Do you know what actually happens when you swallow chewing gum?
This has to be one of the biggest myths ever.
As a kid, we're told that a gum-plant will grow inside our body and the branches will eventually stick out of our ears.
And as a grown-up, you've probably heard the story that chewing gum doesn't dissolve and actually stays in your stomach for 7 years.
Well luckily, this popular myth is not true!
But what really happen when we swallow chewing gum then?
How do we normally digest food?
After chewing it into small chunks, the enzymes in our saliva start breaking it down.
Once it reaches our stomach, the enzymes and proteins there disintegrate it even further, until all nutrients are separated can be used in other parts of the body, and are separated from the waste products.
And what's the case with gum?
Chewing gum nowadays is being made from rubber (synthetic or natural) which is enhanced with artificial flavors.
So basically ... it's rubber mixed with chemicals.
When we swallow gum, our saliva and juices in our stomach will still try to break it down as much as possible.
They will be able to disintegrate some of the sweetners and flavor enhancers, but they won't be able to digest the actual base of the gum - the rubber.
What happens to the gum then?
It does not stick around for 7 years!
There are actually quite a lot of foods that we eat sometimes, but actually can't digest - for example dietary fibers, the cellulose in the husks of corn seeds or popcorn kernels.
All of these things get separated as waste products.
Through muscle tension, they are being carried through the digestive tract and just end up being passed out with the bowel movements.
There is no specific time frame for this process since everyone's digestive system works differently, but in general it will be around 1-3 days.
It's still not very healthy though!
Even though swallowing gum is not as bad as the rumors, you should still try to avoid it if possible.
If you swallow too many indigestible elements in your stomach, you could end up with a blockage (intestinal obstruction) which is painful and has to be removed surgically if it's not treated.
Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, Sources: 1, 2, 3
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Sirwinchester
I ate a lot of gum as a child ...
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See, and you still survived just fine :)
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tack för det
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Well that settles all the crazy stories everyone always told us as children. hahahaha, everything comes out in the end!
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Luckily, those stories were only a myth!
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My mom used to tell me that the gum will grow inside of me.. ^^
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All of those scary stories, just to keep kids from swallowing their gum!
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Not to mention the aspartame,...
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Definitely not healthy as well. And that's in almost all chewing gums!
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I've had to search out the Mexican import Canel's to get real gum with sugar.
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It never occured to me before this but this probably explains the origin of the term "bubble butt"
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Hahaha, yes it might
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I actually always wondered what happened with gum haha, thats good to know!
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Luckily it's not AS bad as the myths!
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I've had a few nightmares that revolved around swallowing chewing gum. Damn parents and their lies :p
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Now you can sleep in peace knowing that it was all a myth.. All parents are tricksters!
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Интересно...
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indepth thanks for that! I always thought swollowing gum wasnt as bad as everyone made it out to be. huge ups nice post
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Yes, that's right! Thanks and glad you enjoyed the topic!
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Nice to know. I did that twice in my life. Now, chewing gum is ban in my country, probably less likely I'll do it again. :-)
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