British researchers say chewing gum and recovering from surgery at the same time isn't only possible, it's a great idea.

A new analysis of several studies suggests chewing gum may speed
the return of normal bowel function following colon surgery. Some
patients with bowel movement after colon surgery, but chewing gum
may fool the body into good digestion.

Gum gets the juices flowing, literally. Researchers say in
addition to saliva, the chewing may stimulate gut hormones and
pancreatic secretions.

More than 320,000 colorectal surgeries are performed in the
United States annually at a cost of $2,100 per day in the hospital.
So a few pennies worth of chewing gum could save millions of
dollars in hospital costs.