Why Chewing Gum Can Make You Chubby

Chewing gum has existed side by side with the human race for around 10,000 years. Today, it helps us to care for our teeth and even lose some weight! However, don’t rush to eat a whole pack of gum in one sitting.

We at Bright Side are sure that moderation is a key factor, and even the healthiest things can do more harm than good when used unwisely. So, let’s chew on things that we need to keep in mind. At the end of the article, you can find bonus tips on how to chew gum rationally.

Excessive chewing can enlarge your jaw muscles.

Specialists pre-admonish that if you chew gum too much, this habit can unpredictably change your facial features. For instance, somebody may end up with a square jawline! In addition, the excessive use of chewing muscles can overstrain them and cause headaches, especially among teenagers.

Minty gum can urge you to eat junk food.

If you regularly chew minty gum before having a snack, than you probably prefer to eat junk food afterward. At least this is what a study that was carried out in 2013 has shown. This is because menthol in chewing gum adds bitterness to fruity flavors, and some people may try to suppress the gum’s aftertaste with unhealthy and easily accessible alternatives, like hamburgers or chips.

Sugar-free chewing gum can cause bloating.

There are 2 possible reasons why this may happen. First of all, when you chew, you also swallow air that can inflate your belly. The second reason lies in sugar alcohols, which are commonly used in sugarless chewing gum production. Although such sweeteners are indigestible, they won’t stay in your belly forever, and in turn, may form into a bubble after being fermented into gas by bacteria that inhabit the intestinal tract.

Artificial sweeteners may change your gut flora.

Sugar-free gums are quite popular among people who strive to keep fit. However, some studies say that if such gum contains artificial sweeteners, its frequent consumption can actually lead to dysbiosis and give a boost to bacteria that are responsible for obesity. Although researchers point out that such consequences are individual and can vary from case to case, they encourage us to go with our guts.

Bonus: Chew wisely!

These simple words of advice will help you to enjoy chewing gum without causing harm to your health!

• Sugar-sweetened gum is literally a candy that also contributes to obesity, so don’t use it as a way to prevent cavities.

• Chew your sugar-free gum after a meal for up to 20 minutes.

• Think about balance — chew no more than 14 sticks of sorbitol-containing gum per day.

• If you’re sensitive to artificial sweeteners, try to choose gum that contains xylitol. This is a natural sugar alcohol that usually causes less discomfort and helps to suppress plaque bacteria.

What kind of chewing gum do you prefer? Have you ever experienced any of these chewing gum side effects?