Wrigley has created a website called gumisgood.com. Its aim is to create awareness about the benefits of chewing gum. According to the company, chewing gum:
- Improves oral health
- Helps in weight management
- Improves concentration and alertness
- Provides stress relief
Let’s look at the second benefit. Wringley claims that chewing a 5-10 calorie piece of gum is a better replacement of high-calories snacks. It even tried to proved the claim with a study. The study found out that chewing gums help reduce hunger, reduce cravings for sweets and decrease snack intake.
However, I realized that the research used only 40 women and 20 men in the experiments. The results will have been more convincing with more specimens. Moreover, this exercise is funded by the company itself (Wrigley Science Institute ), and not by any other independent third party research company.
I have a friend who has gum chewing habit after he finishes a meal. He told me that the gum not only helps clean his teeth, but also stop him from ordering more food to eat. I also know of people who take chewing gum as a replacement for boredom eating.
I used to like chewing gum too, but I got rid of the habit when I wore braces when I were 14. Even after without the braces, nowadays I chew “socially”, only if I were offered the gum by others. I don’t think chewing gum will discourage me from eating. In fact, I get hungry. Probably my body expects something to eat when I have more saliva after chewing the gum. So, for weight control purpose or to eat something out of boredom, I rather eat fruit than having chewing gum.
In short, I don’t really buy into the idea of controlling weight by having chewing gum. Having gums in the mouth will not stop me from eating later. It is still the will power that makes the difference.
How about you, do you chew gum to stop yourself from eating junk food?
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Mary // Oct 24, 2007 at 7:01 am
A little. I sometimes get a chocolate craving around 3 when im at work. I know I’m not really hungry (i just had a healthy snack), im just stressed. I usually pop a piece of gum to distract me long enough until i forget about the cravings.
Angie Tan // Oct 24, 2007 at 10:04 am
Hmmmm.. I chew gum after meals to get rid of certain “smells” however I know that brushing my teeth is more effective than chewing gum.
Anyway, it does help cause it stops you from eating/ordering more food. However, because of the air around my mouth, chewing gum actually gives me flatulence. :-S
One bad side effect of chewing gum - jaw problems. A friend chewed too much until he found that he had a hairline fracture in his jaw. It caused him a lot of pain….
Andy // Oct 24, 2007 at 10:07 am
But for me, chewing gums apparently produces more unwanted air in my stomach. Each chew somehow absorbs air into the stomach. At the end of the chewing, I will have a gassy stomach.. how?
chikanozboy // Oct 24, 2007 at 3:39 pm
somehow same case with Andy. Gassy stomach sometimes after chewing it.
sylvesteR // Oct 25, 2007 at 12:51 am
Lie, all lies!!!! It doesn’t help in managing your weight, but increasing it instead by increasing your appetite. They just said that to promote their products, which company will say something that will tarnish their reputation?? Anyway, I rarely chew gums, just too lazy to spit it out after the taste worn out. Wonder what will happen if u accidentally swallowed the gum? It’ll get stuck is it?
anomie101 // Oct 26, 2007 at 7:56 pm
chewing gum is the most disgusting thing. so no, no matter how much benefits it can bring to losing weight, i wouldnt sell my soul for it. period.
tonie // Jun 3, 2008 at 3:06 am
To add even more health benefits chew gum with cinnamon flavor, helps to control blood sugar levels.
Hayley, 12 // Sep 1, 2008 at 9:48 pm
I chew it rather than eating (with paracetamol for the hunger pains) when i can. not just snacks, but it substitues for whole meals sometimes. it works.