes or so, the benefits of gum chewing essentially dissipated.) One reason may have to do with the fact that chewing mint or caffeinated gum has been shown to reduce sleepiness. Eat your heart out, coffee! A mood boost, too, may await you when you chew gum. One ...

There's no denying that sleep is essential for good health and well-being. Unfortunately, our ever-increasing load of responsibilities -- from work and kids to cooking and laundry -- leaves us little time for shuteye. On the whole, though, people enjoy sleeping and feel more energized after getting a sufficient amount of it. Here are a few fun facts about sleep from the National Sleep Foundation: Exercising regularly makes it easier to fall asleep and contributes to sounder sleep. However, exercising sporadically or right before going to bed will make falling asleep more challenging. Man is the only mammal that willingly delays sleep Divorced, widowed and separated people report more insomnia Newborns sleep a total of 14 to 17 hours a day on an irregular schedule with periods of one to three hours spent awake Most healthy adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night. However, some individuals are capable of functioning without drowsiness or sleepiness after as little...