A study conducted in 2022 found that artificial sweeteners were linked to a higher risk of heart disease. Found in more than 5,000 foods and drinks, aspartame is far sweeter than sugar. In 1974, the FDA approved its use as a tabletop sweetener and ingredient in gum, cereals, instant coffee, dairy products and other items. Common foods and drinks with aspartame include: Its use is controversial, as some animal studies suggest that high doses can cause cancer. However, the results are mixed, and other studies haven’t found this effect ( 1, 2). First is knowing what to look for in the grocery store. Aspartame is going to most likely appear in processed foods. If you see either the word ‘aspartame’ or ‘phenylalanine’ then the product contains aspartame,” Landry said. A two-year clinical study that followed 547 school-aged children in Budapest found that chewing sugar-free gum after meals significantly reduced the formation of cavities. Reduces plaque

Free methanol is present in some foods and is also created when aspartame is heated. Free methanol consumed regularly may be a problem because it breaks down into formaldehyde, a known carcinogen and neurotoxin, in the body. We often take the flavor, color, and shelf-life of our gum for granted. We assume that gum sold in stores wouldn’t contain questionable ingredients. But there is a wide variety of lab-derived chemicals used in mainstream gums to give us powerful flavors and colors. Synthetic preservatives are also used to keep gum from being degraded naturally by bacteria and fungi. The same conclusion was reached in a recent review of more current studies, all of which showed conflicting results on potential toxic effects of aspartame, said Dr. Francesco Branca, director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety Department in a news briefing. When done correctly, reformulation can gradually remove excess sugars, salt and saturated fat from foods to improve their overall healthiness without the need for replacement ingredients such as non-sugar sweeteners.” The increase in saliva that gum chewing produces also helps to strengthen tooth enamel. This is because saliva contains calcium and phosphate. Reduces sensitivity in teeth caused by tooth whiteningTo put this into perspective for a person weighing 150 pounds (or 68 kg), the below is what would have to be ingested to meet the FDA ADI: Saccharin brand names include Sweet and Low®, Sweet Twin®, Sweet'N Low®, and Necta Sweet®. It is 200 to 700 times sweeter than table sugar (sucrose) and contains no calories. Interestingly, some studies have found that chewing gum during tasks may be a bit of a distraction at the start but could help you focus for longer periods ( 27).

Pür gum comes in a couple of different (and yummy) flavors, pomegranate mint, spearmint, and peppermint. Glee Gum is all-natural, gluten-free chewing gum with no artificial coloring, flavoring, sweeteners nor preservatives. Glee Gum is the only gum in North America made the old-fashioned way using chicle. Thankfully, switching to a natural chewing gum doesn’t have to be expensive. Natural chewing gum from The Humble Company cost only about 25 cents per piece. Each of The Humble Company’s oral care products was designed by dentists while also considering its impact on the planet. This line of natural chewing gums is made from just seven or eight vegan, cruelty-free, plant-based ingredients. The sweetener in this gum, xylitol, is derived from xylose, a naturally occurring sugar in the sap of woody plants. The Humble Company doesn’t define what’s in its “natural gum base,” they only say that it comes from trees.More than 100,000 adults participated in the study, and during an average follow-up period of nine years, 1,502 cardiovascular events were recorded by participants. However, the overall results are mixed. Some studies have reported that chewing gum does not affect appetite or energy intake over the course of a day ( 39, 40).