Remember the chia pet? Well chia seeds are not just for gag gifts anymore. They do have positive health benefits. For example, seeds (two tablespoons) offer an impressive 10 grams of fiber, or roughly one-third of the daily requirement for adults.

There is also a TikTok trend, made popular by celebrity wellness influencer Daryl Gioffre, which makes use of chia seeds and fresh lemon juice to jumpstart a person’s digestion with a goal of alleviating constipation.

Omar Khokhar, MD, a gastroenterologist at OSF HealthCare, says the concoction is also referred to as an internal shower. To make it, combine one to two tablespoons of chia seeds with eight to 16 ounces (one to two cups) of water and lemon juice. Let it stand for at least 15 minutes, so the chia absorbs much of the water.

Dr. Khokhar says it’s one way to get fiber into your diet.

“It’s a very good, natural way to incorporate fiber and protein into your diet. However you want to take it [chia seeds] – a salad, as part of a parfait – there are other ways to ingest it. With this particular phenomenon, you’re mixing it to sort of help it expand ahead of time outside of your body instead of inside your body.” 

The concoction can make you feel full and adds to hydration, which is good for digestion.

Can the drink be dangerous? Dr. Khokhar says if you’re dealing with gastrointestinal (GI) disease or distress, skip the internal shower drink.

“If you have any history of esophageal swallowing issues or any history of intestinal obstruction, this is something you might want to talk to your doctor about ahead of time. Because what you don’t want to do is ingest this gel-like material and cause some kind of blockage.” 

He also warns that if you have constipation that lasts more than just a few days, see a medical provider, particularly if you’re in your 20s. Constipation can be an early sign of colon cancer.

“If you are constipated, for example, don't mask that symptom with a chia seed phenomenon that you saw on TikTok. Go see your doctor. Make sure you get checked out. And if you get checked out, then, by all means, go back to the chia phenomenon.” 

And start slowly. Adding too much fiber too quickly, Dr. Khokhar says, could have the opposite effect. It can cause GI symptoms such as stomach pain, gas, diarrhea, constipation and bloating.

“It can potentially cause bloating or make bloating worse, so I would be careful. If you have any kind of GI or pre-existing issue, it’s something you might want to start maybe a half dose and see how you respond before going with a bigger, normal dose.”

Generally speaking, Dr. Khokhar recommends also trying to get more fiber through your diet. Although, after trying the drink as part of this story, Dr. Khokar declared, “I’m not going to lie, it actually tastes pretty good.”

Dr. Omar Khokhar

B-roll of chia seeds and lemon water-drinking it

A TikTok video has gone viral claiming only eating fruits for 72 hours can provide miraculous benefits. The video from the “HealthyToMe” account, which has over 8 million views, shows an AI-generated “doctor” who makes numerous claims regarding this diet. It also includes a widely-used AI-generated voice to read the text on the screen.

Ashley Simper, manager of Dietetic Services with OSF HealthCare, breaks down the claims and what is myth vs. fact.

Claim #1: After 12 hours, you will experience improved digestion. Your body will start to digest and absorb the nutrients present in the fruits. The dietary fibers will reduce bloating, relieve your swollen belly, and alleviate stomachaches.

“Fiber is important to help keep our digestive system moving. But if you have a sudden increase in fiber in your diet, as you would if you ate all fruits for three days straight, it can have the opposite effect. The claims to reduce bloating can be quite the opposite. It can actually promote bloating, abdominal cramping and pain,” Simper says. “What we would recommend is a slow increase in fiber as well as making sure you’re having adequate fluids (eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily), we don’t want to do something like that overnight.”

Claim #2: After 24 hours, you will start burning bad fats. Your body will enter a state of nutritional ketosis, meaning it will begin using stored fats as a source of energy.

“The claim that it’s going to burn bad fats through ketosis, which is pulling your fat from your stored energy, is completely false. You have to have the absence of carbohydrates in the diet to induce ketosis. Fruit is a carbohydrate-containing food. You’re not going to be inducing ketosis with an all-fruit diet in three days,” Simper says.

Simper adds that she does not recommend ketogenetic diets for weight loss.

“It is not sustainable, and it can lead to nutrient deficiencies. The best way to burn body fat is to reduce calories and increase physical activity,” Simper says. “If you lose weight within three days on an all-fruit diet, it’s likely going to be water weight. You can sometimes lose lean mass at the same time, we don’t want to lose that muscle mass.”

Claim #3: After 48 hours, you will experience reduced illness. Your immune system will be stimulated by the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants present in the fruits.

