Chewing Gum - Good or Bad

Myth or Truth? Every child has grown up with the warning that swallowed chewing gum would get stuck inside his/her stomach for seven whole years. Althrough, it is an old tale told to children to stop them from chewing too much gum and swallowing it, there is some truth behind this statement. Chewing gum is primarily mde of natural or synthetic materials (gum resin), flavourings, sweeteners and preservatives. It's a proven fact that there are many parts to chewing gum, some that the body can digest and others that it cannot. Your body absorbs the sweeteners and preservatives but cannot break down the gum resin. The undigested gum is pushed down through your digestive tract by your body and its journey ends when you go to the bathroom and defecate. Swallowing too much gum or several smaller pieces of gum very quickly can be harmful to you. When combined with other undigested food, it can cause blockages in your intestines. This causes stomach aches and in worst cases, it causes a trip to the hospital. Too much of sugar and preservatives in chewing gum could also lead to cavities and ingestion of large quantities of sugar. Too much of any chewing gum and sweet treats should not be eaten in.