2006-06-26 05:25:45 · 46 answers · asked by royorme 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
No it just comes out the other end cos' the body cannot digest it.
2006-06-26 05:27:52 · answer #1 · answered by rockin mermaid 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
File this one away in the Old Wives' Tale folder. It does not, in fact, take you seven years to digest gum if you accidentally swallow it, says Chicago-based gastroenterology expert Charles Baum, M.D. According to Baum, any gum that does somehow end up in your stomach should pass through in less than a day's time--undigested. But, while swallowing gum is generally considered safe, chewing gum is another story. Sure, an occasional stick is fine, but chew it all the time and you may be in for trouble. "Chewing gum too often can lead to tooth decay and problems with the jaw's joints," cautions Baum. And Baum adds that sugar-free gum, while better than sweetened gum, contains artificial sweeteners, which can give some people serious diarrhea and gas. Now that blows.
2006-06-27 22:55:59 · answer #2 · answered by flymetothemoon279 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An old wives' tale states that chewing gum, if swallowed, may take up to seven years to become fully digested, and that swallowing gum could also result in the substance becoming lodged in the esophagus. Chewing gum does resist complete digestion by the body, it is generally expelled like other foods in 95% of individuals, though relatively unchanged. In rare cases, some individuals who have been known to swallow chewing-gum regularly and who are predisposed can unfortunately aid the growth of bezoars within their stomachs or intestines.
2006-06-26 05:40:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, actually not.
It is not actually harmful to swallow a chewing gum but yes,
there are some senseless superstitions which my aunt would say when I would by mistake swallow a chewing gum:
"Now you will have a tree of Cheing gum in your stomach"
lol. Just a joke
IT IS NOT HARMFUL AT ALL
and I am not telling you this by myself I have actually asked a doctor for this!!!
2006-06-26 05:32:23 · answer #4 · answered by The Cool Guy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It probably won't hurt you, but I wouldn't make a habit out of it. There are too many wierd flukes that occur every day. I just wouldn't want to hear that swallowing gum caused a problem for you or anyone. Be careful about some of the things that you eat and all will be well for you. Remember this, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:31 Peace and God Bless.
2006-06-26 05:32:09 · answer #5 · answered by In God We Trust 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It won't kill you, but it does take a few days to digest the gum. The only time it would be really bad for you is if you happen to swallow it down the wrong hole. You will probably have to go to the ER because I don't think its good to have gum in your lungs.
2006-06-26 05:29:56 · answer #6 · answered by Shadow 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with some of the other answers. Just because it's not harmful, doesn't mean that it's good, either.
Chewing gum is indigestible, meaning that it will pass through your digestive system in the same form as it went in. :o) It takes a little more time to travel from one end to the other than digestible food -- 2 to 3 days and it should be out.
2006-06-26 05:31:37 · answer #7 · answered by southernserendipiti 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just swallowed some cool green apple extra sugar free gum. Boy was it good. I have been doing this for 37 years. I actually do it unconsciously. Let me add that I have never had any complications from doing so. I actually think it is a good filler for fiber.
2006-06-26 05:45:53 · answer #8 · answered by pretty_brown_eyes 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have swallowed gum all my life. Its probably not the best thing to do but I cant help it.
2006-07-01 23:34:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My sister used to tell me it would get wrapped around your internal organs and kill you. This is of course rubbish. It's not great as your body can't digest it and it may cause constipation but it will eventually just come out the other end. If it was dangerous to swallow it the packets would have a huge warning on them, like cigarettes!!!
2006-06-26 06:52:16 · answer #10 · answered by driving_me_crazy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it takes 7years 3 months 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours 48 minutes 34 seconds and 56 hundreths of a second before it hits the toilet. So eat the gum and enjoy.
p.s. dont fart when going , hubba bubba yea
2006-06-26 05:44:42 · answer #11 · answered by carl z 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