Can chewing gum upset your stomach?

It wasn't until years later, in school to become a dietitian, that I discovered WHY the sugar-free gum was making my stomach hurt so much. There are two main reasons that sugar-free gum in particular can cause stomach pain. The first is that you naturally swallow a lot of air while chewing gum. read more

Chewing the gum itself won't upset your stomach, but the ingredients in it may not agree with some people. If consumed in excess, some of the sugar-free ingredients can cause an upset stomach and diarrhea (i.e. sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol). read more

There are two main reasons that sugar-free gum in particular can cause stomach pain. The first is that you naturally swallow a lot of air while chewing gum. But the second, and arguably main reason, is the presence of sugar alcohols. read more

This can cause bloating, an overproduction of stomach acid, and can compromise your ability to produce sufficient digestive secretions when you actually do eat food. Some people may also have adverse gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, from the artificial sweeteners that are commonly found in chewing gum. read more