MRE gum and tabasco sauce = laxatives

Eddo36 · Post by **Eddo36** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:57 pm

Well, I guess the purpose of the gum is to make you poop, otherwise it would stay in your system for a long time.

Post by **kman** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:41 am

Eddo36 · Post by **Eddo36** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 3:53 pm

You know that when you eat an MRE, it stays in your system for a long long time. Chewing the gum that comes with it makes it easier to make it come out faster.

dirtbag · Post by **dirtbag** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:08 pm

The new gum has caffiene in it.
The old gum is just gum.
Neither one is a laxative.
Nuff said!

Eddo36 · Post by **Eddo36** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:31 pm

I got this from wikipedia.

Their low dietary fiber content could cause constipation in some so they were also known as "Meals Refusing to Exit". Many believe that the gum found in MREs contains a laxative but it does not – the crackers in the ration pack contains a higher than normal vegetable content to facilitate excretion.

Well honestly, when I was in boot camp, everyone kept telling me that the gum and tabasco sause are laxatives. Now I honestly don't know which one is right. Is there proof that it is or isn't a laxative?

Halger280HVMag · Post by **Halger280HVMag** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:57 pm

Fifty years ago, I remember being assured that the food served in Army Kitchens contained Saltpeter.

I was assured that this would quell my amorous ardors, and keep my energy levels high, so that I could be a better soldier....

I believe that every boot camp, in every Army, has similar stories told to gulible recruits.

Jaylo · Post by **Jaylo** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:04 am

All sugar-free gum can potentially be laxative in it's effect, not just the stuff in MREs.

Sorbitol is a synthetic sweetner most commonly used in sugar free chewing gum. It has laxative effects if eaten in quantity and you'll find on the back of your sugar-free gum pack some mention of this effect.....People commonly suffer from this when trying to quit smoking and they are munching packet after packet of gum as a 'placebo' for the smoking action.

Even in an individual sensitive to Sorbitol I seriously doubt that 2 pellets will have a major effect on your digestion. ;

jtv3062 · Post by **jtv3062** » Fri May 12, 2006 10:04 pm

at MCRDSD while on mess week I was a vampire (cooking and preping for the next days meals) the DI told us to tell the recruits that there was saltpeter in the food. got alot of crazy looks that day.

CaptBob · Post by **CaptBob** » Fri May 12, 2006 10:34 pm

Eddo36 wrote:Well, I guess the purpose of the gum is to....

Actually, the purpose of the gum is to clean your teeth and mouth.

Chewing gum stimulates saliva production which helps remove food particles.

And now, Xylitol, a sugar substitute used in many chewing gums, has been proven to reduce plaque.

Plus, you can use it to plug up holes in your tent or shelter if it begins raining!

--CaptBob

Richard w. · Post by **Richard w.** » Sat May 13, 2006 7:18 am

I heard the saltpeter in the food rumor at FT Benning when I was a recruit in 1983.

If it was true, they certainly weren't using enough. I was "pitching a tent" every morning. (17 years old and full of hormones.)

MRE gum and tabasco sauce = laxatives

MRE gum and tabasco sauce = laxatives

Re: MRE gum and tabasco sauce = laxatives