Institute of Human Anatomy - What Happens When You Swallow Chewing Gum
The video explores the common myth that swallowed chewing gum remains in the body for seven years. To investigate this, the presenter conducts an experiment by placing chewing gum in a mixture of hydrochloric acid diluted to the concentration of stomach acid. The gum remains largely unchanged even after several hours, demonstrating that it is not broken down by stomach acid. The video explains that chewing gum, being indigestible, travels through the digestive system without being absorbed. It moves through the small intestine, which is about 20 feet long, without being digested or absorbed into the bloodstream. Eventually, it reaches the colon, where it mixes with other waste materials and is excreted from the body as feces. This process is similar to how other indigestible materials are handled by the digestive system, debunking the myth that gum stays in the body for an extended period.
Key Points:
- Swallowed chewing gum does not stay in the body for seven years; it passes through the digestive system like other indigestible materials.
- Chewing gum is not broken down by stomach acid, as demonstrated by an experiment with hydrochloric acid.
- The gum travels through the 20-foot small intestine without being absorbed, as it is indigestible.
- Eventually, the gum reaches the colon, mixes with waste, and is excreted from the body.
- The video effectively debunks the myth by showing that gum behaves like other indigestible substances in the digestive tract.