I have a friend who is on the Atkins diet, you may have heard of it. He was commenting on the carb. content of a stick of gum. Not sure what brand it was but it had 2 grams. Now Im in a heated argument with another friend as to how they determine this amount. I think its based on swallowing the whole piece. She says its based on just chewing it. If they determine the content by just chewing, how long do you chew it to get these 2 grams? What if I just chew it for 30seconds, do I get less then 2. How about if I chew it for 6 hours (some people do!), do I get more than 2? I think they base it on swallowing the gum. Its the only sure way to know how much your getting. I realize your not supposed to “eat” gum but it is edible and has to be treated as a product you eat. HELP!
Wrigley’s Winterfresh Chewing Gum, for example, is labeled at 2 carbs/serving. I am sure that this means “released [as sugar] by chewing” rather than “contained in swallowed gum” since it is not our custom or culinary practice to swallow gum. I don’t know how long you’d have to chew it, nor how many calories are burned by the act of chewing. Since I found the carb count of a piece of gum in under a minute with Google, I’ll bet you could find answers to these questions online. I doubt you could get more than the 2 carbs, even with earnest chewing.
Actually I searched the web for quite sometime. I dont just post random questions that have easy answers. I wasnt looking for the carb count of wrigleys gum, If you notice I already had the carb. count. It was what that number was based on. What makes you so sure that this is “released as sugar by chewing?” Next.
some sugar is coated on the outside and is not incorporated in the gum…other sugar will get dissolved by sliva when chewing…every chew gum and have the flavor wear out?
It’s two grams whether you chew it or swallow it, because the gum part that does not disolve contributes all it’s suface carbs as it breaks down in the mouth. The gummy part leftover after chewing won’t be broken down anyway, even if it were to contain carbs.
I second Philster. The gum base is simply an undigestible medium in which the sugar is delivered. If you chew it until flavorless, the difference in carb intake between swallowing and chewing would be minimal.
No need for unpleasantness.