It is almost impossible to have a conversation with anyone these days without one of you bringing up a TikTok viral health hack.
But, how often do you stop and think to double check the content you’re consuming? If the answer is not often then don’t worry! We contacted two experts to verify some of the most viral dieting trends currently on the app.
From the so-called “weight-loss benefits” of drinking chia water, to the short and snappy Japanese walking method that promises to be more effective than 10,000 steps, we well and truly went down the rabbit hole!
50 jumps challenge
WHAT IT IS: Jump 50 times on the spot every morning for 30 days
WHAT IT’S MEANT TO DO: Boost energy and metabolism, promote clearer skin
EXPERT VERDICT: Hate mornings? This latest TikTok trend promises to put a bouncy pep in your step after just a month. Personal trainer and creative director at Flow Athletic, Simon Ngo says there might be some truth to it.
“This is based on the rebounding therapy which jumpstarts and enhances lymphatic drainage, and the low impact moves help with cardiovascular and bone density health,” he says. “Better blood flow and circulation does lead to clearer skin, but… most likely we’ll need to do more than the trend to see weight loss.”
If you’re keen to get bouncing, Ngo advises of being mindful of your joints and “be careful on too much impact on too hard of a surface”.
Japanese walking
WHAT IT IS: Alternate three minutes fast walking with three minutes slow walking, for 30 minutes
WHAT IT’S MEANT TO DO: Exercise hack that’s more effective than 10,000 daily steps
EXPERT VERDICT: Also known as the 3:3:30 Method, Ngo is a fan of this type of interval training – especially for those new to working out.
“Walking is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to stay fit, physically and mentally,” he explains. “[The] interval training method has been well documented to show benefits in cardio, strength, and athleticism.”
Great for people who want to add some extra intensity into a shorter workout, Ngo recommends starting off with a slow pace and to “seek professional medical and fitness advice before attempting any trend”.
Chia seed challenge
WHAT IT IS: Drinking a tablespoon of chia seeds in water every day
WHAT IT’S MEANT TO DO: Help with weight loss and bloating
EXPERT VERDICT: While chia seeds are a great addition to a healthy diet of protein, veg and healthy fats, Rebekah Raymond, functional nutritionist and owner of StretchLAB Double Bay, advises against relying on them as a weight loss tool.
“Chia swell in the stomach and digestive tract, [and] this can aid in the feeling of fullness and therefore help to stop over-eating,” she explains. “However, adding one ‘hack’ to the diet to lose weight quickly is not something I’d recommend.”
Instead, Raymond says to focus on the gut health benefits of chia seeds by having them in a variety of ways, such as smoothies, salads or baked into bread.
“Chia seeds are great for gut health as they are mucilaginous – when you pop them in liquid and leave them, they form a gel around each seed,” she says. “In our gut, this helps create a happy digestive tract (and healthy poo!) as it draws water into the stools, helping with good formation and regular elimination!”
Clove water
WHAT IT IS: Drinking cloves steeped in water every day
WHAT IT’S MEANT TO DO: Melt belly fat, detox and promote clear skin
EXPERT VERDICT: It’s been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, but while Raymond recommends cloves for a slew of health benefits, shifting stubborn belly fat isn’t one of them.
“As far as [drinking] clove water goes, I doubt that this alone would help reduce belly fat,” she says. “Cloves do have amazing properties, stimulating the digestive and immune systems, with anti-microbial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.”
“Cloves added to water is a gentle way of supporting digestion and skin health – maybe partly due to the cloves but also as a way of supporting good hydration,” she adds.
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