Do you like chewing gum? Do you often find yourself sitting in the middle of a lecture munching on a piece of gum? Well, honestly, chewing gum may not threaten your life. According to some, chewing gum is actually good for your health. And some others claim it isn’t.

What is the actual truth? That is what this post is all about. Keep reading!

Chewing Gum And Weight Loss:

You must have earlier heard about how effective chewing gum is for weight loss! Guess what? It is actually true! According to a popular research and study conducted in the University of Rhode Island, people who chew more gum happen to eat 68 calories lesser than people who don’t. Not only that, chewing gum also helps in reducing appetite and resisting temptation. What’s more? People who chew gum tend to burn 5% more calories while working out (1).

According to another study conducted in the University of Louisiana, chewing gum helped in reducing cravings towards unhealthy snacks and controlled appetite too. People who chew gum actually increase their chances of losing 10 pounds in a year just like that.

Even though chewing gum is great for weight loss, it does come with several side effects that destroy its image altogether. So, even if chewing gum is good for your health for a reason, it is unhealthy for several other reasons.

Side Effects Of Chewing Gum:

1. Damages Your Teeth:

If you are chewing sugar filled gums, it won’t be long before you end up with cavities or tooth decay. When you chew gums like this, you literally bathe your teeth in sugar. So, does this mean you should stick to sugar free gums? Not really! Chewing gums, whether they are free of sugar or not, ultimately leads to dental erosion. Hence, if you want to prevent your teeth from getting damaged, give up on chewing gum immediately.

2. Can Lead To Headaches:

According to a couple of researchers, chewing gum leads to headaches mostly among teenagers. Around 30 gum chewers between the ages of 6 and 19 were involved in this study, and all of them suffered from severe headaches after taking gum on a regular basis. When they gave up on gum, they got relieved of their headaches.

3. Leads To Gas Problems:

If you chew gum every day, there are possibilities of ending up with gas problems, infections, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating etc. The enzymes and acids that are released while chewing gum could lead to constipation, diarrhea, and other symptoms of gas problems.

4. Contains By-Products:

One of the biggest reasons chewing gum is never good for your health is the presence of byproducts such as lanolin, which is basically a waxy substance that is produced out of sheep wool. This helps the gum to stay soft. With such unhealthy substances in the product, it would be harmful to rely on chewing gum for its benefits.

5. Releases Mercury:

If you didn’t know, chewing gum contains harmful substances that release mercury into your body. So, every time you chew, mercury vapour is left inside the body that easily moves into your blood and circulatory system, thereby leading to oxidative processes inside your tissues. If you happen to chew gum now, you will be chewing more often, which is why it tends to become troublesome for those who have mercury fillings.

Conclusion:

Though chewing gum is beneficial for weight loss, it does have other side effects that are harmful. So, does this mean you need to give up chewing gum altogether? Maybe not. Chewing gum once in a while is fine; but do ensure you are not addicted to it and ensure you don’t consume it regularly.

How did you like this post? Do you chew gum now and then? Have you experienced any of the bad symptoms? If yes, give up on it right away. Also, let us know your experiences in the comment box below.

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by Naomi via STYLECRAZE