Extra is the name of a brand of sugar-free gums. The brand first came into existence in 1984 under a company named Wrigley’s and has been growing ever since.
Extra started its journey with sugar-free spearmint and peppermint gums that gained immense appreciation and popularity. It soon became the number one sugar-free gum brand in the United States and started gaining recognition all over the world.
Does extra gum have sugar?
Extra gum does not have any sugar in it. It contains substitutes for sugar in the form of artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohol. Extra gums are good for keeping your tooth enamel intact and reducing the risks of tooth decay. They are way better than any other gums that are loaded with sugar.
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There are multiple types or flavors or extra gum available in the market. Let’s get to know if all of them are sugar free or not.
Extra Wrigley’s spearmint gum:
Wrigley’s extra spearmint gum became immensely popular right after the first launch due to its unique taste. The freshness of spearmint adds an extra level of goodness to the gum.
The extra spearmint gum has no sugar in it. The beautiful color of this gum comes from natural turmeric and artificial Blue 1 Lake.
Extra peppermint gum:
Extra peppermint gum has a fresh taste that soothes your tongue immediately. Right after the first chew, you will get the exotic taste of fresh peppermint with an amazing sweetness.
Similar to spearmint, it is completely sugar-free. It has a gorgeous color created from artificial Blue 1 Lake.
Extra watermelon gum:
Extra watermelon gum is an extra sweet, sugar-free fruity gum that gained popularity soon after its first launch. It comes with a pretty color and tastes like sweet watermelon.
The fruity taste and texture feel really good. The color of the gum is created with a special mixture of different shades of red pigments.
Extra mint gum:
Extra mint or smooth mint gum has a simple but fresh minty flavor. The refreshing yet crisp taste of the gum will brighten your day in no time. It is sugar-free but contains an ample amount of sweetness from the sweeteners that make it delicious.
Extra polar ice gum:
Extra polar ice gum is the epitome of icy goodness. The cool sensational taste of the gum is unmatched. It has the right amount of sweetness but no sugar in it. It also has mint that adds freshness to the gum.
Extra polar ice gum comes in a beautiful icy color created by mixing Blue 1 lake and titanium dioxide.
How much sugar does extra gum have?
Extra gum contains sugar substitutes instead of real sugar. As per the details provided by the manufacturer, the percentage of pure sugar in extra gum is zero percent.
This is exactly why the gum is loved by so many and used by so many people all over the world.
What is extra gum sweetened with?
Extra gum does not contain any sugar. Instead, it comes with sugar substitutes that bring the sweetness while not containing any real sugar. It takes more than one or two elements to sweeten the extra gum.
Aspartame:
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener derived from aspartic acid and phenylalanine. It is one of the main elements of the extra sugar-free gum to make it sweet without any sugar.
Aspartame is very sweet and said to be 200 times sweeter than pure sugar. It is a widely used sugar substitute in sugar-free or low in sugar food and drinks.
It is so intense that only a little amount can make a product taste incredibly sweet. This is exactly why it can be seen in the ingredients list of a lot of low-calorie food. It has an insignificant impact on blood sugar levels.
Acesulfame K:
Another key sweetening element of the extra sugar-free gum is Acesulfame K, also known as Ace K. It is basically Acesulfame potassium, an artificial sweetener used in low-calorie, sugar-free foods and drinks.
One of the best properties of Acesulfame k is that it can hold its stability under high heat.
This property makes it an ideal sweetener to be used in baked foods. Just like Aspartame, Acesulfame K has insignificant effects on blood sugar levels.
Sorbitol:
Wrigley’s Extra gum has sorbitol in it that adds to the sweetness of the product. Sorbitol, also known as D sorbitol and D glucitol, is a sugar alcohol derived from reducing glucose, mostly corn syrup.
It can also be found in some fruits like peaches, prunes, and apples.
It is a type of carbohydrate that falls into the sugar alcohol category – polyols. Sorbitol is commercially used to add sweetness and texture to some of the packaged foods and drinks that are either labeled as sugarless or low in sugar.
It is not as sweet as sugar but a lot lower in calories.
Mannitol:
Extra gums contain mannitol. Similar to sorbitol, mannitol is also a type of sugar alcohol found in fruits and vegetables. Some common sources include peas, cauliflower, celery, mushrooms, and prunes.
It is poorly absorbed by the small intestines and is quite low in calories compared to sugar. This is why it is considered to be a good element for a lot of packaged foods, medicines, and medicinal products.
Apart from the sweetening elements, the gums also contain flavors (both natural and artificial), pigments, and BHT (preservatives.)
Is Extra gum sugar-free?
Extra gum is sugar-free. There is absolutely no sugar in extra gum even though the gum tastes very sweet. Different types of sweeteners and sugar alcohols are used to make the extra sugar-free gum sweet.
These sugar alcohols are basically a form of carbohydrates with the characteristics of alcohol. They can make the gum sweet but can also be labelled sugar-free.
What kind of gum is sugar-free?
Sugar-free gums are, of course, as the name suggests, free of sugar. But they are still sweet enough thanks to the different types of sweeteners. These sweeteners are either derived from plants and fruits or produced artificially.
The most common sweeteners found in sugar-free gums are aspartame and Acesulfame K.
These are accompanied by a number of sugar alcohols, preservatives, pigments, and flavors. The oral health foundation chooses sugar-free gums over regular gums as they help to increase the flow of saliva and don’t cause decaying of teeth.
Does Extra Sugar-Free gum contain xylitol?
Extra sugar-free gum contains Xylitol. Xylitol is an alcohol with a similar level of sweetness as sugar. It can be naturally found in fruits and vegetables. It is also known as wood sugar as it is derived from birch woods.
Xylitol is a very commonly used element in sugar-free foods and beverages especially sugar-free gums.
Commercially, sorbitol is considered over Xylitol for being available in abundance and lower in price. But you can still find Xylitol as one of the most mentioned elements of sugar-free foods and gums.
Does sugar-free extra gum have aspartame?
Sugar free extra gum contains aspartame. It is one of the primary ingredients in the extra gum that adds sweetness to the product. It is so incredibly sweet that only a little amount can make the gum taste very sweet.
Is Extra gum bad for you?
Too much of anything is bad for health. Chewing gums are no different. Even though extra gum is considered healthy for containing no sugar, chewing too many gums can result in decaying tooth and jaw pain.
Some of the elements used in sugar-free gums can cause diarrhoea, nausea, and headaches in some people. Also, sugar-free gums can cause discomfort in people with IBS by interfering with the digestive system.
The main problem is some of the artificial sweeteners. Too much of them is not good for your health. So extra gum is definitely not bad for you, but too much of it is.
Is extra gum good for your teeth?
Extra gum is actually good for maintaining gum health and tooth enamel, as described by the Oral health foundation.
While chewing too many gums is often associated with decaying of the tooth, the right one in a moderate amount can decrease tooth decaying instead. And the appropriate gum for this has to be a sugar-free one.
Wrigley’s Extra gum, being one of the most appreciated sugar-free gums, can prevent tooth decaying and dental cavities.
As you chew gums, the saliva secreted by your mouth helps to diminish bacteria and strengthen the enamel of your tooth. Extra gum stimulates and elevates the flow of saliva which is considered to be a blessing for good oral health.
Final Thoughts
Extra gums do not contain any sugar. The sweetness in them comes from substitutes like aspartame, Acesulfame K, and some sugar alcohols. Extra gum is better than most other gums available in the market which are jam-packed with sugar. Along with being sugar-free the gums are incredibly tasty.