I will admit one of my deepest, darkest secrets to you if you promise not to tell anyone. Here it goes….I swallow gum. And I don’t mean every now and again on accident. I chew gum just about every day. And I swallow it more often than I throw it away. Isn’t that gross?
This morning I got to thinking when I was swallowing my Trident that I should probably do a little research to find out what happens when I swallow the gum. I mean, I know that it is an old wives’ tale that it stays in your stomach for seven years. But does it really hurt you in any other way?
As far as I can tell from my research, there are no negative side effects to swallowing gum. However, your body does NOT break it down. It pretty much looks the same when it comes out that it did when it went in (not that I have ever noticed this). There are a few reports about kids who ate way too much bubble gum and it ended up getting stuck. But they were young children and they were literally swallowing piece after piece on a daily basis.
So I’m not a doctor, but I did do my homework. And while certainly no one would advise you to swallow bubble gum, it also appears that swallowing a piece or two a day is not going to hurt you. Good thing, because I just bought a whole new pack.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Angie // Mar 19, 2008 at 3:12 pm
You crack me up! I never would have taken you for a gum swallower! I truly learn something new everyday.
2 cate // Mar 20, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I’ve always wondered what would happen as well. Luckily I can’t chew gum too much so I don’t swallow it as often as some so I won’t have to worry about how long its staying in me.
3 Allison // Aug 7, 2008 at 3:26 am
dude i do that
but like so much
when i start eating gum i can go through 5 packs in a day and i swallow it all
i swear im gonna die hahaha
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