Chew on this. We’ve all heard the myth that swallowed gum stays in your body for seven years. While that’s not true, it’s still generally not great to swallow it, since our digestive system can’t break it down. But there is an exception: mastic gum can be digested — and in fact, you’re supposed to … Read more
It’s about thyme! The flu is one of the most common and contagious diseases — it causes up to 41 million illnesses, 710,000 hospitalizations and 52,000 deaths each year in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s often diagnosed with a nasal or throat swab that’s tested for the presence … Read more
Not to burst your bubble, but your gum might be packed with plastic. A new study found that chewing a single piece releases hundreds — if not thousands — of microplastics into your saliva, which you’re most likely swallowing. That’s a real blow, especially since a growing body of research suggests these tiny particles may … Read more
Gum’s the word — and a new study links chewing the right kind to a decrease in preterm birth and delivery of low-birthweight babies in an impoverished African country. “It surprised us all that such a simple intervention could have such a dramatic effect,” said lead study author Dr. Greg Valentine, associate professor of pediatrics at … Read more
Dr. Kavita Mariwalla was gobsmacked when her 12-year-old son asked for mastic chewing gum to chisel his jawline. “My 12-year-old asked me for it and I was like, ‘What are you even talking about?’” the dermatologist told New York Magazine’s The Cut. According to Mariwalla, her son said it would yield the same results as … Read more
Cut the calories if you want to keep your pearly whites. A new study, published in Clinical Oral Investigations, found that cutting back on daily calories could help to slow the progression of gum disease. Researchers at King’s College London analyzed the results of several studies conducted on both humans and animals to discern the … Read more
He’s a real gumshoe. A doctor is setting the record straight once and for all about an “old wives’ tale” that says that if you swallow a piece of gum, it stays stuck in your stomach for seven years. “I’ve no idea where the myth came from — I can only imagine that it was … Read more
What a sticky situation. A 5-year-old boy in Ohio underwent a procedure to remove a clump of chewing gum stuck in his stomach, according to a case study published this week in JEM Reports. The unidentified child had ingested about 40 pieces of sugar-free gum, arriving at the emergency room the next day with cramps … Read more
The thought of spending $40,000 on a piece of used gum might really burst your bubble. But not just any old slab of Bubblicious — it’s straight from the mouth of the illustrious Robert Downey Jr. An eBay user claims to have gotten ahold of Downey’s used gum when the Marvel star appeared at Jon … Read more
Some people are biting off more than they can chew by searching for the ingredients used to make gum. Perhaps the most shocking additive — also used commonly in skincare products — is lanolin, an oily byproduct of sheep skin glands. The greasy wax found in wool is analogous to human sebum. “There is a … Read more
Summary: Diets high in guar gum, a dietary fiber and common food additive extracted from guar beans, limit inflammation and delay the onset of multiple sclerosis in mouse models. Source: University of British Columbia Diets high in guar gum, a common food additive and dietary fibre, limited inflammation and delayed the onset of multiple sclerosis … Read more