You have probably heard more than once, that whenever you swallow gum it will stay in your stomach for seven years, but what about those people who swallow gum all the time? They seem fine. Then again everyone says it so it must be true, right? If not then where did this whole myth come from? Gum is by no means a recent invention however many people are concerned that it's bad for you to swallow. Because of this it is most likely that some parents have told their children not to swallow the gum that they chew, and this myth eventually got around and became very widespread.
According to Snopes.com the reason that some would be convinced that gum is bad for you is the fact that gum is designed not to break down when you chew on it. It is made up of chemicals that resist the digestive properties in your saliva. This is probably the reason people think that gum would take so long to digest.
So, does gum really take seven years to digest? Howstuffworks.com has the answer and it's no, gum does not stay in your stomach for seven years. Most of the gum can be digested along with the rest of your food. Although the gum doesn't get fully digested it does not stay in your stomach for seven years. Even though it never fully breaks down, it stays in your stomach just as long as the rest of your food.
Here is an interesting podcast where you can hear the myth get disproven.
Sources
http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/chewgum.asp
http://health.hwostuffworks.com/gum-seven-years.htm
Tags: Gum, Myths, Seven Years
