8 Best Chewing Gum for Keto Diet (Aspartame & Sugar Free) in 2022 | KetoVale
keto chewing gums

Best Aspartame-Free Chewing Gums For Keto Diet

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Are you looking for keto-friendly gum brands? Did you know that almost all popular brands of sugar-free gum contain artificial sweeteners and chemicals that are bad for your keto lifestyle?

If you’re serious about ketosis, then make sure to read this comprehensive keto chewing gum review until the end to find out what to look for when choosing chewing gums for your low-carb lifestyle as well as the safest, most keto-compliant products.

In a rush?

Should You Chew Gum In The First Place?

Chewing gum doesn’t just help you freshen your breath after meals or deal with the bad keto breath. It also has been shown to help you lose weight, overcome cravings for cigarettes, and manage hunger (1, 2, 3, 4).

One study even found that chewing gum can help you concentrate for longer on tasks that require visual memory tasks while another study found that chewing gum increases your alertness (5, 6).

But, and here's the big but: chewing the wrong kind of gum can increase your risk of getting a cavity due to its high sugar content. And even though you’re not chewing a lot at one time, a small amount can add up. It can even kick you out of ketosis.

Sure, you can chew sugar-free gum, but most brands are loaded with artificial chemicals and aren’t keto friendly.

We’ve put together a list of keto gum brands that are free from aspartame and completely keto-friendly, so you can practice guilt free chewing, have your breath smelling fresh and keep kicking those cravings.

The Problem With Sugar-Free Chewing Gums

If you’re one of those people who only chew sugar-free gum once in a blue moon (like on a date or when you have to be the guest speaker at a work meeting), then you probably have nothing to worry about. 

Most health experts will tell you that the regular kind of gum or the gum that contains sugar is what you really need to look out for because it causes cavities and it affects your blood sugar levels. But even if you’re only an occasional chewer, why not invest in a chewing gum that doesn’t contain harmful ingredients?

For example, here’s a breakdown of the ingredients in a typical sugar-free gum: natural and artificial flavors, glycerol, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, gum base, acesulfame K, aspartame, BHT, sucralose and lecithin.

Sounds pretty innocent, right? Afterall, there’s no high fructose corn syrup or apparent refined sugar. But if you look closely at these ingredients, some of them should be avoided for overall health purpose such as aspartame, BHT, and sucralose (7, 8, 9, 10, 11).

Additionally, many sugar alcohols that are used in sugar-free gum can have a laxative effect or cause gastrointestinal upset. Chewing a lot of it can interfere with nutrient absorption, which might make you feel tired all the time. 

Aspartame is probably the most undesirable ingredient, and probably the most dangerous one, and that’s why we made a list of gums that don’t contain this ingredient (12, 13, 14).

What Does The Science Say?

According to the American Cancer Society, aspartame is broken down into phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and methanol, which is toxic in high amounts, especially in people with rare genetic disorders (15).

A 2017 study that involved nearly 407,000 people found that aspartame was linked to an increased risk of heart disease and an enhanced body mass index (16).

One study even found that aspartame is a “multi-potential carcinogenic compound whose carcinogenic effects are evident even at a daily dose of 20 mg/kg bw, much less than the current ADI for humans in Europe (40 mg/kg bw) and in the United States (50 mg/kg bw)” (17).

This means that aspartame may increase your risk of cancer even if you eat lower amounts than what’s considered a normal intake. Other studies have linked aspartame to the following cancers: liver, lung, brain, prostate, breast and central system cancers (18, 19, 20).

Other research shows that the possible dangers of aspartame don’t stop with cancer. For example, one study found that aspartame alters your gut microbiome and can lead to glucose intolerance even in healthy people who don’t have diabetes (21).

Another study found that aspartame was linked to metabolic syndrome, weight gain, heart disease, and diabetes because of the metabolic disorders it appears to cause (22).

There is even evidence to indicate that aspartame can affect your brain health. A 2014 animal study linked chronic aspartame intake to a distortion of neuronal function and an increase in brain cell death among some regions of the brain (23).

The scary part is that these results occurred even though the rats were fed the FDA approved average daily intake. So even if you’re not overeating sugar-free gum, you could still affect your brain health with average intakes. Other animal studies have found that aspartame is linked to long-term memory loss (24, 25, 26).

