It dawned on me that, through my posts, I may appear to live some uber healthy life – crunching on raw kale salads, running until my toenails turn blue, drowning myself in antioxidant-rich green tea, and hanging out upside on my yoga mat. While all of that may be true, I have a few habits that don’t fit under the same umbrella. I’m human.
So, what is my least healthiest habit?
CHEWING GUM. Addicted, I tell you. I formed this habit back in high school and have been an investor in Orbit peppermint gum ever since. Thousands and thousands of pieces chewed. My car is permanently perfumed with the blue pack’s sweet smell.
I’m guessing my dentist wouldn’t support this habit, but besides the fact that it’s probably not ideal for my oral health – I honestly do not know – I’m ingesting artificial chemicals every day!
READ: Aspartame is, by far, the most dangerous substance on the market that is added to foods.
I think of myself as purist when it comes to my diet… whether that’s good or bad is controversial. I feel hypocritical against my philosophy to avoid the word “artificial” and ingredient lists with words that are difficult to pronounce when I unwrap each piece of – breath-freshening, mouth-entertaining – sticky chemicals.
The first step in overcoming any addiction is to admit you have a problem.
There, I did it. The Nutrition Nut’s unhealthiest habit… or one of ‘em ;)
Now what? Help!
xo Hill
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I used to be a major gum-chewer, but had to stop when I got IBS (too much air gets swallowed). I was finally able to really kick the habit, even though it caused me pain, when it turned out I had an allergic reaction to cinnamon gum. I usually stick to mint but went with cinnamon one week for some reason. Anyway, it made my tongue swell, bleed, and lose feeling. It was terribly painful and I had to have oral anesthetics just so that I could eat!
I have no idea what my least healthy habit is. Probably that I should floss more. I do it MAYBE once a month. Bad. Oops!
I’ve never been a huge gum person but, if you’re going to chew gum, try chewing one with xylitol. I’ve read that’s pretty good for teeth. I’ve been using a xylitol mouthwash and it’s totally helped me! :)
One thing that has helped me chew less gum is to tear the piece in half when you eat it and save the other half for later in the day. That way you are chewing gum twice, but only eating one piece :) Also, just not carrying it around with you helps.
i have the same nasty addiction. i switched to dentyne. :)
& why dentyne?
i do what nicole does! 1/2 a piece at a time.
also, try trident… i’m not sure of all of its ingredients, but i know it has xylitol which likely replaces aspartame. the blue (original flavor) and orange (tropical twist flavor) packs are my fav!
i have a similar problem! except it’s not with gum… it’s with diet mountain dew. honestly, i’m addicted and drink way too much of it a day. and there’s aspartame in it. and i want to stop! but once a new day rolls around… i c r a v e it… and it tastes so refreshing and good! maybe your solution to your gum addiction will help me with my dew addiction?
I had the same issue with Diet Dr. Pepper! I finally kicked the habit. I have carbonated water or Zevia in place of it. Zevia is sweetened with Stevia and it has the same refreshing taste. It’s still not the best, but it’s better than the normal diet version! You can get Zevia at Whole Foods and there are lots of different flavors. Here is the website: http://www.zevia.com/
thank you SO much maggie! i can’t wait to try it. first steps towards recovery :)
I buy that same Orbit gum, but I only chew gum when I’m driving and I’m super tired. I try to forget that they have aspartame in them… so I don’t feel so guilty. haha
Thanks for coming clean! It is nice to see the humanity and hear others’ struggles.
I used to chew a lot of Glee gum — you can get it at Whole Foods. I am doing a 21-day sugar detox, so I can’t have it right now. Let me warn you, though, everyone I have given Glee gum to hasn’t been that wild about it! It takes at least two pieces to even have enough to chew and the texture is a bit “different”, but I really enjoy it!
I LOVE GUM! I find if I chew gum I’m less likely to mindlessly snack, especially on candy. But I definitely see your point about the chemicals…yuck!
I used to love chewing gum and more than once I was ‘that girl’ in class who – when I found out someone had gum – asked if I could pleasee have a piece. I, too, quit because of the chemicals and it was cold turkey. I’m sure you brush your teeth, for some reason getting really minty (I use toms) toothpaste satiated my gum desire. And, once I found out what was in it… it just did not appeal to me anymore. Good luck!
… my least healthy habit is comparing myself to others, but I work/am working really hard to overcome that :)
We ARE twins! :) I have the same bad habit, but with Orbit White Bubblemint. :) In fact, I’m chewing it right now. Guilty! I have cut way back though. I usually pop in a piece to avoid snacking at night. At that point, I feel like the one piece of gum is better than a lot of mindless munching at night. On other occasions, I try to refrain from chewing. I do this by reading the label before I put the piece in my mouth. That way, I have to think about all of the chemicals I would be consuming before I decide to put it in my mouth. 9 times out of 10 I will say no after looking at the scary list of ingredients. Hope this helps!
I chew gum all the time!! Haha I never really thought it as unhealthy actually…
I cut out gum completely for a while there because I was freaked out by all the chemicals, too. Now if I want it, I buy the Xylitol brand. It’s more expensive, but I don’t chew as much, so it works out. :)
I wish that was my least healthy habit!
I am a gum chewer but usually only when I know I have the munchies and I’m not actually hungry or when I’m nervous. I HAVE to chew gum before and when I’m coaching a basketball game. I get all twitchy without it. But my worst habit has to be the Diet Coke. I don’t drink an obscene amount a day or anything, but I really need to cut back.
I guess if you aren’t swallowing the gum, how bad can it be? Right?
My worst habit is drinking my weight in diet coke. I haven’t had any in the house so I’m forced to drink water or tea and it helps, but man, that sweet nectar is so freaking delicious!
Unfortunatley, I believe you are still ingesting all of the chemicals through chewing (chewing is a part of the digestion/absorption of nutrients).
Well damn.
I am definitely guilty of that same habit! I am the go-to gum girl, I’ve always got multiple packs in my bag – never know if it’s a minty or fruity kind of day ;P
Uh! I feel you on this one. Sometimes I chew so much gum, my jaw hurts. My boyfriend got me a giant Costco size Orbit gum pack for Christmas just to make fun of me for how much I eat. I have tried to stop, and actually have significantly cut back, but it’s super hard and once I purchase a pack, it is gone within a day. I chew a pack a day! :)
I think the easiest way to kick the habit is to not buy it! Then you can’t chew it.
I find this post rather interesting as I myself used to be an avid gum chewer. Have you tried ice? It’s not great for your teeth but sure beats the aspartame! As for unhealthy habits, I would have to say that I have a problem with Diet Coke when I’m at a restaurant and my friends are drinking soda as well. It’s absolutely awful for your body but somehow tastes so great.
Fun fact: Did you know that some breads, including 7 grain breads, have high fructose corn syrup in them? Well, neither did I until I read a label on the bread my mother purchased!
HFCS is everywhere, girlie!
Guilty! I am such an addicted gum chewer! I am a dental hygiene student and I always get gum with “xylitol” in it because it is a cavity preventer and I mean, how easy is it to pop a piece in after a coffee or sugary snack to prevent cavities? BUT, I feel sooo guilty everytime I finish a pack because it IS artificial ingredients! I try to limit my diet to more pure foods with less ingredients, so this goes against everything I work for! I kind of feel that when we’re older, they’re going to be the new cigarettes! Haha, maybe I’m crazy, but I feel that way about soda and gum.