Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I thought I'd ask this because I haven't found a lot of info on it thus far... A post I read on PaNu mentioned tribal people chewing on leaves and bark etc., which made me think of asking this, and it just seems that humans like chewing on things for entertainment, from what I've read about people in ancient civilizations and tribes chewing different types of wax and tree gum and stuff. I dunno about everybody else here, but I like chewing on stuff! But even "natural" chewing gum has artificial sweeteners or sugar in it, which I want to avoid.

So, what would be a good natural thing to chew on, that would be accessible for someone today? I've read stuff about birch and spruce resin being chewed but I have no clue where/how I would get them. Maybe beeswax? Thoughts?

flag	asked Jan 13 2011 at 23:25 Ika 61●1●2

Ian · Answer 1 · 2011-01-13 23:28:28Z UTC

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okay, I used to chew on pine tree sap/resin when I was a kid out cutting firewood with my dad. It tastes bitter for the first 15 20 minutes but then levels out and just tastes piney and delicious.

from what I have heard it won't hurt you.

cheers.

answered Jan 13 2011 at 23:28

Ian
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So, how exactly do you get pine sap off the trees? I remember always getting it in my hair when I used to climb pine trees up at my parents cabin, but I never saw where on the trees it came from LOL – Ika Jan 13 2011 at 23:37

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usually you can find it in globs on the tree , of break off a branch and wait. you can find pine sap gum on the internet. – Ian Jan 14 2011 at 1:40

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pine needles are crazy high in vitamin C. – Stephen-Aegis Jan 14 2011 at 9:49

Yum, pine needles sound good! I always like breaking them off to smell them :) – Ika Jan 14 2011 at 17:51

Karen · Answer 2 · 2011-01-14 02:35:09Z UTC

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You can chew the resin of American sweetgum trees (Liquidambar styraciflua) also. They grow wild throughout the eastern and southern US.

answered Jan 14 2011 at 2:35

Karen
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Faky McFakerson · Answer 3 · 2011-01-14 05:39:37Z UTC

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Toothpicks. Just like in Uncle Buck. :)

Seriously, you can get just regular toothpicks, or flavored ones- tea tree is popular, but I think I've seen ones with cinnamon oil, too.

answered Jan 14 2011 at 5:39

Faky McFakerson
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Kikilula · Answer 4 · 2011-01-14 07:40:24Z UTC

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http://paleohacks.com/questions/3294/paleo-chewing-gum-alternative#axzz1AzRJToCw

answered Jan 14 2011 at 7:40

Kikilula
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andrew · Answer 5 · 2011-01-14 08:09:49Z UTC

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Liquorice sticks - the natural wood ones. Lovely!

answered Jan 14 2011 at 8:09

andrew
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	Cinnamon sticks too. I used them when I quit smoking. Avoid the thin brittle sticks. – Karen Jan 15 2011 at 0:08
	I love chewing on Liquorice roots, but they are so sweet now. herbwisdom.com/herb-licorice-root.html – Adam Crafter Jan 15 2011 at 14:03
	For the guys: Licorice may affect testosterone: medherb.com/Materia_Medica/… – sean Jan 16 2011 at 10:42

Alain de Sweene · Answer 6 · 2013-04-02 19:32:36Z UTC

Mastic gum. Frankincense. Myrrh. All were/are used as chewing gum, though normally known as resin to burn for incense. Mastic still widely used as chewing gum. Chewing some right now. Slight piney-lemony taste. Taste lasts forever. I've been chewing this piece for 8 solid hours. Mouth still piney.

AxialGentleman · Answer 7 · 2013-04-02 19:38:12Z UTC

Ever tried chia seeds soaked in water until they form a gel? You can chew on a mouthful of those for hours. As for commercial products, you could try xylitol-based gum. By all accounts I've ever heard, xylitol is healthy or neutral in small quantities.

Tom xD · Answer 8 · 2013-04-03 11:15:42Z UTC

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if you just pull off some of the outer bark of a pine tree, you can almost scoop out the softer bark inside! you dont have to do anything to it you can just eat it straight away.

answered Apr 3 at 11:15

Tom xD
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as · Answer 9 · 2011-01-13 23:29:51Z UTC

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sometimes i will ball up and chew on my floss after i'm done. it's minty.

answered Jan 13 2011 at 23:29

as
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That is a very clever idea! – Ika Jan 13 2011 at 23:51

PaleoGran · Answer 10 · 2011-01-14 00:05:15Z UTC

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Herbs and seaweed come to mind.

Beef or venison jerky might serve the purpose.

I have seen folks chew on grasses, but not in many years.

answered Jan 14 2011 at 0:05

PaleoGran
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seaweed is a good idea...kelp is very chewy. :) I am trying to think of some way of combining some type of resin/wax with herbs...that sounds good – Ika Jan 14 2011 at 0:32

Matt · Answer 11 · 2012-08-16 02:08:41Z UTC

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Try, pine pitch or Birch pitch and bees wax. I'm going to try and make a sassafras root and beeswax concoction.

answered Aug 16 at 2:08

Matt
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YoungPaleoLover · Answer 12 · 2012-08-16 02:44:45Z UTC

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We have this mint leaf bush in my backyard that overgrew extremely, so to take it down I will daily grab 5 leaves chew on them like a gum and spit it out. Leaves my mouth refreshing and curbs my appetite.

answered Aug 16 at 2:44

YoungPaleoLover
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Squirrelslinger · Answer 13 · 2013-01-20 04:14:52Z UTC

Pine pitch makes good chewing gum. But before you chew it, put it into a clean, empty glass jar and put it in boiling water for about an hour. It boild off some of the flavor, but all of the germs, etc. also gets rid of some of the nastier stuff in it.... Freezeit to store it. Thaw b4 you chew. frozen, it loses all stickyness, and is quite easy to handle, a bit like very weak, brittle glass.

johni · Answer 14 · 2013-02-07 07:27:26Z UTC

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I chew on pen caps haa My boyfriend chews on pop can tabs and I tell him to stop and its bad for his teeth but he doesn't listen sometimes I think he's part goat hahaha

answered Feb 7 at 7:27

johni
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Things you can chew…

14 Answers