Speaking of brain health, did you know that chewing gum with aspartame in it might affect your mood and can even make you depressed (27, 28).

Other scary side effects of aspartame include an increased risk of fibromyalgia, weight gain, premature menstruation, autism, kidney disease, and even aspartame disease, which is a term used to describe a group of conditions that are associated with aspartame intake (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34).

If that’s not enough to make you stop chewing aspartame gum, then we don’t know what is! This is why this aspartame-free gum list is highly recommended on a low carb diet.

What To Look For When Choosing Chewing Gum for Keto?

Finding a sugar-free chewing gum that isn't packed full of chemicals is not impossible, you just have to know what to look for. We’ll let you in on a little secret.

The best gums contain an ingredient called xylitol, which is naturally derived from sugar alcohols and helps keep your teeth healthy.

Because xylitol is found in many fruits and vegetables, it is considered natural and a much better alternative to aspartame.

You also naturally produce a small amount of xylitol in your body during the normal metabolism process. Xylitol is just as sweet as regular table sugar, but it has 40 percent fewer calories.

It can be made from birch trees or processed in a lab using a type of plant fiber called xylan.

Plus, its carbohydrate calories don’t count as “net carbs”, so you don’t have to worry about it raising your blood sugar levels or interfering with ketosis.

Why You Should Chew Xylitol Gum

Studies show that xylitol starves out the bacteria in your mouth that causes cavities and tooth decay, which makes it a perfect ingredient to add to your after-meal gum (35).

Some research even shows that chewing gum that contains xylitol after eating can reduce tooth decay and cavities significantly (36, 37, 38).

Additionally, xylitol has been shown to reduce the occurrence of ear infections in children. It also helps fight yeast infections caused by Candida albicans.

One study found that xylitol starves out the harmful bacteria in your ears much like it does the bacteria in your mouth that causes cavities (39).

Children with recurrent ear infections who chewed xylitol-sweetened gum daily reduced their rate of infection by 40 percent (40).

Similarly, xylitol reduces harmful yeast such as Candida albicans from sticking to a surface and causing infection (41).

Other potential health benefits of xylitol include an increased production of collagen, which can lead to reduced skin aging, and protection against osteoporosis, according to animal studies (42, 43).

Aside from being highly toxic to dogs, xylitol appears to be safe for humans. Of course, you don’t want to eat a ton of it as you might experience digestive upset. Either way, it’s a million times better than chewing on a stick of cancer.

In addition to finding a gum that is sweetened with xylitol, you’ll want to make sure your keto gum does not contain sugar or aspartame of any kind. 

This means that even if the first ingredient in the gum is xylitol, it’s a good idea to check to make sure no other sneaky ingredients are worked into your gum. Your keto gum should contain natural ingredients only, no sugar and no aspartame.

Top Keto-friendly Chewing Gum Brands

To save you time, we’ve researched the best keto-friendly chewing gums with the lowest net carbs out there and put together a list to help you replace your old sugar-free stache stat.

#1. PUR Gum

Our #1 Choice for Keto

PUR Gum

PUR Gum is made with all natural, keto-friendly ingredients, including xylitol, gum base, gum arabic, glycerol, natural flavors, carnauba wax, and tocopherols. That’s it! 

This gum comes in six different flavors that include spearmint, peppermint, pomegranate mint, cinnamon, wintermint, and cool mint.

You’ll find some different ingredients among the different flavors, but all of them are completely natural and good for you.

For example, the spearmint flavor contains white tea, and the pomegranate mint flavor contains pomegranate powder, which both have antioxidant properties.

It’s even Amazon’s choice for aspartame-free gum. You'll want to buy this gum in bulk and switch up the flavors so you're never bored.

Pros

  • Contains no aspartame
  • Comes in six different flavors
  • Amazon’s choice for aspartame-free gum
  • Contains natural antioxidant properties, such as pomegranate and white tea
  • A good source of xylitol
  • Helps prevent cavities and supports gum health

Cons

  • Some flavors don’t last long


Where to buy: Click here!

