In the context of energy in food, if you chew gum but do not swallow it, do the calories from the gum count toward your energy intake?

• A. Yes; the gum base is fully digested in the stomach even if you do not swallow it.
• B. No; chewing gum uses enough energy that it cancels out any calories from the gum regardless of ingredients.
• C. Mostly no; if you spit it out, only a small amount of carbohydrate/sugar alcohols dissolved in saliva is absorbed, so most of the gum base calories are not counted.
• D. Yes; all calories listed on the label are absorbed through the mouth even if you spit the gum out.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that calories in food are counted based on the amount of energy absorbed by the body after digestion and metabolism.
2. Recognize that when chewing gum but not swallowing it, the gum base itself is not ingested and therefore not digested or absorbed in the stomach or intestines.
3. Note that only a small amount of carbohydrates or sugar alcohols dissolved in saliva during chewing may be absorbed through the mouth lining, contributing minimally to energy intake.
4. Realize that the majority of the gum base calories are not absorbed because the gum is not swallowed, so these calories do not count toward your total energy intake.
5. Conclude that the energy expenditure from chewing is minimal and does not offset the calories in the gum; thus, the main factor is whether the gum is swallowed or spit out.