Trident Gum

[blueeyedmanda]

Hi Everyone,

My cubie mate at work and I are gum addicts and in the hospital cafeteria they sell Dentyne flavors, we usually stick with that. At the store the other day I saw some neat Trident flavors, so I picked up this watermelon flavor and then original bubble gum flavor.

Well on Tuesday after a long afternoon at work, I got crampy at about 4:10...I hung on until 4:30, On the way home I didn't know what was going to happen, throw up or the "D". Well, I almost did not make it to the bathroom. I didn't have anything for lunch that was bad. No afternoon snacks. I had gotten my monthly friend that evening (the first since my IVF surgery so the 1st is the most uncomfortable) I brushed my sick spell off as that.

Today after lunch, I am chewing the gum and got the feeling again...gassy and crampy. At once I spit the gum out, and I put two and two together. The gum was the last thing I had on Tues. So I once again look at the ingredients. Nothing looks bad, gluten wise. I did see something strange Phenylalanine. Now I usually always chewed bubble gum but with the braces, I am into the

"dental gum" Anyway...I do a google search for Phenylalanine and see it is a chemical that causes all sorts of side effects. I never paid attention to things like this before.

My questions to you guys, cause I probably look so dumb right now, is do you guys have any problems with this gum? If you do chew gum what do you usually buy?

[psawyer]

Phenylalanine is a component in some artificial sweetners, including Aspartame (Nutrasweet). In some people it can cause a reaction similar to what you describe. It is not a source of gluten.

[Clark Bent as Stupor-Man]

as psawyer said, phenylalinine has nothing to do with gluten, it just indicates that aspartame is in the product... all sugar free products will have some type of substitute whether it's aspartame, sucralose, xylitol, etc.

do you drink diet soda or crystal light? if you do, they likely have aspartame as well and if you don't have a similar reaction to them then I'm not sure that the aspartame in the gum is necessarily linked to the reactions you've had recently... with that being said, I would avoid aspartame and sucralose (splenda) anyway as they are dangerous additives... a friend's wife who has no food allergies had her headaches go away after she stopped drinking crystal light... after learning about aspartame, I actually removed it from my diet prior to going gluten-free...

if you're going to chew a sugar-free gum, I'd pick one without sucralose or aspartame... only gum I've had for a while is glee gum, which has sugar... many sugar free gums have soy lecithin, which I can't have but you should be able to find sugar-free ones that are better alternatives to the gums with aspartame and sucralose

[blueeyedmanda]

Thanks guys,

I really did not think it was a gluten thing, my gluten reactions are actually different than what happened the other day,

I actually don't drink diet drinks or crystal light. I am an iced tea person, and when it is soda it is either Coke or 7-up.

It wasn't that I choose a sugar free gum for that reason, the flavor looked good so I picked it up. I am not exactly a sugar conscience person

Thanks again. I appreciate your help.

[tarnalberry]

you'll find few gums that aren't sugar free, unfortunately.

[blueeyedmanda]

you'll find few gums that aren't sugar free, unfortunately.

I am not really a big sugar free person anyway.

[Guhlia]

Phenylalanine doesn't give me a problem. It's in lots of things. I'd venture to guess that you've probably had it before and not even known it. Every once in a while I get a nauseous spell like that for no reason. Generally around that time of the month. Maybe that's what happened to you. Though, if you think you may be sensitive to it, I would steer clear until you have a day to try something else and see if that's what caused your reaction. I hope you're feeling much better now.

[stillframe]

hi.

i was wondering if, having celiac, i could have splenda/sucralose. i have heard mixed things.

thanks so much.

[jerseyangel]

hi.

i was wondering if, having celiac, i could have splenda/sucralose. i have heard mixed things.

thanks so much.

Splenda is gluten-free

[blueeyedmanda]

I have got to update you guys on this. I gave all the gum to my coworker, I just don't feel like chewing that anymore. I picked up some packs of Bubble Yum and gave all the trident to my buddy. So yesterday afternoon she had opened a piece and within 15 minutes said...Amanda oh my gosh you're right. She dashed down the hall to the bathroom. When she returned she told me she barely had any warning and all of a sudden the "D" hit.

I saw her throw the gum in the trash. Isn't it strange.

[nikki-uk]

Another ingredient gums nearly always have is Sorbitol which can cause the dreaded 'd' (coeliac or otherwise)

[stillframe]

could some one tell me which sugar substitutes have gluten and which ones do not? there seems to be discrepancies. i would really appreciate it

[NoGluGirl]

could some one tell me which sugar substitutes have gluten and which ones do not? there seems to be discrepancies. i would really appreciate it

Dear stillframe,

I use Splenda, and Sweet'n Low. They are safe. As long as you are not in Canada, maltodextrin is derived from corn. In the U.S. we are okay with those. It can get confusing. I hope this answers your question.

