Gum

(Leslie S Fisk) #1

I quit smoking about 15 years ago – truly the best and hardest thing I have ever done. Since then though I am a chain chewer…I am addicted to EXTRA Polar Ice and chew it all day. Can this affect my weight loss or keto level? I hate to give up my gum –

(Karen) #2

Sugarfree ;however, check the sweetener. Some are slowed by some sweetners.

#3

For some it can and for others it will not. I, too, am addicted to gum (Orbit sweet mint) and that happened after quitting smoking, myself, about 15 years ago as well.
I stopped chewing it every minute of every day recently to see what that does to my ketone levels. Turns out they’re staying higher (not that that matters according to most, but I feel and look better above 1.0 consistently). I suspect I’m getting a hit of insulin every time I pop one into my mouth. Not only that, the “addiction” (your word, but fits my situation, too) seemed a little out of control. LIke I’m the only person I know that chews gum CONSTANTLY (and I’m a school teacher, so there’s that hah). I think a piece after a meal is ok for me, but soooo much gum affected my results. That, of course, was just my experience. I could still be in ketosis but I had to be way more careful with the veggies and the meat chewing that much gum. Not a trade off I want.

(the cheater) #4

I’ve had similar concerns. I basically just eased up on it - maybe having 2 or three pieces per day. I mean, my weight is just melting off so it may be a bit obsessive for me to worry about gum, but hey; that’s me. I’ve also cut back on or nearly eliminated diet sodas. Some every now and again is okay. I buy the tiny cans. Perfect amount.
Yeah, I’d say just stick with a few pieces of gum per day. Don’t ever do anything because you’re addicted to it :slight_smile:

(Cristian Lopez) #5

I would use trident,less carbs per piece and subtract the carb amount with the xylitol in trident and you have less carbs affecting you then labeled !!

(Karl) #6

I chew lots of gum too, none of those sweeteners ever bothered me. I’m a unicorn, apparently.

#7

Same. To my knowledge, I don’t have any weird responses to alternate sweeteners. There are a few I try to avoid large amounts of (because of the GI), but I have not had any indication that sugar-free gum is an issue for me. Seems like for those who care greatly, the Pür brand receives good reviews from the LCHF crowd. I believe those are xylitol-sweetened…

(Banting & Yudkin & Atkins & Eadeses & Cordain & Taubes & Volek & Naiman & Bikman ) #8

If your metabolism is fairly off, it could produce an insulin response. But those folks are not the norm.