If you’ve ever experienced scrolling through TikTok at around 3 o’clock in the morning, don’t worry–you’re not alone. We’re pretty guilty of doing it too! You can literally consume all kinds of content on the app. From makeup tutorials and workout videos, to easy recipes and life hacks, there’s no doubt that TikTok will always have something that’ll catch your attention.
As a matter of fact, there’s one trend that has recently emerged on the app, and it’s making everybody curious. Introducing, the “Internal Shower” drink. People are hopping on the bandwagon in making and trying this beverage because it claims to help address constipation and bloating. In addition to that, some videos also say that it’s a way to detox and boost your weight loss efforts. Check out some TikTok videos of the Internal Shower drink trend below.
@jacvanek Trying the chia seed internal shower so you don’t have to. #internalshower #constipation #ibs #travelhack ♬ Dua Lipa – Jack Harlow
@bluegrassandlashes #internalshower #cleanse #chia #drink #fyp #CatchChobaniOatmilk #AmazonVirtualTryOn #MakeASplash ♬ original sound – BluegrassandLashes
@blaircooley Day 8/30: Internal shower drink that actually tastes good?! more details in the comments! #internalshower #internalshowerdrink #chiaseeds #chiaseedwater #chiaseedpudding ♬ original sound – Blair Cooley | RD, LD
With more and more videos being uploaded each day, we couldn’t help but wonder if this beverage really does help with weight loss. Is the Internal Shower drink worth the hype, and is it actually effective? We checked in Dr. Amy Lee, board certified doctor in internal medicine, medical nutrition and obesity medicine and partner of Nucific to find out. Keep reading to learn more.
TikTok’s “Internal Shower” Drink, Explained
According to Dr. Lee, “Once you soak dry chia seeds, it will then absorb water and expand in size—which explains its texture of the gooey-ness. It is considered an insoluble fiber so it is great ingredient to eat daily.”
She adds, “The role of insoluble fiber is to create ‘bulk’ stool and [soften it]. In the American culture today, when our norm is a low fiber diet and packed with processed foods, taking in good insoluble and soluble fiber can be difficult.” Dr. Lee notes, “We find good combination of fiber in things such as fruits and vegetables, but chia seeds also pack a punch when it comes to fiber and even proteins. One teaspoon of chia seeds can have up to 9 grams of dietary fiber.”
She continues, “Cleaning out the colon and keeping a good regular bowel movement schedule also helps the body flush
out inflammation and byproducts, including fats.”
To confirm, Dr. Lee agrees and says “yes, it does help with someone who is looking to lose weight.” However, she notes, “If your diet is high in fiber, the likelihood of you eating clean—with a lot more fruits—and vegetables is more likely.”
Lastly, she shares that one of the best beverages to drink for weight loss is pure matcha tea. If you want to give your drink an upgrade, you can try adding chia seeds as well. “Matcha powder is a super antioxidant [and it contains] a little bit of caffeine for the added benefit of a nice boost of energy,” Dr. Lee concludes.
