Naked Science Forum

On the Lighter Side => That CAN'T be true! => Topic started by: paul.fr on 28/10/2007 23:43:23

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: paul.fr on 28/10/2007 23:43:23

i have heard that so many times, but is it true?

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: Simulated on 29/10/2007 00:06:31

Oh wow. If it is true. Then thanks god I don't swallow that stuff.

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: JimBob on 29/10/2007 02:42:26

Then I should be made of chewing gum.

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: kdlynn on 29/10/2007 03:26:04

i can assure you that it's not true. lol. but i'm sure my brother would not appreciate me telling the story.

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: Bored chemist on 29/10/2007 19:54:33

So don't tell him that you told us.

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: Alandriel on 29/10/2007 21:13:55

Hehehehe, another urban myth goes the way of the dinosaur ......(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fdead%2F1.gif&hash=f5ff36b154fee3f74747345a394c8fe4)

clickety  (http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/chewgum.asp)

 [;D]

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: Karen W. on 31/10/2007 01:13:57

cool cause I have swallowed a heck of a lot of gum.. I like gum! LOL Helps me not eat so much!

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: another_someone on 31/10/2007 02:00:07

Never heard the story, but then never chewed gum.  Did go through a phase of chewing rubber bands, in the naive belief they may strengthen my jaw muscles, and maybe even my teeth.  Never swallowed the rubber bands though (although I often can't be bothered to spit out the stones from cherries when I eat them - so my intestines have to cope with them).

OK - they're coming to take me away any time now [;D]

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: Karen W. on 31/10/2007 02:15:13

Watch out George.. There right behind you!! LOL LOL!

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: Alandriel on 31/10/2007 15:41:29

George didn't only do the pockets full of acorns...........

Chewing rubber bands though ?
LOL, now that's a new one.... How were they supposed to strengthen jaw muscles?
Did you string them behind your ears and then.......

 [;D] [;D]

But back to chewing gum. Nasty stuff that when it ends up on the pavement. It does not degrade over time, not even 7 years, and is difficult (read expensive) to remove.

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: Simulated on 31/10/2007 22:28:17

Quote from: Bored chemist on 29/10/2007 19:54:33

So don't tell him that you told us.

haha. yeah come on Kadie.

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: kdlynn on 04/11/2007 14:40:35

ok. when my brother was two he got into my purse (keep in mind he's much younger than i am) and i had a whole pack of bubble gum in it... and he ate it. all. he chewed it for a few minutes then swallowed... two days later when he went to the bathroom he started yelling "mommy mommy come here!" and... he had blown an enormous bubble instead of um... going to the bathroom. so my mom was laughing and he was crying and i ended up going in to see what was going on... very funny.

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: Bored chemist on 04/11/2007 16:53:05

I wonder; did that stop him nicking your stuff?

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: kdlynn on 05/11/2007 03:01:07

absolutely not

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: TonyCap on 18/11/2007 07:58:51

Thank God it's not true.  As a kid, I think I swallowed dozens of chewing gums.   [;D]

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: kdlynn on 19/11/2007 02:40:08

it does take several days though. lol. my poor little brother

Title: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest!
Post by: RD on 19/11/2007 16:41:02

Gum is certainly persistent ...

Quote

Student dig unearths ancient gum 
 
A 5,000-year-old piece of chewing gum has been discovered by an archaeology student from the University of Derby.
Sarah Pickin, 23, found the lump of birch bark tar while on a dig in western Finland.

Neolithic people used the material as an antiseptic to treat gum infections, as well as a glue for repairing pots.

Ms Pickin's tutor, Professor Trevor Brown, said: "It's particularly significant because well defined tooth imprints were found on the gum."

He explained: "Birch bark tar contains phenols, which are antiseptic compounds."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6954562.stm