Can chewing gum be put in the refrigerator?

Chewing gum is a snack that many people like to eat. Generally speaking, chewing gum contains some additives and preservatives, so the method of storing chewing gum is relatively simple. It can be placed at room temperature and does not need to be stored in the refrigerator. When storing chewing gum, you must understand its shelf life. If it has passed the shelf life, try not to eat it. Let us briefly understand this aspect.

Can chewing gum be put in the refrigerator?

Chewing gum cannot be placed in the refrigerator, because it can prevent moisture in the refrigerator, absorb moisture from the food, and even speed up the drying of the chewing gum (you might as well give it a try). It is recommended to put the chewing gum in a plastic bag and seal the opening tightly. If that doesn’t work, soak it in water through the plastic bag. This way it won't be dry and hard.

If you are worried that the weather is too hot, you can just put it in a cool place. There is no need to freeze it. Chewing gum and mints contain a large amount of additives and pigments. Some chewing gum is made entirely of additives. Additives can sometimes be very harmful to the body. Therefore, you must be careful when buying beverages. Remember to check the ingredients first. In the ingredient list of chewing gum and mints, the closer the ingredient is listed, the higher the proportion. If there are too many additives, eating such chewing gum and mints for a long time will cause great harm to the body. Additives such as potassium sorbate and sodium nitrite will damage internal organs, and pigments such as tartrate and sunset red will affect intellectual development when ingested into the body.

What are the dangers of eating too much chewing gum?

Chewing gum is often used to relieve irritability, loneliness and tension, and can also remove bad breath. However, from a health perspective, it is not recommended to chew gum for too long, no more than 10 to 15 minutes is appropriate, because the sweeteners in it can induce tooth decay and it is not suitable for patients with stomach problems.

Secondly, the ingredients in chewing gum are cool and not easily broken down by the enzymes in the stomach, so they usually go directly into the intestines. Especially xylitol chewing gum, which has an absorption rate of less than 20% in the intestine and is easily accumulated in the intestinal wall. Excessive intake will cause irritation and damage to the stomach and intestines, and can easily cause abdominal discomfort, bloating, intestinal rumbling, diarrhea and other diseases. In some European and American countries, foods containing xylitol will have a consumer warning on the label that "excessive intake may cause diarrhea."

Other studies have found that the sweetener sorbitol in xylitol chewing gum is difficult to be absorbed by the small intestine. If consumed for a long time, electrolytes such as potassium and sodium in the intestines will increase, leading to chronic diarrhea and aggravating gastrointestinal problems.

For people who already have stomach problems, chewing gum too much will cause the digestive system to secrete a large amount of gastric acid, which will cause symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite, and acid reflux when the stomach is empty. Especially for patients with gastrointestinal diseases who already have excessive stomach acid and acid reflux, the damage is more obvious, damaging the mucosa of the stomach and duodenum, causing the occurrence or recurrence of diseases such as gastric ulcers or duodenal ulcers, and aggravating the original stomach disease.