Can you lose weight with the gum and water diet?

In this article, we are going to discuss the “Gum and water diet”. I will discuss how the diet causes weight loss and reduction in food intake, and calorie reduction. I will also include the sweetener added to gum, and if it is healthy to have this diet on its own. I will include healthy alternatives to the gum and water diet.

Can you lose weight with the gum and water diet?

A diet of chewing gum has been used to lose weight. Regular gum contains sugar, while there is another option of gum without any sugar in them. Sugar-free gums are low in calories and contain half the amount of calories in regular gums. 

Regular gum contains 10 calories per piece on average, while sugar-free gum contains 5 calories per piece. Due to the low calories provided by the diet, it is considered a free food. 

This means it does not count in your diet, the food can be consumed without any limitations, and you can consume as much as you can.

Less food with gum

When you chew gum, you are less likely to eat. Chewing gum distracts you from excess eating. Having gum instead of eating sugary sweets like doughnuts would cut you a lot of calories. 

Cutting calories would gradually build up and weight loss would occur. Removing 100 calories a day and replacing it with gum would gradually reduce 700 calories a week, which adds up to 2800 calories in a month. 

This gradual reduction would lead to weight loss gradually. Since you are cutting down calories and substituting them with gum, a much lower calorie alternative.

How does gum work with cutting calories?

Having gum between meals works as a snack. You can eat gum as you watch your favorite show to prevent overeating. Gum also prevents nibbling because it keeps your mouth busy with it. It can be used when you are around many foods that are high in calories and have gum instead.

What sweetener is added to gum?

Most sugar-free gum-free gums contain sorbitol as a sweetener. Excess consumption of sorbitol causes irritation in the digestive tract, and symptoms such as diarrhea, pain, and bloating. So excess eating of gum during the day would lead to such symptoms, so do not consume gum in excess.

Can I only have gum and water throughout the day?

No, you can not have only gum and water as your diet. It does not provide enough calories and energy needed. Having only gum as the only source of food is restricting and not nutritious. It does not provide enough nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Having gum for a long time would cause all types of nutritional deficiencies. It lacks all nutrients that the body needs to carry out its normal functions. Lack of calcium would reduce bone density and increase the risk of osteoporosis, and bone fractures.

 It also leads to anemia due to the lack of iron and vitamin B12 in the diet. In addition to that, it weakens the immune system due to the lack of vitamin C. It also causes muscle mass loss due to the lack of protein in the diet. It is not advised to follow the gum and water diet to lose weight. 

It is not a healthy alternative to losing weight. The gum and water diet leads to weight loss due to calorie restriction. The weight loss will all be regained after you no longer follow the diet.

What are some healthier alternatives to the water and gum diet?

There are much healthier alternatives to the water and gum diet. They include more nutrients that the body needs, and far fewer restrictions. Following the Mediterranean diet, it is a heart-healthy diet that contains a variety of food choices. 

Make sure to reduce your portion size when following a diet, this will reduce the calories you eat per meal. Make sure to drink 2 liters of water per day, so your thirst and hunger signals are not mixed up.

Include 3 balanced meals per day including all macronutrients on them from carbs to protein, and fat. Physical activity also helps with weight loss and muscle building.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed the “Gum and water diet”.I discussed how the diet causes weight loss and reduction in food intake, and calorie reduction. I also included the sweetener added to gum, and if it is healthy to have this diet on its own. I included healthy alternatives to the gum and water diet.

References 

https://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/features/diet-myth-or-truth-chewing-gum-for-weight-loss

‘The chewing gum and water diet’ Jake Quickenden talks insane fitness fads – Daily Star