Is it okay to chew gum or mints and will the salt water interfere w/ weightloss?

[charika]

Hi all :)
I posted this thread in the fasting section, but didn't get any responces. I was just curiuos if anyone in this area and reading this might know the answers to two questions: Is it okay to chew sugar free gum or mints either while fasting or even just while eating raw?
And will the sea salt in the salt water flush thats suggested with the master cleanse cause weight gain or interfere with weight loss? I normally don't like to consume too much salt b/c of water retention and weight gain. If the laxative tea is working is the SWF neccesary? Thanks so much.
Charika:)

[lafsalot]

According to Stanley Burroughs, nothing but the lemonade drinks, water, and laxative teas and/or SWF. I believe he said it was also alright to have an occasional cup of mint tea. As long as you are still moving your bowels, you can drink a cup of the laxative tea in the a.m. in lieu of the SWF. Hope this answers your question ~ Cathy

[faith4u]

It depends upon what you want from raw foods.

Most of the gum out there is loaded with chemicals that we really don't want in our bodies.

The only thing I remember from my gum chewing days (many years ago) is that it would make me feel bloated and gassy. I guess I swallowed quite a bit of air while chewing it all day.

[SmilingRawDancer]

I waiting to find a gum that is made with stevia and natural gums.

Raw or not, I'll chew it...haha

[LaTisha07]

The sea salt will not make you gain. It doesn't react in your body the same way table salt does. The info was in the book although I can't remember exact terms at the moment. The sea salt will really clean your system out. The lax tea may take a few hours but the sea salt works immediately, within 30 mins you will be running to the bathroom (and I do mean running!) Its almost amazing what will come out, lol.

[dreamrawalwz]

Gum and mints stimulate your gastric juices and your stomach will be reay and waiting to for the food. If you don't feed it at that time it'll cause issues. If you're using them to help you from NOT eating, I seriously think you should reconsider that. It's not a good thing to do. It's ultimately your choice, however, if you were fasting I would not touch them at ALL. With fasting you want your stomach and GI tract to shut down and mints/gum will prevent this.

[charika]

Thanks everyone! I feel so much better now having the answers to those questions and concerns answered. I was actually asking about the gum and mints for the purpose of fresh breath :) Maybe I should post a seperate thread just for that- what do you do when you want fresh breath lol Or maybe I should just get out of the years long habbit of even thinking that I need gum for that purpose. I think though that maybe I will try the health food store for that gum with stevia. In any case. Thanks again all:)

[Nurse in the Raw]

I concur about the gum chewing while fasting. Sometimes after surgery we have our patients chew gum to get the digestive system up and going. You want your bowels to completely rest while fasting so its best not to chew gum.