Chewing gum, contrary to common misconception, does not provoke the development of gastritis, says gastroenterologist Ekaterina Kashukh. She dispelled the popular myth about the danger of chewing gum in a conversation with Izvestia. Kashuch called wrong the belief that the habit of chewing gum on an empty stomach increases the production of gastric juice and provokes gastritis. "In fact, this is not the case, and even prolonged chewing does not significantly affect the volume and acidity of gastric juice," the doctor assured.
In addition, according to her, many chew gum in the hope of getting rid of heartburn. The specialist believes that this method is not devoid of meaning, as more saliva is released during chewing - it washes away the excess acid in the stomach and thus removes the discomfort. However, there is no scientific evidence for this, the doctor warned.
However, chewing gum also has scientifically proven benefits, Kashuh continued. For example, it helps prevent tooth decay. The doctor explained that when eating food, the acidity in the mouth increases, which damages the tooth enamel. The acid level normalizes naturally within an hour, and with chewing gum - in just 20 minutes, explained the specialist.
In addition, Kashuh noted that chewing gum helps suppress hunger for a while and distract from the urge to snack.
However, she warned that you should not use this method to lose weight. First, according to her, the habit of constant chewing can provoke indigestion, since the sweeteners in the gum have a mild laxative effect. Secondly, it is more effective not to replace snacks with improvised means, but to learn good eating habits - not to eat under stress and not to eat out of boredom. /BGNES