Does anyone know whether chewing gum has any adverse effect on your diet. I'm following weight to go and once of the things i find hard is not so much being hungry as the urge to chew on something - usually when i'm working at computer. (PLease don't anyone suggest a bone.) i bought a big pack of strawberry sugar free orbit but it does actually seem to have some calories in it. Is that only if you swallow it? which i wasn't planning to do. i don't want to get tripped up by any sneaky little extras. Any advice please?
Sugar Free Gum
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Iris
Full Member
I think the cals in gum are just the cals you get from chewing it. I don't think there's many downsides to gum, in moderation! The sugar-free type is probably best, good for saliva production and combating plaque after a meal. But I've heard that excessive consumption of sugar-free gum can cause some nasty side effects because the sweetener sorbitol can act as a laxative. Apparently people have lost a lot of weight and had some serious bowel problems after chewing too much of the sugar-free type.
I've also heard about people who over-chew having problems with their jaw - temporomandibular joint and all that jazz, so maybe be careful you're not chewing too much.
Maybe keep a little box of crunchy snacks in your desk drawer? A broken up couple of Alpen light cereal bars, fruity ryvita, brazil nuts, dried banana... even some fresh chopped up veggies can be good for satisfying the chew urge! A couple of Werther's original sweets interspersed with the gum might also help - they last for ages, not too high in cals, and it might help cut down on too much gum.
I've also heard about people who over-chew having problems with their jaw - temporomandibular joint and all that jazz, so maybe be careful you're not chewing too much.
Maybe keep a little box of crunchy snacks in your desk drawer? A broken up couple of Alpen light cereal bars, fruity ryvita, brazil nuts, dried banana... even some fresh chopped up veggies can be good for satisfying the chew urge! A couple of Werther's original sweets interspersed with the gum might also help - they last for ages, not too high in cals, and it might help cut down on too much gum.
I wasn't worried about the calories obviously, but the sugar free ones were a godsend.Thanks folks
thats all interesting. I'll maybe make sure i keep it in reserve for emergencies rather than just replace one habit with another! I really do need a stock of healthy little snacks. carrots would probably do the job great. i know it sounds daft but when i'm working it helps me think by doing something else absentmindedly at the same time, I guess the same as other people do buckets of coffee or fags or doodle on post it notes! I'll maybe get something to fiddle with instead - one of those stress balls or something squashy!
thats all interesting. I'll maybe make sure i keep it in reserve for emergencies rather than just replace one habit with another! I really do need a stock of healthy little snacks. carrots would probably do the job great. i know it sounds daft but when i'm working it helps me think by doing something else absentmindedly at the same time, I guess the same as other people do buckets of coffee or fags or doodle on post it notes! I'll maybe get something to fiddle with instead - one of those stress balls or something squashy!
