A groundbreaking discovery that will change your perception of chewing gum! Have you ever been told that swallowing gum will stay in your stomach for seven years? Or are you warned that it sticks to your digestive tract and causes unsolvable problems? However, whether these legends are true or not is not so simple...
Why do many people cling to this misconception that swallowing gum can cause great harm to the body? Next, we'll unravel this incredible mystery and take you step by step to understand how chewing gum really works.
Why can't chewing gum be digested?
Why can't chewing gum be digested? This is a common question. Chewing gum is a food that is flexible and elastic. It is made up of various ingredients, including gums, emulsifiers, sugars, and flavors, among others. One of the most important ingredients is gum, which is responsible for the stickiness and elasticity of chewing gum. But it is this special ingredient that causes the gum to not be digested.
Let's start by chewing gum. When we put the gum in our mouths and start chewing, our saliva starts to secrete. Saliva contains enzymes, which are enzymes that help us digest food. However, these digestive enzymes are unable to break down the gum in chewing gum.
Glia is made up of a protein called collagen. Unlike other proteins, collagen is a protein that is highly intertwined and has a strong structure. It resembles a viscous and tough web, and when we chew gum, the collagen forms a suitable structure that allows the gum to hold its shape and be elastic.
The special structure of collagen makes it impossible for it to be broken down by digestive enzymes in saliva. This is because digestive enzymes are designed to break down ordinary proteins, but they can't do anything about collagen, a special protein. So, no matter how often we chew gum, digestive enzymes can't break it down into smaller molecules.
What further hinders chewing gum from being digested is stomach acid. Once we swallow the gum, it enters our stomach. Gastric acid is a strong acid produced in the stomach that is used to digest food. However, stomach acid is likewise unable to break down the gum in chewing gum. Stomach acid can break down many foods, but it is helpless in the face of gums.
Chewing gum cannot be digested and will eventually pass through our digestive system intact and be excreted from the body. While swallowing gum doesn't usually cause serious harm to our bodies, swallowing large amounts of gum may cause stomach upset or digestive issues. Therefore, we should enjoy the good taste of chewing gum in moderation and not overdo it.
A big reason why chewing gum can't be digested is that it contains gum components that can't be broken down by digestive enzymes and stomach acid in saliva. The special structure of gum makes chewing gum sticky and elastic, but it also hinders the process of digestion. Understanding this phenomenon is important for us to properly understand and use chewing gum to meet our oral needs and protect our digestive health.
The relationship between the composition of chewing gum and the human digestive system
Chewing gum is a very popular chewable food that can provide a long-lasting freshness in the mouth and the satisfaction of chewing. However, many people don't understand the relationship between the ingredients of chewing gum and the human digestive system, as well as the surprising chemical reactions they can trigger.
Typically, chewing gum is mainly made up of several ingredients: gum base, sugar, sweeteners, flavors, and additives. The gum base is one of the main ingredients of chewing gum, and it is usually made of synthetic resin or rubber that is used to give chewing gum elasticity and persistence. Sugar is the ingredient that sweetens chewing gum, while sweeteners are a low-calorie or no-calorie alternative. Flavors are used to give chewing gum a specific taste, while additives may include preservatives, thickeners, etc.
When we chew gum, the saliva in our mouth starts to interact with the components of the gum. The enzymes in saliva are mainly amylase and lipase, and the main role of these enzymes is to help the body digest food. However, the composition of the gum does not work well with the enzymes in the saliva.
Gum base is a substance that cannot be digested, so even if we chew gum for a long time, the gum base will not be digested or absorbed. Instead, they will continue to remain in the mouth until we spit them out. This is also the reason why we can feel a long-lasting chewing sensation when chewing gum.
Sugar and sweeteners are one of the main ingredients in chewing gum, but they are a challenge for the digestive system. Sugars are absorbed and utilized by insulin after entering the digestive tract, but regular chewing gum only releases a small percentage of sugar, and insulin secretion is inhibited as a result. This can lead to instability in blood sugar and other related health problems.
The sweeteners in some chewing gums may cause some chemical reactions. For example, chewing gum containing lignanol glyceryl ether phosphate (BHT) may produce the carcinogen nitrite amine in the mouth, which is a substance linked to cancer. Additionally, some chewing gums may contain artificial colors and preservatives, chemicals that may trigger allergic reactions or other health problems in some humans.
There are many surprising chemical reactions between the ingredients of chewing gum and the human digestive system. Although chewing gum has its advantages in providing oral freshness and chewing satisfaction, we should also be aware of the negative effects that the composition of chewing gum can have on the body.
It is very important to consume chewing gum in moderation, and we should also choose chewing gum with simple ingredients and natural ingredients to reduce potential harm. Maintaining a healthy digestive system and overall health depends not only on food intake, but also on knowledge and awareness of the ingredients of food.
What are the dangers of chewing gum if swallowed?
Chewing gum is a very common chewing food, and many people like to swallow it after chewing it. However, the conclusions of scientific studies are still controversial about the dangers of chewing gum to the body.
After chewing gum is swallowed, its main component, gum, enters the digestive system through the stomach. Since gum is not easily broken down by stomach acid, swallowing large amounts of gum may lead to digestive issues such as bloating, abdominal pain, and indigestion. In addition, excessive gum intake may also interfere with the normal digestive process.
Another problem associated with chewing gum swallowing is intestinal obstruction. Chewing gum contains ingredients such as gum, and swallowing too much gum may cause gum to form a buildup in the digestive tract, which can cause intestinal obstruction. Intestinal obstruction is a serious condition, and common symptoms include abdominal pain, vomiting, and constipation. This problem is especially common in children because their digestive systems are still immature.
Despite the harms, scientific studies have not reached a consistent conclusion on the problem of chewing gum swallowing. Some studies suggest that chewing gum is safe to swallow in moderation with no significant health risks. Swallowing too much gum can lead to digestive problems and intestinal obstruction as described above.
In view of the above-mentioned divergence in scientific research conclusions, we still need to remain vigilant and reasonably control the amount of chewing gum swallowed, and try to avoid excessive intake. Chewing gum intake in moderation is to prevent the formation of the above risk factors. Try not to chew for too long to reduce the risk of gelatinous retention in the digestive tract.
For children, their digestive systems are fragile, so special attention should be paid to the amount and frequency of chewing gum to avoid the risk of digestive problems and intestinal obstruction. Everyone's body condition and digestion are different, and some people may be more sensitive to chewing gum when swallowed. If you feel unwell, you should stop swallowing gum and consult your doctor for advice.
Although scientific research has not yet reached a consensus on the dangers of chewing gum, we should remain vigilant and control the intake of chewing gum reasonably. Especially for children, it is important to pay attention to the amount and frequency of chewing gum to avoid serious consequences such as digestive problems and intestinal obstruction. In any case, in case of uncomfortable symptoms, consult a doctor for professional advice.
Proofreading: Swallow