Here's What Actually Happens When You Swallow Gum

At this point in your life, you've probably swallowed so much chewing gum that your nickname might as well be Bubblelicious or Juicy Fruit or Big Red. OK, maybe that's just me (call me Bubble Yum!), but admit it -- you've probably swallowed the stuff at least a few times as a kid, only to be fed the myth that it'll be stuck in your stomach for years. Fortunately, this is not what actually happens, as explained in a new video from Reactions.

The new video features a helpful breakdown of the chemistry and mechanics of digestion in hopes of bursting the misinformation you've been told like a dangerously swollen bubblegum bubble, minus the sticky aftermath. Although the rubber in your gum might not be fully digested, it almost certainly won't end up lodged in your stomach for seven years. In fact, there are several other foods you probably eat all the time that your body simply can't break down all the way -- from dairy products to fruits and vegetables -- but common thought doesn't claim these things will stick around after you eat them. That's because, just like gum, they don't. You can probably guess what happens to it instead, or you can go ahead and check out the video for more.

Spoiler alert: you poop it out! Duh!

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Tony Merevick is Cities News Editor at Thrillist and doesn't remember the last time he swallowed gum, but feels like it can't have been too long ago. Send news tips to news@thrillist.com and follow him on Twitter @tonymerevick.