TikTok health trends you should and shouldn't follow
Home to entertaining short videos where you can enjoy dance routines, cute dogs and recipes, TikTok is also quickly becoming the go-to platform for nutritional advice.
With #Nutrition hashtags receiving over 3.9 billion views, it definitely seems that users of TikTok are turning to the social media platform for inspiration.
But which TikTok health trends are actually safe and helpful to follow?
Kyle Cowley, new product development manager at personalised meal specialists abnormal, highlights some of the dangers of nutritional advice on TikTok, alongside the health trends we could consider following. Though it's important to note that not everything works for everybody.
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Keto Diet - 1.1 Billion Views
Ketogenic diets, also known as the Keto Diet, are low carb, high fat diets that put your body into a metabolic state called ketosis.
This causes your body to become incredibly efficient at burning fat for energy, helping to increase weight loss.
Keto diets often include ingredients such as avocados, meat, eggs and olive oil, and videos related to Keto have received over 1 billion views.
"The healthiest diet is a balanced one, eating a variety of foods that gives your body everything it needs – a diet I would promote," Kyle explains.
"The Ketogenic diet has been popularised for weight loss. It doesn’t work for everybody and isn’t the healthiest way to drop some weight, as you are heavily restricting the food you eat and starving the body of foods such as carbs, which is our main source of energy.”
Intermittent Fasting - 430.5 Million Views
The next most popular trend is Intermittent fasting, which is an eating pattern that involves restricting and then resuming eating for a set amount of time.
If it fits with your lifestyle and body type, Kyle says fasting can be healthy with the help and advice of medical professionals.
"Intermittent fasting has always been a controversial diet topic and there are some benefits and some dangers," he adds. "The main thing to understand is that fasting can be beneficial in terms of weight loss and overall health but, it isn’t something that works for everyone.”
Kyle also notes the importance of consulting a doctor before-hand.
“However, it is still crucial to maintain the right number of vitamins and minerals that your body needs throughout the process, eating the right foods when you do eat," he says.
Overnight Oats - 284.9 Million Views
High in fibre and a delicious breakfast idea, overnight oats are a good source of nutrients such as calcium, iron and zinc.
“Overnight oats are a great breakfast hack," Kyle says.
"Prepping the night before saves time in the morning and is a great source of fibre to give you the energy you need for the day. Also full of protein and include a range of vitamins and minerals! You can add plenty of your own ingredients too, like fruit or honey, tailoring the dish to your own personal health focuses.”
Chlorophyll Water - 161.7 Million Views
A relatively new nutritional trend, Chlorophyll water, holds no real evidence of health benefits, Kyle says.
"Chlorophyll water has really blown up as the thing to try recently but there is no evidence that it improves our health at all," he adds.
"Of course, you should ensure that you drink as much water as possible throughout the day to remain hydrated, improve digestion and eliminate toxins from the body. However, regular tap water is perfectly effective on its own, without any added ingredients.”
Protein Ice Cream - 53.2 Million Views
Popular across social media, protein ice cream encourages people to make their own at home in replacement of shop bought alternatives.
“Protein ice cream is a great idea that lots of people are loving at the moment," Kyle notes.
"The ones we see in the supermarkets are a great alternative to the high fat and sugar ice creams that helps us feel less guilty when we get cravings."
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