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl

[oceangirl]

Dear stillframe,

I use Splenda, and Sweet'n Low. They are safe. As long as you are not in Canada, maltodextrin is derived from corn. In the U.S. we are okay with those. It can get confusing. I hope this answers your question.

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl

I just have to tell you. ABSOLUTELY those sugar-free gums with sorbitol or aspartame cause those hideous symptoms! WAY before I went gluten-free I figured that out and I am not surprised to hear this has happened to you and your co-worker. I wouldn't touch any of those sugar-free products with a ten-foot pole. Just one of those little tiny mints with that in it will get me. So sorry you're sick and hope you find a good old sugary gum soon!

lisa

[blueeyedmanda]

Lisa-

I picked up some good ole Bubble Yum classic. So we have been blowing huge bubbles and popping them at work...Bubble Yum at least doesn't have us running for the bathroom

[stillframe]

sorry to be so confused--sorbitol and asparame have gluten--or jsut cause symptoms similar? and this is not the case with splenda and swwet n' low, right?--in the latter two--no gluten and/or no symptoms?

thanks so much

Lisa-

I picked up some good ole Bubble Yum classic. So we have been blowing huge bubbles and popping them at work...Bubble Yum at least doesn't have us running for the bathroom

[blueeyedmanda]

There is no gluten, they just cause similar symptoms.

[Rachel--24]

I havent chewed gum in about 4 years because I was getting severe neurological symptoms from the Aspartame.

Its a neurotoxin....it causes alot more than "d". Glad you decided to toss it...it truelly is toxic to our bodies.

The other night on the news they were talking about how Alzheimers is now diagnosed every 78 seconds. One out of eight people over the age of 65 develops Alzheimers. I firmly believe that its because of chemicals like Aspartame and MSG that this is happening.

Also if you have amalgam fillings you are exposed to mercury on a daily basis...this makes it even harder for your body to deal with other neurotoxins such as Aspartame and MSG. Consumption of these toxins also can cause you to become more sucsepitible to the mercuy.....there is only so much our bodies can handle.

We werent designed to be able to cope with these neurotoxins all day everyday. If your body is giving you warning signs....it would be wise to listen.

[Rachel--24]

I am not really a big sugar free person anyway.

Most gum is sugar-free and contains artificial sweeteners like Aspartame. I was never a sugar-free person.....nor did I consume diet products.....some things like gum are just hard to find w/out the chemicals.

[jerseyangel]

I always enjoyed gum--when I was still working, it was kind of like you, Amanda--my co-worker and I would always have some kind of gum, and share.

After I went gluten-free and my food intolerances made themselves known, I had a hard time finding gum that agreed with me. I missed it

I now chew Glee Gum--not every day, but once in a while. I like the mint--

Open Original Shared Link

[blueeyedmanda]

Patti-

Thanks for the info. I will look into that. I think sometimes we chew gum to make the day go by faster, now there is a thought

Rachel-I never drank diet drinks either...not my cup of tea.

[NoGluGirl]

Dear jerseyangel,

Thanks for the link. I have put it in my favorites. Right now, I am chewing Extra Sugar Free Bubble Gum. My trouble is, my teeth are really crooked, and I chew it to help calm my stomach. Many other kinds of gum I tried stuck to my teeth. This one is the only brand that has not.

Dear Rachel,

I am aware that ADD, ADHD and neurotoxic reactions have occurred with artificial sweeteners. The thing is, I have heard the same about refined sugar in the case of Alzheimer's. I feel that mercury and aluminum poisoning are the leading causes of Alzheimer's, but transfats play a role, too. Other chemicals also can have these effects, but I feel it is an individualized thing. One size certainly does not fit all when it comes to health.

I read that xylitol, although natural, can cause stomach cramps and diarrhea along with bloating when it is consumed in 5 to 10 mg amounts. I kind of wonder if that adds to my bloating, nausea, and stomach discomfort. I do not bloat as much from Coca Cola Classic as I do from Diet Coke. I do not feel it is a coincidence there, and I am sure you do not either!

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl

[mandasmom]

Lisa-

I picked up some good ole Bubble Yum classic. So we have been blowing huge bubbles and popping them at work...Bubble Yum at least doesn't have us running for the bathroom

Malitol makes food taste great but causes huge GI symptoms in many folks--celiac or not!!

[anerissara]

I've been wondering about gum myself...I think I may react badly to xylitol and manitol (spelled those wrong, I think) but I *love* chewing gum because it helps my jaw. Sigh. I do notice when I chew a lot of it my D gets worse. I'll have to look up the glee gum, but I hesitate to chew gum with sugar because of my teeth....hmmm, i wish they made something with stevia or some other, safer sweetener!