“Nutrients in fruit, like antioxidants and fiber can help boost your immunity and reduce illness, this certainly will not happen overnight,” Simper says. “What’s important for your overall health is to eat a variety of foods, consistently for days or even months, to see those benefits.”

Claim #4: After 72 hours, your organs will undergo detoxification. Your body will have benefited from a digestive break and detoxification. You will have more energy, clearer skin and an anti-aging effect.

“Detoxification of our organs happens naturally in the body. We have built-in mechanisms that help rid our body of waste. Fruit is high in water, so it can help you stay hydrated and flush some of the waste of the body out through the kidneys, but this is not some kind of miracle detox that happens when you eat fruit for three days,” Simper says.

Simper adds her dietetic practice does not promote anything that claims to detoxify our bodies.

“Especially things like over-the-counter supplements, those can be very dangerous,” Simper adds.

While this diet could improve your energy temporarily, it’s still a low-calorie diet, which Simper says can make you feel more sluggish.

The video goes on to claim the best fruits to include in this “fasting period” are antioxidant rich berries, apples, oranges and grapefruits, kiwis and pomegranates.

Simper calls this 72-hour fruit diet an “overly restricted fad diet.”

“This has some very far-reaching and false claims. Although it’s not going to be dangerous to someone to eat only fruits for 72 hours, if you’re considered a somewhat healthy individual. What’s important is adding a variety of foods in your diet, reducing your calories, and pairing it with physical activity to see those long-term solutions for your health.”

If you have any questions about your diet, you can speak with an OSF HealthCare dietitian. Find providers and locations here: https://healthlibrary.osfhealthcare.org/Search/85,P01156

Video Interview Clips

In 2022, we saw a number of video trends that went viral on the popular social media app TikTok that were being portrayed as health “hacks” to try at home. Some of these included Nyquil-soaked chicken, at-home mole removals, storing avocados in a container of water, and mouth taping. Another health “hack” continues to go viral on the app: cold plunging. Everyday folks and celebrities like Hailey Beiber, Lizzo, David Beckham and Lada Gaga are trying it.

Cold plunging is not new. It involves submersion into freezing cold water and dates back to early ancient Egyptian and Greek practices. You have probably even seen professional athletes use ice baths for muscle recovery.

In the popular videos on TikTok, people are filling large tubs with water outside and, if they live somewhere that experiences cold winters, they are letting the surface of the water freeze overnight. The following day, they crack the ice and plunge themselves into the cold water. The individuals in the videos claim the cold plunging helps with many things, from improving sleep to supporting a healthy immune system. 

Anne Orzechowski, an OSF HealthCare family medicine advanced practice nurse, says to take these claims with a grain of salt.

“There are some benefits of cold plunging if it is done safely, if you are used to it,” says Orzechowski. “Some studies from the colder climates show that there might be an increase in white blood cells, so there are thoughts that you might not get as sick. There is a decrease in triglycerides, an increase in endorphins – so some people say they feel better.”

The American Heart Association says while there are some studies that suggest people who adapt to cold water immersion reduce inflammation and other cardiovascular risks, there are other studies that have found prolonged cold water immersion to cause heart muscle damage. 

So how does something that can potentially be beneficial and seem harmless to most people also pose such serious risk? First, it’s important to understand what exactly happens to our body when plunging into freezing cold water.

“The initial thing that happens when you jump into a cold body of water is that initial shock reflex – that gasp,” Orzechowski warns. “Your body hyperventilates. It tries to get your blood flowing a little faster, tries to get your heart rate moving a little faster, and get that blood moving a little bit. Then as you are in there greater than three minutes your body starts to kind of calm down and relax. But there is a real risk of hypothermia after that, so you have to be really careful with this.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cold water immersion creates a specific condition known as immersion hypothermia that develops much more quickly than standard hypothermia, because water conducts heat away from the body 25 times faster than air.

“I would especially not recommend it for somebody with any sort of peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud’s, or any vascular issues associated with diabetes. You are not going to be able to feel your extremities very well and are not going to know when it is time to really get out,” says Orzechowski.

Orzechowski adds while some people claim that cold plunging helps to calm them and relieve stress, this calm feeling could actually be an effect of the constricting blood vessels. Furthermore, the National Center for Cold Water Safety warns that because blood vessels constrict in response to sudden cooling, cold water immersion causes an instant and massive increase in heart rate and blood pressure which increases the danger of heart failure and stroke.

Overall, the bottom line is that the risks of cold plunging tend to far outweigh the benefits. Orzechowski advises people who are intrigued by these videos to avoid trying it themselves.

