There is a common concern that frequent chewing gum stimulates excess stomach acid production, which in turn leads to gastritis and other digestive problems. We decided to check whether such fear is justified.
About the dangers of regular use of chewing gum with reference to doctors’ assessments write Russian-language media from different countries, sites pharmacy chains, hospitals and dental clinics. Sometimes in articles like this TBCthat chewing gum for more than three minutes is harmful or that the main harm is caused not by the gastric juice released during this process, but by the artificial substances contained in the gum sweeteners (in particular, xylitol and aspartame), which corrode the walls of the stomach. Some specialists notethat the described harm chewing gum can cause primarily when using it on an empty stomach or that it is dangerous mostly for people who already have there are problems with the digestive organs. Others categorically deny direct connection between gastritis or ulcers and regular use of chewing gum.
Gastritis called inflammation of the gastric mucosa. It can be caused by infections (in particular, the bacterium Helicobacter pylori), alcohol consumption or certain medications, stress, smoking, mechanical damage to the mucous membrane, or pathological autoimmune processes. A significant part of gastritis is asymptomatic. Symptomatic cases are characterized by pain in the upper abdomen, reflux, feeling of fullness in the stomach after eating, heartburn or high acidity, loss of appetite, nausea. The exact number of people suffering from gastritis is difficult to determine due to different diagnostic and reporting methods in different countries, but scientists give estimates from 40% to almost 80% of the world's population.
Gastric juice is produced mainly during meals. However, its production begins not when food enters the stomach, but earlierwhen a person begins to chew food, smells it, or even thinks about it. This is called the cephalic phase of digestion, and it is during this time that up to 30% of all gastric juice is produced, which allows the body to prepare for food to enter the stomach. Back in 1988, gastroenterologist Colin Helman from the University of Alabama provedthat chewing gum for 15 minutes promotes the production of gastric juice in a volume that is only slightly different from the amount that would appear when eating a cheeseburger without such stimulation.
There is no mechanism for removing excess gastric juice in the body, and in the absence of food it actually starts irritate the mucous membrane on the walls of the stomach. Therefore, regularly chewing gum on an empty stomach or instead of eating, especially if this is not the only predisposing factor, can indeed lead to problems with the functioning of the stomach.
Some flavorings, such as sweetmint or peppermint, or stabilizers in chewing gum may reduce the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter - a segment of the esophagus at its junction with the stomach. This leads to reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus, and in rare cases into the larynx or lungs. If left untreated, reflux disease can lead to other gastrointestinal problems such as inflammation, narrowing of the esophagus, and even cancer. Artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol and xylitol may call similar problems.
During chewing, not only ground food, but also air from the environment enters the gastrointestinal tract. If you chew gum for a long time, then exists danger of excessive air swallowing. If it enters the stomach in excess, it can cause bloating and lead to the development or worsening of reflux disease symptoms.
However, in general, chewing gum is not that dangerous and can sometimes even be beneficial. Chewing process promotes secretion of saliva, which contains natural alkalis - bicarbonates. Once in the stomach, they react with gastric juice and neutralize increased acidity. This, in turn, Maybe relieve symptoms in people suffering from reflux disease. However, for this purpose, chewing gum should be used immediately after meals.
Thus, chewing gum on an empty stomach or instead of eating is really not healthy. Reacting to chewing movements, as well as the taste of chewing gum, the digestive system prepares for food intake and begins to produce gastric juice. If food ultimately does not arrive, gastric juice begins to irritate the mucous membrane. A one-time meal replacement with chewing gum, of course, will not cause gastritis, but such a habit, especially together with other factors, can lead to inflammation. Also, chewing gum can reduce the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter and the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus, and individual components of the gum can aggravate this problem. However, due to the increased production of saliva during chewing, chewing gum can be useful - especially after meals for those who already suffer from reflux.
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