The Dangers of Chewing Gum

Personally, I love  chewing gum on a daily basis  like many of us.  But it wasn’t  until I realised what dangerous additives it contains, such as Aspartame and Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), that I decided to think twice  about it. I want to discuss with you all about these  the dangers of these two additives and the negative effects they have on our health.

Aspartame:  Found  under different brand names such as  NutraSweet, Equal, Sugar Twin, Spoonful, or Equal Measure, are found in over 5000 food products  as artificial sweeteners  which are usually 200 times sweeter then regular sugar. One of those food products are sugar  free chewing gums. Aspartame consists of three components: the amino acid phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and menthanol, otherwise known as wood alcohol. Menthanol is toxic in humans, even when consumed in relatively small amounts. Reactions to aspartame toxicity can be immediate (within forty-eight hours) in children or can occur several days or several years later. Some of the most documented side effects of aspartame are: headaches, migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, heart palpitations, vision problems and anxiety. Chewing gum is one of the most common ways aspartame is absorbed.  If opting for chewing gum go for chewing gum that is naturally sweetened found in many health food stores.

Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA):  Another dangerous preservative found in chewing gum which is used to keep the flavor and color in food to prevent rancidity. This preservative has been implicated in various health problems such as cancer, increase in liver enzymes, bronchospasm, and behavioral disorders.

So before you buy or chew any gum take a look at the ingredients. I for one will opt for the natural gum and so should you!

Yours in Health and Fitness

Anita