“If you look up the TikTok ice plunge, you see a lot of people with hats on breaking into buckets of ice and jumping in. I really don’t recommend that. There is a risk of shock and there is a risk of arrhythmia,” cautions Orzechowski. “If you really want to do this, the takeaway point is just take a shower and turn the water to cold at the end, give yourself 10 to 15 seconds. That still has a benefit and has been shown to be beneficial as opposed to jumping into a bucket of ice outside.”

Interview Clips

If you spend any time on TikTok, you probably know that some of its users have been singing the praises of what magnesium can do for people when it comes to sleep. But medical experts are saying not so fast.

Experts say there is not enough research currently to back that claim. Although there are many supplements like magnesium, claiming to help with sleep such as melatonin or tart cherry juice, what's most important is that we are creating a sleep schedule, eating healthy, staying hydrated and exercising to develop good sleep habits.

While the jury’s still out about sleep and magnesium, the attention garnered on TikTok is raising awareness of the important mineral. One study, estimates more than half of the country is magnesium deficient.

“Magnesium plays a very crucial role in many different body systems such as muscle and nerve function as well as energy production," says Brittany Van Tine, a dietetic intern with OSF HealthCare. "It’s also very important for maintaining blood sugar, blood pressure, as well as the activity of your muscle nerves in cardiovascular system.”

Other benefits include stress relief and improved hydration. Van Tine says because our bodies lack the ability to produce magnesium on our own, consumption must come from our diets. The recommended daily allowance of magnesium is 400 -420 milligrams for men, and 310-320 milligrams for women.

“Magnesium is found in a lot of different foods such as nuts, seeds, legumes, leafy vegetables, as well as milk and yogurt, and also fortified foods, which means that magnesium has been added back into foods like bread and cereal," says Van Tine. 

Other good sources of magnesium are avocados, black beans and bananas. And if you’re a fan of almonds, you’re in luck. Van Tine says one ounce or one handful of almonds is about 20% of the recommended daily amount of magnesium for adults.

But if you’re still not getting the right amount through your diet, Van Tine recommends a magnesium supplement.

“There are many supplements available on the shelves and they come in different forms such as magnesium oxide, magnesium citrate, and magnesium glycinate," she says. "When talking about purchasing a supplement, we need to talk about the bioavailability This is the amount that can be absorbed and then utilized in the body.”

That’s because large doses of magnesium can cause nausea, abdominal cramping and diarrhea.

While toxicity is rare when it comes to magnesium, Van Tine suggests having the conversation with your doctor first. You’ll be better off in the long run.

For more information on magnesium, visit OSF HealthCare.

Interview Clips 

From Elon Musk to TikTokers, ongoing social media chatter claims drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy are the magic way to weight loss.

There’s good news, says Aminat Ogun, MD, a family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare in Champaign, Illinois. Those drugs can help you lose weight when prescribed by a doctor under specific circumstances and paired with diet and exercise.

The more important bad news? There’s no magic, one-size-fits-all drug that will by itself cause you to shed pounds. And if someone on social media is claiming so, they’re wrong.

Dr. Ogun says Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy are from the same family of medicine. They are usually prescribed to people with Type 2 diabetes.

“It increases the insulin in the body, which helps bring glucose into the cells,” Dr. Ogun explains.

The medications also slow food leaving your stomach and suppress appetite.

Once the drugs became more well known, Dr. Ogun says people found, not surprisingly, that weight loss was a side effect and began prescribing them for that purpose under specific circumstances. She says the patient should have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 or a BMI greater than 27 with a chronic condition like diabetes, hypertension or hyperlipidemia.

But even if you meet those guidelines, Dr. Ogun says you should talk with your doctor about whether a weight loss drug is right for you or whether simply changing habits can get the results you want.

For one, Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy are expensive and may not be covered by insurance.

Also, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports a shortage of Ozempic and Wegovy. So Dr. Ogun says doctors may be less likely to prescribe the drugs for weight loss when diabetics may have a more critical need.

And like any other medication, there is a list of side effects.

“Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation are possible,” Dr. Ogun says. “There are also hypersensitivity side effects like angioedema and an anaphylaxis reaction. It’s also been known to cause kidney injury or pancreatitis.”

Lately, the term “Ozempic face” has been trending on social media, describing a hollowed-out appearance due to quick weight loss.

One last piece of advice you’ll hear doctors give over and over: don’t rely on social media for health tips. If you find a tip that might benefit you, talk to your doctor before starting any treatment.

“The good thing about social media is that it allows a lot of people to receive a variety of information all at once,” Dr. Ogun says. “The downside: is it a credible source?”

