What's the deal with chewing gum?

[My Butt Hurts]

Every time I have to fill out a new information form at the GI or colorectal surgeon, I wonder why one of the questions is "How often do you chew gum?"
Does anyone know why?
That old 7 years swallowed gum stays in the stomach thing isn't true - hmmmm, what could it be? Why would they want to know that?

 

[BWS1982]

never been asked that one on the forms I fill out, but my guess is it isn't related to the myth you speak of, it could be related to the process your mouth/body goes through from chewing the gum, ie: extra saliva produced, etc...I think they're just trying to gauge some of your oral habbits, like any tobacco use, etc.... I really couldn't say other than that.

 

[butt-eze]

Osmotic diarrhea means that something in the bowel is drawing water from the body into the bowel. A common example of this is "dietetic candy" or "chewing gum" diarrhea, in which a sugar substitute, such as sorbitol, is not absorbed by the body but draws water from the body into the bowel, resulting in diarrhea.

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-diarrhea

 

[D Bergy]

A lot of chewing gum now has aspertame in it, but I do not know if that is why the question is being asked.

Dan

 

[Shoeless]

It's the sorbitol in gum mainly sugar free gum that made my sister have the same effects as crohns but once she stopped chewing she was ok

 

[D Bergy]

That could be some potentially important information for someone. Thanks for mentioning it.

I have never heard about that connection before.

D Bergy

 

[BWS1982]

It's the sorbitol in gum mainly sugar free gum that made my sister have the same effects as crohns but once she stopped chewing she was ok

I hope you mean that she got diarrhea, to have the "same effects as Crohns" from chewing gum is a bold statement. The effects of Crohns being bleeding bowels, cramps, severe diarrhea, nausea, joint pain, muscle soreness, kidney issues, fatigue, weight loss, etc........I assume you don't mean that, but just diarrhea?

 

[D Bergy]

Some more info on Sorbitol.

http://www.foodintol.com/food_intolerance/hot_ibs.htm

Dan

 

[BubbleBoi]

Dont mean to hijack but...

For the last year or so I have been chewing a piece of gum for a few hours everyday and with out much food. It hasn't done much in terms of affecting my chron's but since you guys are saying it can draw in moisture or something, is it possible for it to cause dry skin? I know it may be a stretch but I am absolutly desperate to find out the reason my body is so dry.

 

[My Butt Hurts]

Sorbitol induced diarreah - wow!! Never heard of it!
I'm all about the full sugar gum. Makes a better bubble.
Great info everyone - thanks!

 

[BWS1982]

I don't know....the sugar alcohols in sugar free candy maybe could be a bad culprit, but there's so little in a single piece of gum, I have a hard time thinking one a day or less is going to show a difference.....Now Olestra that's a different story (I'm waiting for people to start recalling Robin Williams anal leakage comedy bit....)

 

[Kev]

Could be a number of things... Like, chewing gum triggers saliva production, that in turn increases gastric juices... acids. Excess saliva and/or stomach acids could change the GI's ph balance... Also, chewing gum typically adds to the amount of air one swallows... that increases (possibly) the amount of gas in one's system. I would also suspect that the sugars or artificial sweeteners in gum could increase the potential for GI or IBD related issues. All supposition on my part. Easiest way to find out is to ask the question TILL somebody answers with a legitimate response.

 

[Digits]

yeah, like kev, ive always heard that the gum chewing introduces a lot of excess air into the GI tract and whatnot. thats my 2 cents, lol