Product Review: Glee Gum

Once upon a time I used to be a gum chewer. And then I became sugar alcohol sensitive; a huge problem since 99% of chewing gums on the market are sweetened with sorbitol, xylitol and the like. One mint or sip of sugar free coffee and my stomach is tightened into the kind of knot a sailor would be proud of. While xylitol sweetened gums are a great option for those who are not sugar alcohol sensitive and can even promote great dental health, it's not an option for me. Enter my knight in shining armor: Glee Gum. Glee contacted me about sampling their products and I was so happy to find a real sugar sweetened gum, we lived hapily ever after. Here's why:

•  Glee Gum is the first fair trade gum! This guarantees that the can sugar sweetening my digestive system can appreciate meets the social, economic and environmental standards set by Fairtrade International.
• Glee Gum is colored with natural colors. Really natural...like red beets, black carrot, and black currant juice. No red 40!
• It's eco friendly! Glee gum is the only North American gum still made with natural chicle, or tree sap. The sap is harvested sustainably and the worth of the trees keeps them from being harvested for lumber.
• Glee Gum is a dietitian's dream for clients. It's vegetarian, GMO free, additive free, dairy free, wheat free, gluten free, egg free, nut free, and soy free.

While I love gum as an on the run quick breath freshener, I also love it as an eating awareness tool. For those who are constantly baking, recipe testing, at a party with a variety of canapés, and those who have a tendency to keep snacks around their desk...sometimes we don't eat intuitively. A nibble here, a bite there and suddenly we've eaten something we aren't hungry for. Having gum in your mouth is a check point to ask yourself if you really are hungry or want what you're about to snack on.

Go forth sugar alcohol sensitive gum chewers- purchase the tangerine flavor!

-Carlene RD

Disclosure: The fabulous group at Glee asked me if I wanted to test the gum. I said yes. They sent me samples and I wrote this. Our loving relationship was in no way paid for.