Chewing Gum Conundrum

By Emily Sohn, September/October 2007

Is chewing gum good for your health?

"Forget the sugar issue... chewing gum is made up of elastomers, plasticizers, and resins.... yuck ! "

But the aspartame used in most gum is said to cause a health risk and the gum would release a cancerous substance after chewing for 15 minutes or more--released by some Taiwanese health articles.

Siewso, Ashland, OH

08/31/2009 - 6:52pm

Well I believe that chewing gum should be allowed because kids then are more comfortable and they can focus a lot better in school

Jennifer, Miami, FL

08/31/2009 - 6:52pm

Chewing gum is also said to benefit your memory because of the chewing itself. This action causes our hearts to pump more blood to our brain than it usually does.

Jennifer, Miami, FL

08/31/2009 - 6:53pm

I am so glad that i read this article. Now that i read this article, i can have a debate with the principal of my school, that gum really helps you learn more. Thanks a whole lot.

Alexiania Gomez

08/31/2009 - 6:53pm

Only chewing 100% xylitol gum is good for you. Xylitol, prevents cavities, helps you on your diet, has no chemical properties and is sweetened by a natural plant extract. EVERY GUM COMPANY in this country is using succrolse, aspartame, splenda in their gum. These ingredients will kill you! They are chemicals produced by a scientist using a genetic engineering process!! They produce BRAIN tumors, brain damage, MS, Parkinsons disease and a total of 92 different side effects after prolonged use. I have extensively researched this! Once you chew gum the sweetners turn into methanol (Gasoline, turpentine) in your stomach, which turns into formaldhyde (embalming fluid) and Formic acid which is the same as ANT POISON!! These chemicals cant be digested and they stay in your body and your intesines thereby destroying your tissues, especially your brain! I know I have been ill for awhile and lost part of my sight in one eye because I had chewed two packs a day for a year. That is one of the horrible side effects of prolonged use. If you want to learn more GET yourself educated and check these web sites OUT: and There are real news brodcasting reels you can watch, they will tell you the whole ugly truth about what we have been consuming for years, and how these huge companies have put our lives in DANGER and made us the guinea pigs! FOR MONEY!!! Especially read ALL about DIET COKE!!!!

Michelle, Houston, TX

08/31/2009 - 6:53pm

dear michelle, not all gum companies use artificial sweetners. lotte, the most popular japanese gum, is all-xylitol (which actually is beneficial!)

Anna, Tokyo, JP

08/31/2009 - 6:55pm

I'm not sure what or who to listen to. For every article I read that tells about its benefits (gum's), another pops up telling me its ingredients are linked to cancer. Is there any 'healthy' gum out there?

Dmitri, Boston, MA

08/31/2009 - 6:55pm



12/02/2009 - 5:21pm

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