There’s a ton of gums that you can find out there in plant based foods and gluten-free foods, but this is a different kind. I’m not referring to Guar Gum, Xantham Gum or Locust Bean Gum, although; those will often times cause reactions in AGS patients. I’m talking about the kind that you CHEW but don’t swallow!
Chewing Gum
Chewing gum is one of those things where you might be a person who reacts and you might not. However, that tiny little piece of minty freshness you put in your mouth to freshen your breath might just cause a reaction you’d rather not have. There are complex sugar compounds in most gums you find on the shelf today. These types of sugars are likely to cause a reaction for people with AGS. The way these complex sugars are processed causes them to come in contact with things like whey, milk and other cross-contaminants.
Every time I chew regular gum I end up having a reaction. I have not narrowed down exactly what is causing this so I generally just chew plant based gum that is labeled as vegan. I thought today I would share some of those with you.
I’m a busy body, most people would say. I don’t sit still for long and I am always finding things to keep myself busy. Chewing gum helps me calm down. Why? I have no idea. I’m sure there is some scientific study that’s been done that could tell us.
When I find myself stressed or having too much to do and a bit overwhelmed (even at work) it helps to have some chewing gum. It also gives me something to do to get my mind off of whatever is stressing me out. You’ll often find me with a piece of chewing gum in my mouth at work, at church, in the grocery store, etc. Not that the grocery store stresses me out….but….
I chew gum often obviously so it was kind of important for me to find a safe chewing gum. I’ve had a few over the years that I’ve found, enjoyed and then it was discontinued or my stores quit selling it. I’m sharing them all in case your area still sells the ones I used to be able to find here.
Simply:
Simply put, this one is my favorite. The flavor is great and it lasts the entire time it’s in your mouth. Spearmint and Peppermint are my favorite but they have a ton of flavors.
Glee:
Glee gum has an amazing flavor as well. The pieces are extremely small though and I felt like I needed 3 of them in my mouth to be a substantial piece to chew on. The flavor didn’t last as long but it was really good. The flavor reminded me of Dentyne (do y’all remember that gum?!)
Trader Joe’s:
I have just recently happened upon this gum and it reminds me a lot of Simply gum. The packaging and the shape of the pieces are similar. The flavor is good and it lasts a while. I still prefer simply but this one is a close second.
Is this all? I’m sure not, but this is all that I’ve come across. I will definitely keep searching and you’ll be the first ones to find out if I discover a new brand and/or flavor.
In the meantime, if any of you find any that you would like to share, please do!
