It is not the first time TikTok users have romanticized an ordinary habit into something larger-than-life, and it will not be the last. The much-hyped rebranding wellness trend has turned hydration into something ‘ sexy’. However, the concept isn’t as appealing as the misnomer suggests. Here’s all you need to know about TikTok’s sexy water trend.
What is TikTok’s sexy water trend?
Kelly Stranick (@kellygracemae), a content creator, coined the term for the new participants. Inspired by Lauryn Bosstick, host of The Skinny Confidential podcast, the TikToker promoted hydration among health-conscious netizens by focusing on the more pleasurable aspects of the experience.
In 2023, she presented a ‘Sexy Water’ routine in which she added various supplements, fruits, and veggies to her basic morning water. Making hydration “less mundane,” as she put it, she introduced a slew of erotic water recipes throughout time, each one unique from the last. Mae told Women’s Wear Daily that “sexy water” became an enjoyable way for her to sip water in the morning. “It felt like a self-care ritual rather than a chore.”
The popular TikTok wellness trend involves combining minerals, vitamins, and other useful ingredients in a large glass of water. Mae drinks this beverage in a “cute cup” with a reusable straw. Its chemistry may differ depending on individual preferences, but the ultimate purpose is to increase water consumption and romanticize hydration.
Mae’s initial combination included purified water, lemon, cucumbers, spearmint, cordyceps and mushroom multivitamins, a scoop of colostrum, chlorophyll, and lion’s mane.
Later, she changed things up and toned down the ‘extra’ recipe. Her most recent effort to sexy water consisted of only water, ice, and lemon. “Drink your water, is the point,” she explained.
Registered nutritionist Rebecca Russell agrees with Stranick, stating that the TikTok trend may “make drinking water a bit more interesting.” Adding flavors to water encourages hydration.
According to the Pop Sugar story, Russell believes that adding certain minerals to water will help the body absorb it more effectively.
Creating a colorful morning slush may be an extra incentive for you to water. However, if not prepared carefully, health tragedies could occur.
Russell identified some red flags in Stranick’s original recipe. The RD cautioned that even if certain substances are safe to consume, their interactions could cause a severe reaction. “Certain supplements and herbals can interact with medications or other supplements, so you want to be careful with what’s being mixed,” she said.
Furthermore, she confirmed that minerals “compete for absorption,” so combining a large number of them could be hazardous. According to Stranick’s original morning potion, chlorophyll, and colostrum are not digestible. Furthermore, blending a diverse set of substances may make it much more difficult to determine who is to blame.
Excessive hydration is a huge red flag
Excessive hydration is a huge red flag. Dr Isaac Dapkins, chief medical officer at NYU Langone’s Family Health Centers, told the New York Post that drinking too much water with electrolytes dilutes them and “can be a real problem.” Increased dilution may cause electrolyte depletion in the body, leaving insufficient electrolytes to make urine and remove that water. As a result, your salt levels may drop, leaving you feeling weak and with a headache.
Overhydration may cause the brain to swell, resulting in vomiting or seizures.
While the new trend is great, its drawbacks are inextricably linked to the additives added to the water. Adding a lot of sugar is an equally bad option. Fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, cucumber, oranges, lime, strawberries, and so on, are excellent go-to options with real-world benefits; other supplements will not always work to your advantage.