I have a male friend who always swallows his gum. He never spits it out. That's got to be bad for you, isn't it? Does swallowing gum foul up your system?

Dear Concerned,

Thanks for the question.

No, contrary to popular belief (not to mention what your Mom told you), it will not hurt you to swallow gum. It doesn't collect in there for years, waiting to be discovered upon death during your autopsy be a surprised medical student, either.

It simply passes harmlessly out of your body. You wouldn't notice it, unless you would take the time and initiative to collect your poop and dissect it into tiny pieces, like a mini-medical exam gone wrong. I'm not suggesting this action, by the way.

Just forget about it, is what I would advise. Don't worry about gum swallowing; but do try to spit it out on the sidewalk or out the car window like normal people do.

Thanks for asking!

Please be advised that I am only a Poonurse. I am NOT a medical doctor. Any advice I give should be taken moderate skepticism. Please consult a REAL medical doctor if you feel you have a serious medical condition.

-- Poonurse [1]

Poonurse is an RN with 25 years experience in labor and delivery. Her qualifications include seeing a lot of poop, and owning a computer. Also, she works in Michigan, which she calls the asshole of the universe, so that's another bit of credibility. Got a question [2] for her?