Does Your Swallowed Gum Stay In Your Stomach For 7 Years? Science Has The Answer

When you were a child, did your motherever warn you of the severe consequences of swallowing a chewing gum? Did she say that it stays in your stomach for seven whole years?

Is it just a myth or is it true?

The answer is – NO, it doesn’t.

We all know that gum doesn’t break down by merely chewing. Our digestive system is built to dissolve and excrete whatever we eat in a matter of hours or,at max, days. But it definitely doesn’t take years. Yes, it is difficult for our stomach to digest the synthetic portion of the chewing gum, but the fact is that it cannot even stay in the stomach for too long.The stomach follows the process of periodically emptying its content into the small intestine. In this process, the gum is then transferred from the small intestine to the colon and is eventually passed out through the stool.

For a better understanding, American Chemical Society’s Reactions channel posted a video explaining the entire digestion process. Let’s take a look!

So, the next time if you swallow the chewing gum accidently, do not worry! You need not believe the old wives’ tale – duh! It will be out of your system within a day or two.

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Jyotsana RaoBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Jyotsana Rao is an engineering graduate from NIT, Nagpur, who discovered her love for writing during her undergraduate days. She is passionate about writing about everything related to beauty - makeup, fashion, hairstyles, skin care, or hair care and has 4 years of experience on writing in these genres.

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