Does Gum Really Stay in Your Stomach for 7 Years?

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17 May 201603:25
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video script debunks the myth that swallowing chewing gum will keep it in your stomach for seven years. It explains the three stages of digestion: mechanical processing, enzymatic breakdown, and the role of stomach acid. Chewing gum is made of sugar, flavoring, softening agents, and a rubber base, which is a polymer resistant to digestive enzymes and acids. While the rubber base does survive digestion, it doesn't remain in the stomach for years. Instead, it moves through the digestive system and is expelled within a day or two. The video encourages viewers to share their favorite gum flavors and other chemistry-related rumors they'd like to see fact-checked.

Takeaways
  • 🍽️ The mechanical processing of food involves the use of teeth and tongue to crush food and muscle movements to move it through the digestive tract.
  • 🧬 Enzymes in saliva, stomach juices, and intestines initiate chemical reactions to break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into usable nutrients.
  • 🔥 Gastric acid, a mixture of hydrochloric acid and salts, dissolves food into a slurry for the intestines to process.
  • 🍬 Chewing gum contains sugar or artificial sweeteners, flavoring, softening agents, bulking agents, and a rubber base.
  • 🔬 Rubber in gum, whether natural or synthetic, is a polymer made up of repeating units, which gives it its chewy texture.
  • 🌳 Butyl rubber is an example of a synthetic rubber used in chewing gum that helps to reduce the need for rubber tree forests.
  • 🚫 The human body lacks enzymes to break down rubber polymers, which are the main components of the gum base.
  • 🧼 Stomach acid is strong but cannot dissolve rubber polymers, which are resistant to acids.
  • 🚽 Despite not being digestible, gum passes through the digestive system and is expelled from the body within a day or two.
  • ⏳ Contrary to the myth, gum does not remain in the stomach for seven years after being swallowed.
  • 🗣️ The video encourages viewers to share their favorite gum flavors and any chemistry-related rumors they want to be fact-checked.
Q & A

  • What is the myth about chewing gum that is often mentioned?

    -The myth is that if you swallow chewing gum, it will stay in your stomach for seven years.

  • What are the three basic parts of normal digestion?

    -The three basic parts of normal digestion are mechanical processing, enzymatic breakdown, and the action of stomach acid.

  • How do teeth and tongue contribute to the mechanical processing of food?

    -Teeth and tongue work together to crush the food into tiny bits, which is essential for further digestion.

  • What role do enzymes play in the digestion of food?

    -Enzymes in saliva, stomach juices, and intestines initiate chemical reactions that break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into nutrients the body can use.

  • What is the primary function of gastric acid in digestion?

    -Gastric acid, a mixture of hydrochloric acid and salts, dissolves chewed food into a slurry to make it easier for the intestines to process.

  • What is the main ingredient in chewing gum that is not easily broken down by the body?

    -The main ingredient that is not easily broken down is the rubber gum base, which is a polymer made of large molecules with repeating units.

  • Why can't the body's enzymes break down the rubber polymers in gum?

    -The body lacks the specific enzymes required to break down the rubber polymers, whether they are natural or synthetic.

  • Does stomach acid dissolve the rubber polymers in gum?

    -No, stomach acid does not dissolve the rubber polymers. Rubber is good at shielding from acids, which is why it is used in protective gear like gloves.

  • If gum doesn't break down, why doesn't it remain in the stomach for seven years?

    -Although the rubber polymers are not broken down, the body is still capable of moving the gum through the digestive system and expelling it within a day or two.

  • What is the fate of the swallowed gum according to the script?

    -The swallowed gum survives the digestion process but is expelled from the body in a day or two, not remaining in the stomach for seven years as the myth suggests.

  • What is the purpose of the butyl rubber mentioned in the script?

    -Butyl rubber is an example of a synthetic rubber used in the production of chewing gum and inner tubes, which allows for these items to be made without the need to harvest natural rubber from rubber trees.

  • What does the script suggest we should do with other chemistry-related rumors we may have?

    -The script encourages viewers to share their favorite gum flavors and any other chemistry rumors they want fact-checked in the comments section.

