'Tadpole water' is Gen Z's new cure for a trim waistline - Does it live up to the hype?
The gag-inducing tadpole water is what Gen Z-ers are swearing will help you lose weight and trim that waistline. This special concoction is made of warm water, a handful of chia seeds and a dash of lemon. But is it really what it's cracked up to be?
The phrase 'tadpole water' may make you gag but hold on. If you haven't figured it out yet, it's just a play on words and it's not literally tadpoles swimming in water (and then in your gut). The gag-inducing tadpole water is what Gen Z-ers are swearing will help you lose weight and trim that waistline. This special concoction is made of warm water, a handful of chia seeds and a dash of lemon. But is it really what it's cracked up to be? Let's find out.
What is 'tadpole water?'
Tadpole water is Gen Z's latest weight loss hack: warm water, chia seeds and a few drops of lemon. It sounds gross but thankfully it's not as disgusting. So how did it start? 18-year-old TikToker Mariah Padilla took to the platform, now blocked in India, to say to followers: "I can confirm that it does work for weight loss.¡±
A New York Post report pointed out that the water gets its grossly unique name because of its appearance: once the chia seeds hit the warm water they swell up and look like tiny tadpoles or baby frogs. Luckily, that's about as close as you'll come to consuming marine life with a dash of lemon. And it couldn't have come at a better time too, with Ozempic and Mounjaro losing their charm apparently.
Meanwhile, Mariah swears by drink having dropped three pounds in a couple of days. But before you get any ideas, the taste, in Mariah's own words is "funky." And the "texture is funky" too. "It makes me gag...but it¡¯s worth it," the report quoted her as saying.
What's likely to happen if you consume too many chia seeds in water?
Credit: Bruno Scramgnon/Pexels | Chia seeds come with a host of nutritional benefits but beware of the side effects
Chia seeds, experts have confirmed, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, proteins, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Yes, the seeds reportedly help with weight but mostly because they create a feeling of fullness once consumed. As mentioned above, chia seeds soaked in water swell up and create a sticky, gelatinous substance which makes you feel you've eaten a lot when in fact you haven't. Experts believe chia seeds lower blood pressure and cholesterol, so it's understandable that people would want to jump on this trend, especially when you're getting so much out of them while losing weight.
But what happens when you consume too many chia seeds? According to healthline.com, chia seeds come with a host of nutritional benefits but eating too many can have certain side effects. Because chia seeds are high in fibre, overeating can put stress on the gastrointestinal tract and leave you with diarrhoea, bloating and abdominal pain. But that's not all. What people forget is that dry chia seeds swell up to almost 12 times their original size when they come in contact with water. So, another hazard is consuming dry chia seeds; as they hit your oesophagus first, they'll absorb the water they find there and depending on how many you've had, this could lead to choking.
In a recent incident, a man is said to have consumed a tablespoon of dry chia seeds which he then washed down with a tall drink of water. The chia seeds soaked all the water and expanded in his food pipe causing him to choke. It got so bad that he couldn't even swallow his own saliva. He made it to a hospital in time where doctors had to remove all the seeds, one by one, with a baby scope in what turned out to be hours-long surgery.
Watch the viral video below:
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Tanya Sirohi is the Trending section lead at Indiatimes. She likes to write on a range of topics including viral stories, UFO sightings and exploring life on Mars.
