In the fast-paced world of TikTok, beauty, health, and self-care trends emerge with lightning speed. However, distinguishing between genuine health advice and unfounded TikTok health trends can be a daunting task, especially considering the filter-heavy and edited nature of many videos.
Coffee trends
The #proffee trend combines protein powder or shakes with coffee to create an energy-boosting drink. This TikTok health trend is particularly relevant for those seeking an energy kick without sacrificing protein intake. While proffee can be beneficial for some, health professionals caution against excessive protein consumption, as many Americans already meet or exceed recommended daily intake levels. The other popular coffee TikTok health trend is aimed at promoting weight loss. The “lemon coffee” trend entails mixing lemon juice with coffee and consuming it on an empty stomach. While this combination isn’t inherently harmful, it won’t guarantee weight loss.
Nature’s cereal recipes and protein powder recipes
Amidst the plethora of recipes and diet fads on TikTok, nature’s cereal TikTok health trend stands out as a healthy and harmless option. This trend involves combining berries such as raspberries and blueberries with coconut water, essentially creating a cereal alternative that’s both nutritious and refreshing. Another food-related trend that’s become popular on the platform is the dry-scooping trend, which involves consuming protein or pre-workout powder without mixing it into a drink. However, this approach carries potential health risks, including heart palpitations, lung infections, and digestive issues. Healthline warns against dry scooping and advises adhering to label instructions. TikTok has even started redirecting users searching for “dry scooping” to a resource page emphasizing responsible challenge participation and thoughtful decision-making.
12-3-30 workout
A treadmill TikTok health trend suggests a 30-minute workout with a 12% incline and a pace of three miles per hour. Users who have managed to try this trend have claimed that this seemingly simple workout is quite intense and can kick-start weight loss journeys. The Cleveland Clinic supports this trend, highlighting the benefits of increased physical activity for weight loss and overall health. However, it’s crucial to listen to the body and adjust the incline and duration as needed for a gradual start. While this TikTok health trend might seem simple and easy to follow, it’s not always the case, especially for anyone who doesn’t have an established exercise routine. For anyone who’s just starting out, it’s better to tweak the entire workout, such as the pace, the incline, or the time on the treadmill. For instance, people can try putting the incline at a lower percentage or walking on a completely flat incline for the same amount of time to better understand their bodies.
Sunscreen contouring
Distinct from conventional makeup contouring, some TikTok users advocate for sunscreen contouring, where they apply sunscreen selectively to create a contoured effect as the sun tans their skin instead of using makeup to do so. However, experts emphasize that applying sunscreen uniformly across all exposed skin is essential to protect against harmful UV rays, which can cause skin aging and cancer. It’s important to use sunscreen on every part of the body that’s exposed to sunlight to protect it from UV rays.
Rice water hair
A prevailing self-care trend involves using rice water, a concoction formed by soaking rice in cold water for several days, which is then sprayed onto hair to promote hair growth. Interestingly, there might be some truth behind rice water’s potential benefits for hair. According to the Cleveland Clinic, rice water contains inositol, an ingredient associated with hair growth. However, the evidence supporting this claim is limited and mostly anecdotal. Nevertheless, given that rice water lacks harmful chemicals, it’s relatively safe to experiment with and doesn’t have negative side effects aside from consuming the rice supplies in a pantry. It’s also quite simple to make, as it just requires the rice to be soaked in water for 30 minutes or a day, or have the rice boiled in water, depending on the time availability of the person trying the trend.
Dara Busch is Co-CEO of 5WPR, a leading PR agency.