Dieting: Chewing Gum Leads to Weight Gain







If you think you’re fooling your hunger hormones by chewing on a piece of gum, you may be surprised to discover there’s much more to our digestive processes.

Recent studies revealed gum chewers might avoid snacking, but often overeat when they finally do sit down for meals. Furthermore, their meal choices tend to consist of less than nutritious fare. Gum chewers across the studies demonstrated a predilection for processed and refined foods as opposed to fresh fruit and vegetables. It’s well known that eating fresh produce especially fruit after chewing gum can produce a bitter taste in your mouth.

Poor dietary choices aside, your chewing habit could be striking discord with your natural digestive processes. Your body was designed to activate digestion through chewing. When you eat, neurological reflexes activate the production of enzymes in your saliva as you move your jaw in a chewing motion. Without food stimuli, you’re activating these chain reactions that prepare your body for food, leading to bloating and surplus stomach acid. Repeated false alarms can tax your body’s ability to produce sufficient digestive secretions when you do ingest real food.

If that’s not enough to convince you, let’s look at the effects of consuming artificial sweeteners that make up the most important ingredients in chewing gum. These saccharine impersonators cause distortions in your biochemistry that may actually make you gain weight. Studies show how artificial sweeteners consistently are linked to weight gain by stimulating appetite, increasing carbohydrate cravings, and stimulating fat storage.

Rather than searching for a weight loss solution in a pack of Wriggley’s, implement a sensible approach for better health and weight management. Eliminate refined carbohydrates and processed foods that wreak havoc on your insulin levels. Eat fresh and where possible organic produce and supplement with holistic aids such as a fruit extract toward weight management.


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