#2. Spry Gum

Spry contains no artificial flavors or sweeteners, such as aspartame.

It also comes in a really yummy bubble gum flavor. So if you’re looking for a gum that actually tastes like bubblegum, this is it. 

Here is a list of its keto-approved ingredients: xylitol, gum base, natural flavors, gum arabic, calcium carbonate, sunflower lecithin, stevia, carnauba wax, spearmint oil.

Spry xylitol gum also contains spearmint oil to aid in flavor and contribute to a long list of health benefits, including nerve and muscle spasm support, relief from digestive problems and headaches, brain stimulation, and relief from respiratory problems.

Keep a bottle in your car and one at your desk to make sure you have fresh breath all day.

Pros

  • Uses calcium carbonate instead of calcium phosphate
  • Uses real spearmint oil for flavor and additional health benefits
  • Provides a good source of xylitol
  • Available in a big jar so you don’t run out
  • Dentist recommended
  • Comes in several different flavors
  • Aspartame-free

Cons

  • Flavor doesn't last very long

Where to buy: Click here!

#3. Peppersmith

Rounding out our list of keto-friendly gums that don’t contain aspartame is Peppersmith Peppermint Chewing Gum.

You can use it to keep your teeth clean and healthy even when your toothbrush is at home. Peppersmith gum contains no aspartame and is completely natural.

Ingredients include xylitol, gum base, english peppermint oil, natural menthol, gum arabic, sunflower lecithin, vegetable glycerol, and carnauba wax.

This brand of chewing gum has a couple of advantages over the rest.

First, it contains peppermint oil, which is great for freshening the breath and alleviating digestive upset. It also has antiviral and antimicrobial properties, which is a pretty impressive ingredient to put in gum.

Next, this gum contains the preferred source of lecithin in the form of sunflower (not soy) lecithin, so you’re getting a healthier version.

Finally, this gum has natural menthol, which is a form of peppermint oil so you’re getting a double dose of all the health benefits that peppermint has to offer. 

Plus, the company offers a money back guarantee after 30 days if you’re not satisfied with the gum. Chew on, friends!

Pros

  • Better ingredients than other brands, include two forms of peppermint and sunflower (not soy) lecithin
  • Can be returned
  • Free shipping on the company’s website
  • Aspartame-free
  • Contains a good source of xylitol

Cons

  • A little bit expensive

Where to buy: Click here!

#4. XyloBurst

XyloBurst is another brand of aspartame-free gum that contains a good source of xylitol. 

According to the manufacturer's website, each piece of gum contains over one gram of xylitol, and they recommend eating six to eight grams a day. It’s also gluten-free and made with non-GMO ingredients.

One of the nice things about this gum is that it contains cinnamon oil, which has been shown to boost brain health, help purify the blood, improve blood flow, relieve pain naturally, aid in weight loss, help control diabetes, treat infections and prevent colon cancer (44). Not a bad way to fresh your breath!

Although the lecithin in this gum is derived from soy, it’s made from non-GMO ingredients, which is at least a little better than non-GMO soy lecithin.

Research shows that soy lecithin does contain some health benefits, such as boosting immunity and improving cognitive function (45, 46).

Sunflower lecithin is the preferred ingredient in this case, but it probably wouldn’t make your gum taste too good, so we understand why it’s commonly used here.

This brand comes in ten different flavors all together, which makes it a great gum to put in your keto-friendly rotation with your teeth and gums in mind. It also contains the preferred source of calcium.

Pros

  • Contains calcium carbonate instead of calcium phosphate
  • Provides over one gram of xylitol in each piece of gum
  • Comes in ten different flavors
  • Dentist recommended
  • Aspartame-free
  • Contains natural flavors, such as cinnamon oil

Cons

  • Contains soy lecithin, which some people might not prefer on strict keto

Where to buy: Click here!

#5. Epic Dental

At 1.06 grams of xylitol per piece, Epic xylitol gum contains 45 percent more xylitol than other brands, according to the brand’s website. This makes Epic Dental gum the king of xylitol!

Why is this important? As stated above, xylitol helps prevent tooth decay, so chewing a few sticks per day can help make your dentist happy.

Plus, it doesn’t contain any aspartame.

