How Many Calories Are in Chewing Gum?

Question: "Since I stopped smoking a year ago, I've become a chewing gum addict. Should I be worried about the calories in gum?"

Answer: Gum can have up to 15 calories per piece, and kicking nicotine can cause a 200-calorie-per-day drop in metabolism. "However, chewing is certainly better than smoking," says Milton Stokes, RD, chief dietitian at St. Barnabas Hospital and Nursing Home in New York City and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Just choose sugarless to keep your dentist happy."

To stem weight gain, cut 100 calories from elsewhere in your diet.

Originally published in Fitness magazine, April 2006.