What REALLY happens when you swallow GUM??

Question

I heard alot of funny different rumors.. but does anyone know what like.... REALLY happens?

P.S- funny stories/theories accepted, might get u 10 pts!

Answer 1

your body just digest it like any other food  

Answer 2

Nothing happans. It just dissolves like all other foods

Answer 3

Nothing funny about it: it gets digested just like standard food.

If you doubt it (and I suggest you to doubt it), try it empirically yourself.  The procedure for testing is easy and takes 4 steps:

1) pour a bit of coke (the soda, not the ilegal substance) in a glass;

2) drop a bit of gum inside

3) observe, let rest for hours (just as would be in your stomach)

4) remove the gum and evaluate its state.  Does it still look (and feel to the touch) like gum to you?

A variant could be done using swimming pool PH- products (that is cholidric acid).  This would be more dangerous and non-advisable, but the reaction would occur faster.

Answer 4

nothing really happens it just work es its way through your body and you poo it out

Answer 5

Nothing entirely life altering is going to happen. I came across a site the other day that was talking about it. It will pass through your digestive system within a few days but it will be much the same as when it went in because your body cannot break it's substances down.

I did read a rather interesting story though that came close to proving the seven year theory correct. A little boy swallowed I guess like 5-7 pieces of gum a day for quite a while... And it gave him chronic constipation for 2 yrs... there was a tract of fecal matter composed mostly of gum up his r****m. His physicians intervened and removed the matter. But even this story does not prove the 7 yr myth true because he ate 5-7 pieces day for at least two yrs and even then his physician interfered. I guess the wisest thing to do would be to not swallow gum at all but I wouldn't panic if you do on a rare occasion. It'll pass :-)

Answer 6

in reality, your body breaks down the gum as best as is can, then passes it, just like with any other food product. the myth that it stays in your body for 7 years is completely false.

i don't have any funny stories or theories... i only spew fact.

Answer 7

This is really weird that I found your question because I was just looking at different chemistry sites a week or so ago for I am taking a college prep. chemistry class this semester. I actually came by site that discussed this topic. It said that when someone swallows gum it will usually leave the body the way it was when swallowed. However, in some cases it might stick to your intestines and become part of your body. There was also another site that I read but I don't remember the sites name.  

Answer 8

When you f**t, you blow a bubble. Like Brian on Family Guy.  

Answer 9

nothing really same as food and the rest of the ppl said is not true about the 7 years , one thing tough when you go  skittles might  come out.

Answer 10

I used to think it could get round your "throat pipes" and tangle them all up  so you would die... but I think it just takes a while to get digested... my mum used to tell me it would get stuck in my throat

Answer 11

Almost everyone has swallowed a piece of gum, but few people have ever needed a doctor because of it. You might have heard that swallowed gum stays in your stomach for 7 years. That's not true. Though your stomach can't break down a piece of gum the same way it breaks down other food, your digestive system can move it along through normal intestinal activity. In other words, it comes out the other end when you have a bowel movement (p**p).

Hope I helped

Answer 12

It sticks in your stomach for years on end, making digestion impossible as the years go by and as you swallow more gum.  Eventually, you will need to go to the doctor for a surgery to get the gum out...

Just playing!  Nothing happens.  I swallow gum all the time.

Answer 13

It gets digested in about 7 days. It takes a little longer than regular foods. Not 7 years!

Answer 14

7 years!  7 bloody years!  That's what the legend is, isn't it?