It’s available in eight different flavors, so you don’t get bored by chewing the same kind, including bubblegum, cinnamon, spearmint, wintermint, peppermint, and orange-mango, just to name a few. That means you can enjoy a new flavor every day of the week (plus one).

Pros

  • Contains more xylitol than any other brand of sugar-free gum
  • Comes in eight different flavors
  • Aspartame-free
  • Easy to travel with
  • Some reviewers claim that this brand’s flavor lasts longer than others
  • May help with dry mouth

Cons

  • Contains soy lecithin (sunflower lecithin is best!) and titanium dioxide, which is possibly carcinogenic (44)

Where to buy: Click here!

#6. Xylichew

Xylichew contains Birch xylitol extracted sustainably from forests in the United States. The company is based in Arizona. 

Ingredients include xylitol, vegetable glycerin, gum base, natural spearmint flavors, and a few other natural stabilizers. It contains 0 calories per stick and is free from gluten and GMOs. It’s also kosher and is suitable for vegans.

This gum comes in seven different flavors: cinnamon, spearmint, fruit, ice mint, licorice, peppermint, and pomegranate raspberry. 

Pros

  • Made from non GMO ingredients
  • Made in the USA from xylitol that comes from sustainable forests in the US
  • Gluten-free and does not contain aspartame or other artificial sweeteners
  • Contains no titanium dioxide 
  • May help keep your mouth clean and prevent cavities
  • Comes in a 12 count or a 60 count 

Cons

  • Some reviewers claim that this gum makes them gassy or feel bloated, which can be a common side effect of xylitol if you’re not used to it.

Where to buy: Shop Now!

#7. SteviaDent

SteviaDent is a low-carb chewing gum that is sweetened with both xylitol and organic stevia. 

According to the website, SteviaDent was created by founder Oscar Rodes, who wanted a natural and sugar-free gum to give his grandchildren.

The gum comes in a pack of 12 and there are five flavors you can choose from: cinnamon, peppermint, wintergreen, fruit, and spearmint. 

SteviaDent states that they get their organic stevia directly from Brazil where it’s harvested. This ensures that you get great taste. 

We like that Oscar was raised on a farm in Brazil and is dedicated to protecting the rights of farmers there!

Pros

  • Sweetened with organic stevia sourced from Brazil
  • The company supports small farmers
  • Does not promote tooth decay

Cons

  • It is sweetened with sorbitol and maltitol, which are sugar alcohols that may cause digestive upset

Where to buy: Shop Now!

#8. B-Fresh Breath Freshening Gum

B Fresh Gum contains xylitol, natural spearmint flavor, vitamin B12, gum base, gum arabic, and two forms of calcium as preservatives. 

We like that these ingredients are about as natural as it comes for sugar-free chewing gum. The gum comes in three different flavors, including cinnamon, spearmint, and lemon. 

According to the website, the gum will help support your mouth’s pH levels by raising it to 9-11 due to the inclusion of vitamin B12 and calcium in the ingredients. This can help you fight oral bacteria that contributes to bad breath and cavities.

Pros

  • Made in the USA
  • Contains xylitol as its sweetener to help fight oral bacteria
  • Features calcium and vitamin B12 
  • Helps reduce bad breath and supports oral health
  • Eliminates bad bacteria in the mouth
  • No gluten or soy
  • Diabetic safe

Cons

  • Can be more expensive than other brands of sugar-free gum

Where to buy: Shop Now!


Conclusion

Chewing sugar-free gum is a great way to freshen your breath and reduce your risk of cavities after meals. But most store-bought brands of sugar-free gum contain dangerous ingredients, including aspartame, which has been linked to cancer and a host of other unpleasant side effects. If you don’t chew sugar-free gum, then you’re at risk of exposing yourself to unwanted carbs and getting kicked out of ketosis.

We’ve put together a list of the top keto-friendly gums that contain xylitol, which is a natural sweetener with a long list of health benefits. Research shows that chewing xylitol-containing gum after meals helps reduce cavities and gum disease.

If xylitol content is important to you, choose a gum from our list that contains over one gram, which is a lot for gum. We encourage you to try the top 3 brands on this list to find the one that you like best for your keto diet.

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