The hashtag #internaLshower depopulates on Tiktok, with almost 40 million video views that promote a drink based on chia seeds and lemon juice, launched for the first time by a famous wellness influencer Daryl Gioffre, which considers it a “miraculous” natural remedy to encourage digestion and counteract constipation.
Gioffre shared the drink for the first time during a chat on the Podcast Skinny Confidential, explaining the recipe which is very simple to be achieved since it is made up of a few simple ingredients:
You must then mix a little and let the chia seeds absorb the water. After a maximum of 15 minutes, mix again and drink.
Regarding the drink, Gioffre then declared that:
If you drink it on an empty stomach, it is literally as an internal shower: it enters all the corners and cracks of your intestine as an internal washing.
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From there he then started to depopulate on social media and many users tried it.
@alirosegray Trying the Internal Shower Pretty Much the Same Expression When Trying Oysters #TERNALSHOWER #DETOX #CHIASEEDS #SEEDDINK #DETOXDRINK #Selfimprovement
♬ Original sound – Ali Gray
@jacvanek Trying the chia seed internal shower so you don’t have to. #internaLShower #Contipation #ibs #travelhack
♬ Dua Lipa – Jack Harlow
Is the Internal Shower really effective?
But as always we have to take with the pliers what circulates on Tiktok, often these miraculous remedies can prove ineffective or in some cases even counterproductive or dangerous.
And the case of the Aternal Shower is no exception. According to nutritionists, in fact, to introduce too much fiber through the chia seeds, especially if you do the evening, it could make the opposite effect, that is, to aggravate a constipation situation.
Among other things, a single drink not inserted within a correct diet and lifestyle cannot solve the problem of an irritated or not perfectly functioning intestine. Amy Fischer, the Good Housekeeping Institute dietitian, underlines it.
We do not want to diminish the benefits offered by chia seeds, a precious ingredient within a balanced diet and really useful to improve intestinal health and digestive system in general.
The problem is that Tiktok users could erroneously interpreted the Argental Shower recipe considering it miraculous and taking it without precautions. Instead there are several points to dwell on, according to the dietician Fischer.
The benefits are there, but you have to know how to dose them
First of all, Chia seeds can be a charity addition to the diet and actually help to regulate the intestinal system, but only if slowly introduced in minor quantities, rather than drinking more portions from 2 tablespoons per day, perhaps even in the evening.
As with any source of fiber, too early it can have the opposite effect and lead to constipation or diarrhea, gas and/or swelling, which would be the negative aspects – said Dr. Fisher.
In addition, taking chia seeds that absorb a lot of water requires subsequent hydration more than the single glass of water:
It is important to make sure you drink enough water with any form of fiber to help keep things in motion. Since chia seeds swell in water and form a gelatinous shell, they can absorb their weight in water 12 times, making adequate hydration even more important.
The dietician then stresses that many people could be surprised to know that there is no standard recommended daily dose for chia seeds, which makes the appropriate portions even more complicated for those interested in trying the drink. Fischer says that most of the chia seeds on the market have recommended portions ranging from 1 tablespoon, about 12 g of seeds, 3 tablespoons in total.
The best suggestion for anyone interested in drinking chia seed water is, according to the expert, to start slowly and constantly, perhaps halving the first days to see how the body reacts and at the same time drink more water during the day:
If your diet is free of fiber and suddenly add a large amount to which your body is not used to, this is the moment when a digestive disorder could occur.
In addition, people with pre -existing health conditions, especially gastrointestinal problems or linked to dietary intake, before taking Chia seeds should talk about it with their doctor.
The problem is Tiktok, not the seeds
The trouble does it? Viral videos do not explain the risks. The concept “do this and resolve everything” is strong on Tiktok, but the reality is much less linear. People begin to drink 2 tablespoons of chia seeds in one fell swoop, maybe in the evening, maybe without drinking enough water during the day. And that’s where the problems begin.
Chia seeds can absorb up to 12 times their weight in the water. If you drink them not quite rehydrated or without increasing hydration in the rest of the day, you risk blocking everything. Literally. Fiber turns into a dense and gelatinous mass that slows down, instead of accelerating, intestinal transit.
The errors to avoid (and there are many)
There are several common errors among those who launch themselves in the Indernal Shower:
In conclusion, the Internal Shower can work, but does not make miracles. If your diet is poor in fiber, if you don’t move, if you drink little, it’s not a glass with two tablespoons of seeds and a lemon that will save your belly. Consistency is needed. Awareness is needed.
If you really want to try it, do it with caution, gradually and only if you do not have pathologies that could worsen. And remember: well -being is not found in a viral video, but in daily constancy.
