Candy and chewing gums are common among the young ones and may taste sugary to our buds. But in a new study at the Binghamton University of New York, the experts showed that nanoparticles of titanium dioxide found in candy, gum and even in bread may reduce the ability of small intestine cells to digest ‘good’ nutrients.
Chewing gum may adversely affect digestive system
Regular eating of such food items over four hours or equal to three meals over five days with reverence to chronic exposure produces a meal’s worth of titanium oxide nanoparticles. These nanoparticles decrease the absorptive cells, called microvilli, on the exterior of intestine which further impairs metabolism and weakens the intestinal wall.
The experts found that weak intestinal wall leads to inflammation and impairs the enzyme functioning in our body.
One of the main authors of the study, Gretchen Mahler concludes that titanium oxide is a popular food additive and people have been consuming a lot of it for a long time and it is essential to make the people aware about the subtle effects of the food additive. Chewing gum may adversely affect digestive system
Mahler who also is an Associate Professor at the Binghamton University, State University of New York recognizes that the current work is principally focused on lower concentrations of titanium oxide nanoparticles and its consequences on microvilli and intestinal function.
Titanium dioxide is utilized in many forms of plastics, paints, paper, to give a smooth feel to chocolates, sunscreens to block the UV light, to provide color to donuts and is even deemed safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Titanium dioxide also used to create an abrasion in toothpaste needed for cleaning, seldom enter our digestive system through toothpaste. Chewing gum may adversely affect digestive system
Other than that chewing gum may affect your body in several ways:
- Chewing Gum May Build Your Junk-Food Intake – Many individuals chew on a stick of gum to reduce food yearnings and, theoretically, help them avoid consuming unhealthy foods. Though research shows that chewing gum lessens your motivation to eat, your appetite and how much you end up eating, gum-chewers’ meals end up being less nutritious than those eaten by non-chewers.
For instance, individuals who chewed gum were less likely to eat fruit and preferably were more motivated to eat junk food like candy and potato chips. This is likely because the minty flavor in the gum makes vegetables and fruits taste bitter. Chewing gum may adversely affect digestive system
- It May Cause TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) in Your Jaw – Chewing gum can cause jaw muscle asymmetry (if you chew on one side more than the other) and also TMJ or temporomandibular joint disorder in your jaw, which can be a severe chronic disease. Anytime you use a certain set of muscles, it can lead to weakened muscles and related pain, including earaches, headaches, and toothaches over time.
- Gastrointestinal Problems – Chewing gum makes you swallow excess air, which can add to the abdominal pain and bloat seen with sensitive bowel syndrome (IBS). Moreover, when you chew gum you send your body mechanical signals that food is about to enter your body. The acids and enzymes that are initiated when you chew gum are consequently released, but without the food, they’re intended to digest.
This can develop bloating, an excess of stomach acid, and can imperil your ability to produce adequate digestive secretions when you really do eat food. Some individuals may also have adverse gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, from the synthetic sweeteners that are normally found in chewing gum.
- Tooth Decay – Even from Sugar-Free Gum – If your chewing gum that contains sugar, you’re actually bathing your teeth in sugar while you chew away. This can lead your teeth to tooth decay. No matter if you chew sugar-free gum, there are still perils to your teeth as sugar-free gum often contains acidic additives and preservatives that may, in fact, lead to dental decay, even if it includes cavity-fighting xylitol. Contrary to cavities, dental decay is a process of incremental decalcification, which, over time, actually dissolves your teeth.
- Sheep Byproducts – Chewing gum oftentimes contains lanolin, a waxy element that’s obtained from sheep wool, to help it stay soft. While not significantly dangerous to your health, chewing on lanolin is not specifically appetizing. Chewing gum may adversely affect digestive system
- Chewing Gum Linked to Headaches in Teens – Teens are notorious for gum chewing and popping. If your child is a regular gum chewer and experiences headaches, you should know that a link has connection been established. Chewing gum may adversely affect digestive system
One research included 30 daily gum chewers within the ages of six and 19 years. Each experienced a chronic migraine or tension headaches. After discontinuing gum chewing for one month, 19 of them had their headaches go away entirely while another seven had a decrease in headache frequency and severity. Twenty-six of the children then commenced chewing gum again, only to get back headaches return within days.
The experts believe the headaches can be linked to chewing-gum-induced TMJ, which might cause headaches. Past research has also proposed chewing gum may cause headaches via aspartame vulnerability.
There are many chances that you might not pay much attention to the ingredients in chewing gum because, after all, it’s not really swallowed. But the ingredients, many of which are probably dangerous, do enter your body, directly through the walls of your mouth. Chewing gum may adversely affect digestive system
But just like with the toxic ingredients in personal care products like lotion, which are absorbed directly through your skin and into your bloodstream, the ingredients in gum also get assimilated by your body instantly and directly, bypassing the digestive system that would generally help to filter some of the toxins away.
One such type of toxic chemicals is artificial sweeteners, which are everywhere in chewing gum. Many individuals choose sugar-free gum on purpose, thinking it to be better than other varieties. But even non-sugar-free labels may contain some sort of synthetic sweetener. It is very uncommon for them not to. And as mentioned above these synthetic sweeteners can affect you in many ways. Chewing gum may adversely affect digestive system
Now when you know that not only your digestive system but your entire body can get affected by gums. So it is time to stop chewing gum or at least decrease the intake of gum.
