From time to time, new nutritional trends sweep through social media claiming to be able to achieve many beneficial health results with minimal effort. Many of these trends often prove to fail after experimentation, while some may achieve the desired results.
“Chia seeds” have occupied a leading position in the renewed popularity of trends on the Internet, through their many uses in preparing breakfast recipes, or mixing them with ingredients to achieve additional nutritional value for daily meals.
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But what about the “chia drink” trend? Can adding a teaspoon of these seeds in a cup of water or a cold drink really help cleanse the body of toxins “magically,” in what has become known among its promoters as “internal bathing” for the body?
Shea drink…a recipe sweeping TikTok
Finding a healthy way to relieve constipation and cleanse the body of toxins is not an easy matter, but it seems that TikTok users are enthusiastically accepting a new solution that is widely spread across social media platforms, due to its ease of preparation.
The chia seed drink, which consists of only three ingredients, has received nearly 40 million views on the platform, and many health and wellness enthusiasts have tried it themselves to ensure its effectiveness.
While this detox-like drink may prompt those who try it to immediately head to the bathroom after consuming it, many fans lack full knowledge of how this particular recipe stimulates the digestive system, and whether it is truly healthy.
Certified nutrition consultant Darryl Giuffre, who owns the trend, told the Good Housekeeping website, which specializes in health, lifestyle and nutrition issues: “If you drink this drink on an empty stomach, it is like an internal shower, as it penetrates into all the corners of your intestines and cleanses them from the inside.”
What actually happens inside the body after drinking it?
Can drinking one drink solve the problem of digestion, stomach disorders, and treat constipation immediately? This is not likely, as American nutritionist Amy Fisher explains to Good Housekeeping.
While chia seeds are indeed beneficial in a balanced diet, their role in improving intestinal health and the digestive system may be misunderstood by TikTok users who come across this trend and believe its claims.
In addition, most of the fiber found in chia seeds is insoluble, meaning it does not dissolve in liquids, but rather absorbs liquids and helps form soft, bulky stools. So, yes, chia seeds contain the right kind of fiber to relieve constipation.
However, it is important not to eat too much fiber, as it may also cause stomach problems, including: abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, cramps, diarrhea, and gas.
Therefore, if you consume a large amount of insoluble fiber without drinking enough water, this fiber – which seeks fluids to absorb – may cause digestive dehydration and constipation.
On the other hand, if you have inflammatory bowel disease (including Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), excessive fiber intake may seriously worsen your existing bout of inflammatory bowel disease, causing diarrhea and cramps.
Benefits of chia drink as part of a healthy lifestyle
According to the Health Line website, which specializes in health and medicine, adding chia seeds to water as part of a balanced diet may give the body a group of potential health benefits, thanks to their richness in fiber, antioxidants, and beneficial fatty acids.
Medical reports indicate that some of the plant compounds found in it, such as chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid, may contribute to lowering high blood pressure and reducing chronic inflammation associated with cardiovascular diseases and some types of cancer.
Chia seeds are also linked to supporting heart health, as they contain a high percentage of fiber and alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 acid, which are elements that may help enhance heart functions within a healthy lifestyle.
The benefits of chia are not limited to this, as some studies have found that the soluble fiber found in chia may help regulate blood sugar levels, which may contribute to reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
On the other hand, the fatty acids found in chia seeds may support skin health, especially when consumed with sufficient amounts of water, which helps enhance skin hydration. Its high fiber content also contributes to improving the digestion process by facilitating bowel movement and supporting beneficial bacteria in the digestive system, which is also linked to helping maintain a healthy weight and reducing the risk of some chronic diseases.
However, these potential benefits associated with chia seeds remain conditional, as nutrition experts confirm, according to the Cleveland Clinic Medical Website, that their health effect remains linked to diet and lifestyle in general, and not to consuming a single drink alone.
Health institutions indicate that foods rich in fiber and antioxidants may support health when included in a balanced and varied diet, along with physical activity, good sleep and other healthy habits, according to reports issued by the Journal of Nutrition of the Harvard Schools of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.
Your body does not need an internal bath drink
Despite the widespread spread of “detox” drinks on social media platforms, nutrition experts confirm that the body already has its own natural and complex system to get rid of waste and harmful substances, through the liver, kidneys, lungs, and digestive system.
According to the Scientific American website, Scientifically, the idea of “cleaning the body of toxins” through quick recipes or magic drinks often lacks scientific evidence, because the body’s organs are constantly working to purify the blood and deal with vital waste with great efficiency.
The website also pointed out that the appeal of these trends is linked to the psychological desire to obtain quick and easy health solutions, rather than to confirmed medical results. Therefore, real support for the body’s natural “cleaning” processes remains based on balanced nutrition, good sleep, drinking water, and regular physical activity, not on a passing fad recipe.