Find a primary care provider on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

The pros and cons of social media are well documented. It allows you to connect with friends and pursue passions, but bullying and misinformation can be rampant.

But can frequent social media use lead to changes in brain development during the formative adolescent years? A recent study suggests so, but much more investigation is needed, says Karna Sherwood, MD, a neurologist at OSF HealthCare in Alton, Illinois.

The study tracked 169 sixth and seventh graders and found those who habitually checked social media were more sensitive to rewards and punishments. To view it a different way, kids who constantly refresh Facebook hoping the likes on their post will go up may be more impulsive to seek out real-life recognition.

“At a certain point, 10 likes or 20 likes are no longer gratifying enough,” Dr. Sherwood says. “And then you have to find another way to get even more likes or more appreciation.”

That “another way” could lead to risky behaviors such as substance abuse. But Dr. Sherwood says more study is needed to conclusively make the link. Just how much does our life in the digital realm affect our life away from the device?

“A follow up study would certainly investigate if [frequent social media use] has an effect on rates of anxiety and depression,” says Dr. Sherwood. “Could this affect addiction? And what interventions could be taken to nullify those behaviors?

“As a society, if we want to raise happy and healthy people in an age where we are getting better technologically, what steps do we need to take?”

Until then, Dr. Sherwood has some good advice no matter your age or number of Twitter followers.

“Until you get the rest of the information, it’s better to have some degree of regulation,” and restraint with social media, Dr. Sherwood says.

Learn more about how the brain works on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Previous coverage

Tackling pediatric mental health

Bullying and the era of technology

Is social media impacting your mental health?

Kids' screen time: How much is too much?

The popularity of entertainment app TikTok continues to skyrocket. It has been installed on devices over three billion times worldwide, and has surpassed Google and Facebook as the world’s most popular web domain.

The video sharing app seems to have something for everyone – from makeup trends and relationship advice to comedy sketches and life hacks. In fact, the company’s tagline in TV commercials is even, “TikTok taught me.” While recipes, fashion finds or cleaning hacks found on the app can certainly provide a smile, improve your life or save you time – sometimes the advice from TikTok influencers can fall flat, especially when that advice is medical in nature.

One of the latest TikTok trends that has medical professionals concerned is mouth taping, which is being touted as a sleep treatment. It is exactly what it sounds like; people are taping their mouths closed before bed. Dr. Kaninika Verma, the clinical sleep director for OSF HealthCare, explains.

“So this started with this TikTok challenge, where people would tape their mouth before they went to sleep,” she says. “They thought they were sleeping better because it prevented them from opening their mouth, and somehow or another made them sleep better because they were forced to breathe through their nose.”

But before you reach for that tape, be aware that many medical providers, including Dr. Verma, believe the risks of mouth taping far outweigh the benefits. Taping one’s mouth shut while sleeping could exacerbate breathing problems, worsen some risk factors of sleep apnea or simply cause sleep disruption.

“Most of us physicians when we when we first saw this, we thought this was a joke. But clearly it's not. You can buy these mouth tapes on Amazon and CVS, and all these places. So it's clearly a real thing, but it is not safe at all,” Dr. Verma warns.

Mouth taping enthusiasts claim that the practice helps with dry mouth, bad breath, oral hygiene and snoring prevention. Dr. Verma disagrees, and says taping your mouth shut to improve shuteye is not only dangerous, but could mask the root cause of a sleep problem.

“So the bigger question is, why are you using that mouth tape? Is it because you're snoring? Is it because you're a mouth breather? Is it because your nasal passages are blocked, or what is going on that's making you do this? So there needs to be a bigger question that needs to be asked, and to take a deeper dive about that issue with a physician or a trained professional,” says Dr. Verma.

Mouth taping is just the most recent TikTok trend branded as health or wellness advice. Dr. Verma warns that health trends popularized via sites like TikTok can have significant consequences, and any health advice coming from these platforms should be interpreted with caution. When in doubt, ask a professional.

“A lot of these are just fads. There are people doing this for entertainment. So be very cautious and very careful what you believe. If you have an issue – any health care issue – please reach out to your health care professional. You know, most of us – we've trained our whole lives to do this. We've dedicated our lives to this.”

Sleep disorders are serious medical conditions. Running on a sleep deficit compromises your ability to learn, hinders the immune system, and may raise your risk for other health conditions.

If you think you are having issues with snoring or mouth breathing you should consult your doctor or a sleep specialist. Visit osfhealthcare.org/sleep to learn more about OSF Sleep, including programs and services available.

Interview Clips - Dr. Kaninika Verma