The Strange Eating Habit Of A Former White House Aide

It's a massive understatement to say that politics is a divisive topic — and TV news channels would probably be in crisis if it wasn't. Although politics is known for its controversies and scandals, an eating habit of one former senior White House aide is likely to cause bemusement rather than rage.

Being a place as historic as it is, The White House certainly isn't short of strange traditions that must be followed by its extensive kitchen staff. There has to be some sympathy displayed towards the chefs operating at the heart of government, especially when new presidents bring along their unusual food requests.

But the eating routine of Sean Spicer — who had a fiery reputation as press secretary in President Donald Trump's administration during 2017, notes The Guardian — is sure to raise eyebrows. While serving in the government, Spicer displayed quite a significant habit of chewing gum, according to The Washington Post. Even though many people chew gum throughout the day, few people are likely to take it to the extreme level of Sean Spicer.

People chew gum for many reasons, and there are said to be benefits to chewing gum that stretch beyond maintaining fresh-smelling breath. The American Institute of Stress details gum's links to reducing stress, improving memory, and boosting concentration.

All of these would undoubtedly be beneficial to someone working at the heart of government, but Sean Spicer arguably takes chewing gum to a whole different level. According to The Washington Post, Spicer enjoys cinnamon-flavored gum, chomping through two-and-a-half packets of the stuff by midday — swallowing all of it. Despite consuming such large quantities, Spicer claims that his doctor doesn't consider his keen affection for gum to be a problem.

According to BBC Future, the gum base used to give chewing gum its elasticity cannot be broken down by the body, but providing it is only consumed in modest amounts it should pass through without incident. Swallowing large quantities of gum could cause problems, however, with constipation and intestinal blockage being the chief symptoms.