What Happens To Your Body When You Chew Gum?

Remember that chewing gum can be positive if you know how to reap the benefits. However, dieticians will tell you that it is important that you do not chew it too much and that you should be aware of how it can be harmful if you do not take precautions.

A piece of chewing gum can seem harmless. However, this is not entirely the case. The purpose of this article is not to cause panic, but to increase awareness of what happens to your body when you chew gum. We often take a piece of chewing gum when we are stressed, hungry or just because it is a habit.

When you chew gum, its sweet taste and soft texture can become addictive. Therefore, in this article we will review what happens to your body when you chew gum every day.

What happens to your body when you chew gum?

Chewing gum is not harmful if you brush your teeth after chewing something. With proper oral hygiene, there is no reason why it should be a bad thing.

For many people, chewing gum helps them relax, distract and fight stress. It can also be a way to reduce afternoon cravings. Let’s take a closer look.

Benefits of chewing gum

1. Better concentration

Chewing gum changes cortisol levels in saliva. This stress-producing hormone sees a decrease of approx. 16% when someone chews gum. Lower stress levels mean that the mind can relax and concentrate better.

2. Reduced appetite

It has been said that chewing gum helps to fool your stomach so you can avoid eating constantly. This is especially beneficial to avoid foods that have poor nutrients such as. Sweets and sodas.

3. Say goodbye to heartburn

Chewing gum stimulates saliva production. Therefore, food and liquids will be able to pass the esophagus more easily. As a result, your body can neutralize the acid that comes through, more effectively.

Flavors such as peppermint, spearmint and eucalyptus are recommended. Fruit flavors can be unpleasant as they can cause stomach pain.

Disadvantages of chewing gum

1. Extra sugar can lead to extra weight.

Like any other candy, chewing gum is made from refined sugar, additives and other chemical components. This makes it unhealthy to chew gum if it is chewed regularly and can lead to eating many foods with poor nutritional value.

2. Beware of aspartame

Aspartame is a sweetener used in sugar-free chewing gum. This ingredient contains phenylalanine, a substance that is harmful to those with phenylketonuria, an inherited condition that affects the brain.

3. A dangerous laxative

Sugar-free chewing gum contains sorbitol, a laxative that, if ingested excessively, can cause chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain. Jurgen Bauditz, a German gastroenterologist, does not recommend exceeding 5 grams of sorbitol per day. week.

4. Pain in the jaw

Chewing gum can lead to major problems with proper closure of your jaw. This happens when the temporomandibular is worn down (the joint that allows you to open and close your mouth).

5. Holes, plaque and other problems

For this reason, dentists do not recommend chewing gum. If you choose to chew it anyway, be sure to brush your teeth immediately after you are done.

6. It contains products that come from sheep

Chewing gum contains lanolin, which is derived from sheep wool. It is a waxy substance that keeps the chewing gum soft. Although it has not been considered harmful to health, the opposite has not been proven either.

Remember that chewing gum can be positive if you know how to reap the benefits. However, dieticians will tell you that it is important that you do not eat too much and that you should also be aware of how it can be harmful if you do not take precautions. Therefore, it is important to know what happens to your body when you chew gum.

Remember that in the end, it is up to you to decide what you want to do in the future. The lick may be in front of you, but it is you who chooses to ingest it.