A camel’s hump does not store water. Camel humps store fat. The
fat allows the animal to remain nourished during long periods
between eating, an attribute for which camels are less well-known.
As the fat is burned by the animal’s metabolism, the humps sag,
replenished when the camel again has access to food. Camels drink
massive amounts of water, up to 20 gallons at a time, which is
stored in their bloodstream, not in their humps. In truth, a
camel’s hump holds little water, and none as storage for long
desert journeys.
Gum remains in the
stomach no longer than any other food ingested. For most people
is 30 minutes to two hours. For most healthy people, the stomach
is emptied within that time period. Chewing gum is not intended
to be swallowed, but the idea that it remains in the stomach
indefinitely, growing into a larger mass, is totally false.