Does chewing cornstarch make you gain calories if not swallowed?

Chewing cornstarch and spitting it out does not directly add calories to your diet. Calories are only consumed when food is digested and absorbed by the body. Since chewed cornstarch is not swallowed, it does not undergo the digestive process, and therefore, does not contribute to calorie intake.

Here's a breakdown of the process:

1. Chewing: When you chew cornstarch, your saliva breaks down the starch into smaller molecules, primarily dextrins. However, this breakdown is limited to the mouth, and the cornstarch remains in its undigested form.

2. Swallowing: For calories to be consumed, the food needs to be swallowed and enter the digestive system. When chewed cornstarch is spit out, it doesn't enter the digestive tract and is discarded.

3. Digestion: Calorie absorption occurs during digestion. Undigested cornstarch in the mouth is not exposed to the enzymes and acids in the stomach and intestines that are necessary for the breakdown and absorption of carbohydrates into glucose (a source of energy).

Therefore, chewing and spitting out cornstarch does not result in calorie consumption because the body does not process or absorb the nutrients from it. However, it's worth noting that any residue left in your mouth after spitting may contain a negligible amount of calories, but it is likely insignificant in terms of overall calorie intake.