The facts about chewing gum

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Long are days when chewing gum was made from Manilkara chicle or spruce, which were very natural sap that were taken from tree sap. Today, most modern chewing gums are made from synthetic rubbers.

Chewing gum is a soft, rubbery substance that’s designed to be chewed but not swallowed.

Recipes can vary between brands, but all chewing gums have the following basic ingredients:

  • Gum:The non-digestible, rubbery base used to give gum its chewy quality.
  • Resin:Usually added to strengthen gum and hold it together.
  • Fillers:Fillers, such as calcium carbonate or talc, are used to give gum texture.
  • Preservatives:These are added to extend shelf life. The most popular choice is an organic compound called butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).
  • Softeners:These are used to retain moisture and prevent the gum from hardening. They can include waxes like paraffin or vegetable oils.
  • Sweeteners:Popular ones include cane sugar, beet sugar and corn syrup. Sugar-free gums use sugar alcohols like xylitol or artificial sweeteners like aspartame.
  • Flavorings:Added to give a desired flavor. They can be natural or synthetic.

Most chewing gum manufacturers keep their exact recipes a secret. They often refer to their specific combination of gum, resin, filler, softeners and antioxidants as their “gum base.”

All ingredients used in the processing of chewing gum have to be “food grade” and classified as fit for human consumption.

However, some brands of chewing gum contain small amounts of controversial ingredients. Even in these cases, the amounts are generally much lower than the amounts considered to cause harm. they include;

  • Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)

BHT is an antioxidant that’s added to many processed foods as a preservative. It stops food from going bad by preventing fats from becoming rancid.

  • Titanium Dioxide

Titanium dioxide is a common food additive used to whiten products and give them a smooth texture.

  • Aspartame

This is an artificial sweetener commonly found in sugar-free foods.

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The good thing about of chewing gum

  1. Reducing stress and boost memory

Studies have found that chewing gum while performing tasks can improve various aspects of brain function, including alertness, memory, understanding and decision making.

  1. Weight loss

This is because it’s both sweet and low in calories, giving you a sweet taste without blowing your diet.

It has also been suggested that chewing could reduce your appetite, which could prevent you from overeating. there is also some evidence that chewing gum can increase your metabolic rate.

  1. Protect your teeth and reduce bad breath

Chewing sugar-free gum could help protect your teeth from cavities and bad breath.

  1. Prevents ear infections in children

Some studies have suggested that gum containing xylitol could prevent middle ear infections in children.

  1. Helps you quit smoking

Nicotine gum could help people quit smoking

  1. Helps your gut recover after surgery

Studies have shown that chewing gum after an operation could speed up recovery time

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The bad thing about chewing gum

  1. Sugar-Free gums contain laxatives

This means that chewing lots of sugar-free gum could cause digestive distress and diarrhea.

  1. Sugar-Sweetened Gum Is Bad for Your Teeth and Metabolic Health

Chewing gum sweetened with sugar is really bad for your teeth.This is because sugar is digested by the bad bacteria in your mouth, causing an increase in the amount of plaque on your teeth and tooth decay over time.

3. chewing gum too often could cause problems with your jaw

It’s been suggested that constant chewing could lead to a jaw problem called temporomandibular disorder (TMD), which causes pain when you chew.

  1. Chewing Gum Has Been Linked to Headaches

One recent review found a link between regularly chewing gum, migraines and tension headaches in people prone to these conditions.

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So which chewing gum should one for? Well that will entirely depend on you. If you like chewing gum, it’s best to choose a sugar-free gum made with xylitol. However, if you are laxative intolerant you should choose a gum sweetened with a low-calorie sweetener. Just make sure to read the ingredient list on your gum to make sure it doesn’t contain anything you are intolerant to.

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