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Digesting Gum

People are always saying that if you swallow gum it can take up t so many years to pass through your digestive tract and I was wondering, is that because as gum it sticks to the sides of your digestive system? O is it because your digestive acids and enzymes have a tough job breaking it down?

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l3irus says:

Imagine swallowing a ball of chewed rubber. And try to wonder if that could cause any trouble to the digestive system. Hm... who knows! Maybe it might cause a whole bunch of trouble, and maybe not.

You may ask the question, but seriously, don't try it out. There are some people who wish to try anything out like "Is acid really corrosive?", "Is cyanide really poisonous?", etc. If people said "It's not good." it is perfectly fine to ask "WHY?". Trying it out will only give you two results. It is either "nothing happens" or "something(bad) happens".

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posted on 2011-01-31 20:14:26 | Report abuse


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Jon-Richfield says:

Sorry, submitted a message to wrong address!

While I am on the line though,

If anyone is interested in the durability of modern chewing gum, (not many still ocntain chicle; ask Georg if you don't believe m!)  try a few brands and see how long a thumping quid lasts if you keep it indefinitely (use your fridge if your bedpost isn't an attractive option. If Lonny Donegan could do it...!)  Ask Guiness whether there is a record in it; how many chews, how many months and so on. 

All that because I clicked the wrong button!

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posted on 2011-02-01 08:05:40 | Report abuse

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Georg says:

Hello Jon,

too much honour, but I don't know about "recent" composition

of chewing gums.

(When I was a boy of the age to chew gums, this was

frowned upon, it was thought to be "Der Untergang des Abendlandes"! :=)

So. I never chew gums....

Georg

But as I am here anyhow: This debate about danger from swallowing gum

is nonsense! Of course that happens very often.

Diid someone hear about Ralph Nader sueing Wrigley's?

 

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posted on 2011-02-01 09:52:50 | Report abuse

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Jon-Richfield says:

Hi Georg,

I was just referring to the fact that most gums nowadays are made from butadiene rubbers with various modifiers. There still is some chicle in use, but it is no longer the dominant material.

 

>When I was a boy of the age to chew gums, this was frowned upon, it was thought to be "Der Untergang des Abendlandes"!<

Ach Je! What next? Die Kaugummidaemmerung? ;-( Nowadays it is supposed to be good for you as long as you don't get caught spitting it onto the pavement...-

 

 

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posted on 2011-02-01 19:29:08 | Report abuse

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Georg says:

Hello Jon, that

Kaugummidämmerung is good!

May I use the word, or is there some copyright :=)

Georg

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posted on 2011-02-01 22:49:08 | Report abuse

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Jon-Richfield says:

Georg,

thanks for the compliment, but I thought the copyright rested with one Wilhelm Richard Wagner; wasn't it part of the "Ring Cycle"?

Mind you, the mental image of a troop of gum-chewing Nibelungen is about as much as my composure can bear! Wagner deserves to suffer; use his word as freely as you choose!

Keeping up with the classics is so full of complications; give me nice simple science any day!  ;-(

Cheers,

 

Jon

 

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posted on 2011-02-02 12:05:21 | Report abuse


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