Chewing a gum may do more than relieve dry mouth or aid indigestion. A new British study says chewing gum can also help patients whose colons were partially or totally removed to recover their intestinal functions sooner. In the trials, patients who chewed sugarless gum for five to 45 minutes three times a day after abdominal surgery were found to pass gas 0.66 day earlier and have a bowel movement 1.10 days earlier than those who didn’t chew gum. Gum chewers also spent less time in the hospital. Gum chewing is believed to stimulate nerves in the digestive system, triggering the release of gastrointestinal hormones that increase salivation and secretions from the pancreas.
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