Does sugar-free gum break a fast?

One popular sugar-free gum's label lists 5 kcal a piece, and another brand's smaller pieces come to about 3 kcal each, both with 0 g of sugar. The sweetness comes from sugar alcohols such as xylitol or sorbitol. Six pieces through a fast come to about 18 to 30 kcal, and ten 5 kcal pieces reach 50.

The site's own four goals all rate sugar-free gum grey. The calories sit well under the 50-calorie rule of thumb for weight loss, which has no official status. The grey comes from the sweet taste, as for every sweetener in the database. Chewing real food can set off a small early insulin release. In one study, tasting sweet drinks did not, and nobody has tested gum.

Large amounts of sugar alcohols act as a laxative. In the EU, foods with over 10% added polyols must warn that excessive consumption may produce laxative effects. A few pieces are unlikely to come near that. Pack after pack through a long fast can cause wind and loose stools.