Outlines
00:00
🍭 The Myth of Chewing Gum Digestion

This paragraph debunks the playground myth that swallowing chewing gum will keep it in your stomach for seven years. It outlines the three basic parts of normal digestion: mechanical processing, enzymatic breakdown, and the role of gastric acid. The paragraph then explains that while gum contains carbohydrates, oils, and alcohols that can be broken down by enzymes, the rubber polymers in gum are not digestible by the body. However, this does not mean that the gum stays in the stomach for years. Instead, the body can still move the undigested gum through the digestive system and expel it within a day or two.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Digestion
Digestion is the process by which food is broken down in the body into nutrients which can be metabolized to produce energy, allow for growth and maintain normal bodily functions. In the video, it is discussed in the context of mechanical processing, enzymatic breakdown, and the role of stomach acid. It is central to understanding what happens to food and non-food substances, like gum, when they are swallowed.
💡Mechanical Processing
Mechanical processing refers to the physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces through actions like chewing and the churning of stomach muscles. The video explains that this process is crucial for the subsequent chemical breakdown of food by enzymes. However, since gum is not crushed into tiny bits, it does not undergo the same mechanical processing as food does.
💡Enzymes
Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in the body, including the breakdown of food components into nutrients. The video mentions that while enzymes can break down many molecules in gum, such as carbohydrates, oils, or alcohols, the body lacks enzymes to break down rubber polymers, which are a key component of gum.
💡Gastric Acid
Gastric acid is a potent mixture of hydrochloric acid and salts found in the stomach. It plays a vital role in digestion by dissolving food into a slurry, making it easier for the intestines to absorb nutrients. The video clarifies that, despite its strength, gastric acid does not dissolve rubber polymers, which is why swallowed gum is not broken down by stomach acid.
💡Polymers
Polymers are very large molecules composed of repeating structural units. In the context of the video, rubber polymers are the basis for the chewy texture of gum. The video explains that while the body can handle many types of molecules, it does not have the means to break down the rubber polymers found in gum, which is why they survive the digestive process.
💡Rubber Base
The rubber base is the component of chewing gum that gives it its characteristic elasticity and texture. It is made up of rubber polymers, which are resistant to the body's digestive processes. The video emphasizes that the rubber base's resistance to digestion is the reason why gum does not break down like other substances in the digestive tract.
💡Chewing Gum Ingredients
Chewing gum is composed of several ingredients, including sugar or artificial sweeteners, flavorings, softening agents, bulking agents, and the rubber gum base. The video discusses these ingredients to explain the composition of gum and why it behaves differently in the digestive system compared to food.
💡Butyl Rubber
Butyl rubber is a type of synthetic rubber known for its chewiness, making it ideal for use in chewing gum. The video uses butyl rubber as an example to illustrate how chemistry has allowed for the production of gum without the need to deplete natural rubber tree forests, highlighting the role of chemistry in everyday products.
💡Old Wives' Tale
An old wives' tale refers to a belief or superstition that has been passed down through generations, often without scientific basis. In the video, the myth that chewing gum stays in the stomach for seven years if swallowed is debunked, emphasizing the importance of scientific understanding over folklore.
💡Chemical Reactions
Chemical reactions are processes that result in the transformation of one set of substances into another. In the context of digestion, the video mentions that enzymes kickstart chemical reactions to break down food components. This is a key part of the body's ability to extract nutrients from food, contrasting with the indigestibility of rubber polymers in gum.
💡Intestinal Movement
Intestinal movement, or peristalsis, is the process by which the muscles of the intestines contract and relax to move food through the digestive tract. The video explains that even though the rubber polymers in gum are not broken down, the body can still move the gum through the intestines and expel it, typically within a day or two.
Highlights

If you swallow chewing gum, it will stay in your stomach for seven years - is this true?

Normal digestion involves mechanical processing, enzyme action, and stomach acid

Mechanical processing involves teeth and tongue crushing food into tiny bits

Enzymes in saliva, stomach juices, and intestines break down fats, carbs, and proteins into nutrients

Gastric acid, a mixture of hydrochloric acid and salts, dissolves chewed food into a slurry

Chewing gum is made of sugar, flavoring, softening agents, bulking agents, and rubber gum base

The rubber in gum is a polymer - very large molecules made up of repeating units

Butyl rubber is a synthetic rubber used in chewing gum that has the ideal chewiness

The human body does not have enzymes to break down rubber polymers in gum

Stomach acid is strong but does not dissolve rubber polymers

Rubber is good at shielding from acids, which is why we wear rubber gloves for protection

While part of the gum survives digestion, it does not mean it stays in your stomach for years

The body can move the undigested rubber polymers through the digestive system and out within a day or two

The old wives' tale about gum staying in your stomach for seven years is false

The body can only partly digest some things, but it can still move them through the digestive system

Swallowing gum is not harmful as it will pass through the body in a day or two

Share this information with others who may be curious about the truth behind the gum swallowing myth

Let us know your favorite gum flavor and any other chemistry rumors you want fact-checked

Transcripts

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DigestionMyth DebunkingChewing GumScienceFood ProcessingEnzymesPolymersRubber BaseChemistryHealthPlayground RumorNutritionGastric AcidSynthetic RubberWaste Management