The latest health and wellness trend going viral on the internet, especially among moms, is the internal shower drink, which supposedly relieves constipation or bloating. On TikTok, videos of the trend du jour are raking more than 80 million views as constipation and digestive issues are such hot topics on the social sharing site.
Celebrity wellness advisor Daryl Gioffre, the diet and nutrition advisor of celebrity mom Kelly Ripa, is credited for sharing the internal shower drink online when he talked about it on a podcast show. The drink consists of two tablespoons of chia seeds and the juice of half a slice of lemon mixed in a full glass of water. Some add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor.
Gioffre recommended drinking the concoction on an empty stomach as it will help get into "the nooks and crannies of your gut like an internal washing," per Good Housekeeping. Ideally, the drink should sit on the kitchen counter for a few minutes before intake, so it becomes gelatinous in consistency.
Mom Bobbie on TikTok shared that she felt a little less bloated after her third day of trying the drink. Another TikTok mom, Tin Tin, said she was curious to try the drink for the first time because of the super-filling effect of chia seeds. She has yet to see the actual results on her.
@bobbieinreallife Day 3 of Tiktok Interal Shower Cleanse #internalshower #internalshowerdrink #chiawater #chiaseeds #guthealth #healthtok #healthy #viral #bethatgirl #thatgirl #bethatgirlwithme #fyp #fypシ ♬ catchy song i know - mw lay/the loml<3
While the drink is a new trend, taking chia seeds for constipation and bloating relief has been around for ages. The Aztecs first discovered the benefits of chia seeds thousands of years ago. However, according to experts, this specific drink has both its advantages and disadvantages.
The pros and cons of internal shower drink
Lauren Manaker, a dietician, told Shape that the fibrous elements of chia seeds could help with a healthy bowel movement. Thus, those who have tried the drink indeed found relief from constipation. The lemon ingredient, on the other hand, helps with bloating since this citrus fruit is a natural diuretic that can remove excess salt and water in the body.
Manaker said that she has been talking about and recommending this drink for many years as a natural solution to people with simple digestive issues.
However, Taylor Fazio, another dietician, does not recommend drinking chia seeds in large amounts right away. Her colleagues also said that this cleansing process should be started slowly for those who are not used to drinking fiber-rich drinks.
Dietician Samantha Cassetty said that if people prepare the internal shower drink incorrectly, the cleansing will backfire and bring an opposite effect. Getting too much fiber may also lead to constipation, hence the recommendation to start slow and in smaller quantities.
The experts also recommend drinking more water to aid in their digestion while on the cleanse. Chia seeds work to absorb the body's water content, so it's very important to keep hydrating.
Don't expect fast results
While the internal shower drink is not harmful to one's health, it's important to understand that this is not a miracle fix for mothers. Drinking once will help produce a bowel movement or occasional constipation. However, for those with serious digestive issues, the experts recommend visiting the doctor or dietician to get the proper diet advice.
According to Harvard Health, women are more prone to constipation due to their biology. Women's estrogen and progesterone levels directly impact their gastrointestinal motility, so there could be other health issues that have to be addressed if mothers need better relief from constipation or bloating.
