Featured Image Credit: TikTok
Topics: Food and Drink, Health, TikTok, Gen Z
Kya Buller
Just when we'd all gotten used to Ozempic being the most popular buzzword for weight loss related chat, Gen Z introduced something new: tadpole water.
Despite what we have all read and learned about loving the skin we're in, the internet is constantly awash with the latest 'hack' on how to shed weight.
It's important to note that keeping fit relies on a balanced diet and adequate exercise, and the latest fads are rarely effective or healthy.
But this hasn't stopped a swathe of Gen Z TikTok users from flooding the platform with the latest craze of tadpole water.
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Beware - it might make you gag.
Although, there's no actual tadpoles in the questionable concoction.
In reality, it's a glass or bottle of water with chia seeds poured in, along with a squeeze of fresh lemon.
The drink that resembles pond life has led to a legion of teenagers and people in their early twenties claiming that it's helped them shed some fat.
One TikToker, Mariah Padilla, posted a video about her experience with the phenomenon.
She said: "I can confirm that is does work for weight loss.
"But does it taste good? No. The texture is funky and it tastes funky, too. It makes me gag…but it’s worth it.”
She claims to have lost three pounds in three days, though of course this could be due to a number of factors including lifestyle and age, and can't be attributed solely to a social media trend without evidence.
As for the science behind it all, Harvard Health reported: “Chia seeds are packed with nutrients that may support numerous health benefits."
The seeds are rich in fibre, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
Because of this, they may well support digestive health and weight management.
The report adds: “When chia seeds are ingested, they form a gel-like substance in the stomach that can increase your feeling of fullness and decrease your appetite and calorie intake.”
A search for 'tadpole water' on TikTok returns a huge amount of results.
Some users have referred to it as 'life changing', with others explaining they're doing it because 'school is less than a month away.'
But others have reported that nothing changed, or they experienced some negative side effects.
One person wrote: "Idk abt y’all but it made my stomach hurts so much and I threw up and it been 3 days and my stomach still hurts."
While another simply stated: "It tastes like mud."