posted March 14, 2007 08:45 AM         

I know it isn't harmful if swallowed. It's true that the body can't digest it. But the gum doesn't stay in stomach. It progresses relatively intact through the digestive system and is excreted in the stool.

posted March 16, 2007 03:07 AM         

chewing gum reduces acid in the stomach and hampers digestion. it raises the sugar content of saliva and causes a negative chain reaction in the gastrointestinal tract, as the stomcah gets ready for food that never comes. it is categorized as a food probably because most of it is accidntally swallowed.

chewing gum ingredients and their harmful effects

BHA(butylated hydroxyanisole - cancer

BHT (butylated hydroxyl toluene) - cancer

plasticizers - solvent (dissolves skin) digestive problems

aspertame - nerve damage, cancer, cysts, tumors

polysobutylene (lighter fluid) - solvent, skin irritant, suffocation

polyterpene (turpentine) - respiratpory failure (death), skin irritant

aluminum - brain damage, clogs glands

proply gallate - skin irritant

polyvinly acetate - dmages lungs and kidney, tumor

cool tar - cancer, degenerative diseases

wood tar - cancer, insanity

petroleum tar - cancer, degnerative disease

paraffin - cancer, degenerative disease

approved non-food dirt (dead insects, rat manure) - unknown

unspecified ingredients (over 20 not listed) - unknown

dyes - cancer

from the book African Holistic Health
written by Llaila O. Afrika