It’s interesting how much material you can find online about how chewing gum can either help or hinder you in your quest to maintain a healthy weight.
A visit to one reliable source, WebMD, writes about the virtues of chewing gum. According to WebMD, gum can help control cravings and manage hunger.
However, Prevention.com warns against chewing gum because it can cause you to gain weight. Prevention cites a study published in the journal Eating Behaviors which showed gum chewing not only had no effect on calories consumed, but chewing mint-flavored gum reduced the intake of healthy food (fruit) and increased the likelihood of eating junk food such as potato chips and candy. Researchers believe the minty flavor of the gum gave fruits and vegetables a bitter flavor.
Contrary to the study quoted in Eating Behaviors, research from the University of Rhode Island showed that people who chewed gum consumed 68 fewer calories at lunch and did not compensate by eating more later in the day. Chewing gum also helped the study participants satisfy their cravings and resist fattening treats. Another study, from Louisiana State University, indicated that chewing gum was helpful in controlling appetite, decreasing participants’ daily intake by 40 calories and reducing snack cravings.
So what to believe? All sources agree that chewing a few sticks of gum a day is not going to melt off the pounds. If you are looking to lose weight to reach a healthy number, this can only happen when you also follow a reduced-calorie diet and get regular physical activity.
All sources also agree that chewing too much sugar-free gum (15-20 sticks a day) made with artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol and mannitol can cause diarrhea in otherwise healthy people. Chewing gum can also lead to swallowing air, which can cause bloating.
