What are your thoughts on sugar free gum?

[curiouschica]

Do you think the stuff is harmless? Don't think all these sugar free products have been thoroughly researched at this point...wonder how bad they are for us! I"m guilty of chewing the stuff though! Have you experienced any negative side effects?

[moloz]

The most common problem with chewing gum is that people chew it too much and too many / day. Chew more than 5 minutes without eating and you'll risk getting gastritis and then ulcer, if untreated, because chewing sends signals to the stomach to secrete gastric fluids which are highly acidic and instead of mixing with food, it remains to damage the stomach.

[curiouschica]

Seriously? Nice info!

[jad125]

If it has Aspartame it is bad. That stuff eats holes in your brains and causes cancer. Bu tit is on alsmost eveyhting. I chew it also, and Drink Pepsi Max, which is filled with it.

[curiouschica]

lol holes in brain? dramatic image in my head! Well hopefully we'll avoid that! =p

[jad125]

Aspartame was discovered when a doctor was tesing an anti ulcer drug. So basically that is what it is .75% of adverse food reactions come from aspartame. I know it sounds crazy but it's pretty nastry stuff.

[curiouschica]

Sounds it! We take the things grown in the ground for granted! That's the real food!

[martyfellow]

I worry about aspartame gum, otherwise I have noqualms. Xylitol gum is so good for your teeeth.

[curiouschica]

Oh so you look at the ingredients? Good as far as for plaque buildup? Thanks Marty!

[martyfellow]

Xylitol blocks real sugar from causing caries, chemically. It's great in that way

[curiouschica]

I'm all for that!

[queenofpeen]

The only negative side effect I've noticed is with gum that is sweetened with aspartame. It gives me the worst headaches.

I honestly don't think any sugarfree gum is completely harmless,like most manufactured foods these days, but I feel pretty safe having it occasionally (as opposed to every day).

[curiouschica]

It upsets my stomach for some reason...and I've heard that from someone else too...yeah I guess occasionally doesn't hurt!

[FierceMegan]

On sugar free gum, I think it is good because sometimes we need to chew stuff and grinding sugar into our teeth is no good.

I think overdoing sugar free products leads to cancer, due to the aspartame.

[moloz]

Anything can lead to cancer these days.

[SnackG]

lol I second moloz. Everything has a cause for cancer now. Me touching these keys on a keyboard will probably cause me to have skin cancer in the future.

[curiouschica]

Probably true Megan! lol at moloz and SnackG!

[FierceMegan]

@QA - Thanks. =)

[kady4e]

sugarfree gum works for me!

-less caries

-less toothache

-less money spent with dentist

but it still depends how many gums you're chewing each day...

[curiouschica]

Very true about last point! Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I think if you have a piece occasionally it is no big deal. If you chewed it constantly then it might be a problem. But gum with sugar is so bad for your teeth so I only chew the sugarless kind too.

[curiouschica]

Works for me! =p

[WoIIie]

It's a good option if you like chewing gum. Go for it.

[curiouschica]

lol...what if someone liked tobacco...would you say go for it? ha ha just kidding!

[Anonymous]

i heard splenda is bad for your reproductive system, and the best sweetners are natural derived ones like truvia and aspartme

[curiouschica]

Hmm interesting...never even heard of truvia!

[Anonymous]

I always chew gum and I think it is sugarfree. But I don't have it often. I prefer to just have a little mint.

[curiouschica]

I hear peppermint is good...decreased appetite and increased focus...

[SnackG]

It's just gum. Why would I have a problem with it? I bet I'd more than likely have a negative side affect on something natural than that gum.

[curiouschica]

Well but apparently artificial sweeteners are sketchy...we'll find out a few years from now I suppose!

[Anonymous]

I think sugar free gum is fine. It's good for your teeth to chew it after eating a meal. Last time I had some I chewed it too much and had horrible diarrhea. That was the only negative side effect I had.

[curiouschica]

lol that's a pretty bad side effect! =p