Burn more calories when you chew gum?

Canada
April 25, 2010 11:23pm CST
I realized not to long ago that gum actually has calories! And while thsi really shoudlnt suprise me since it has flavor and such, it kind of did. And then I got to thinking that these were just empty calories and such... And then my sister brought up a good point when I was having this conversation with her: she said that your chewing it so you burn calories that way. So do you infact buirn more or as much calories in chewing the gum as it gives you to start with?
1 person likes this
8 responses
@maezee (42003)
• United States
9 May 10
I had once heard that chewing gum burns an extra 15 calories per hour or something like that. It's not enough, nearly, to make a difference or even think about in my opinion. Most gums (that are sugar-free, which is the kind you should be chewing) are about 5 calories a stick or piece. So, in this situation (if what I've heard is correct), you burn a net caloric value of about 10 calories an hour. To me, I definitely wouldn't go out of my way to chomp on some gum for that extra 10 calories an hour. Not worth it. We burn calories in everything we do - even SLEEPING! It's just how our metabolic system works. Even sitting and watching TV, we burn calories. Not as many as we would if we were exercising, but yeah - it's amazing to think about how our bodies work!
@pumared (514)
• Bulgaria
4 May 10
it is true.
@katsmeow1213 (28719)
• United States
26 Apr 10
I can't say for certain, though I'm sure you do burn some calories, though it won't be enough to make any sort of a difference. However, I'm a huge fan of the show The Biggest Loser which helps morbidly obese people lose weight, and they promote Extra Sugar Free Gum. It has 5 calories per stick and helps you curb cravings for sweets. I say if the gum is helping you to avoid eating something very high in calories, then there's no harm. But if you're chewing gum just for the sake of it, or like as candy, then you may want to cut back or quit all together.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
27 Apr 10
I hope it could really burn calories! I have an obese grandchild and I've been having problem with her condition. She would not want to diet. If chewing gum would help her then I'd buy her boxes of chewing gum to start the burning.
@daliaj (5674)
• India
26 Apr 10
Chewing is an exercise to mouth, but I don't think you can burn calories by chewiing. I am not fond of chewing gum. Instead of using the chewing gum you can burn calories by just talking. It is the same exercise as chewing. Anyway, you chew when you eat food. So, we do talking and chewing while eating as mouth exercises. I don't think extra chewing is required.
• United States
27 Apr 10
probably not if it has calories alrady. but you can try sugarfree gum or something. i dont know but i thinkkk orbit is sugarfree sometimes. but yeah chewing isnt really going to burn off calories, i would think you'd have to chew for hours and constantly until your mouth hurts
@caliya (1170)
• Philippines
26 Apr 10
I have read about this before and there was even a specific gum made for you to loose weight but I don't think the amount of calories that you will loose will be that significant enough. It might help a little bit but it really helps if we include it with exercise and healthy lifestyle.
@kedralynn (980)
• United States
26 Apr 10
I often chew gum to avoid eating something unhealthy. Those few calories my gum has is nothing compared to that double fudge brownie! In doing that I think chewing gum helps promote weight loss. At least that's what those Extra commercials have been telling me lately... I'm not sure how many calories you burn chewing gum tho but you do exercise your jaw a lot... Either way, there's plenty of gums out there with very few calories per piece. So unless you're chewing a pack a day, you're probably alright.