From the Victorian Age tapeworm diet to the 1930s grapefruit craze, health fads have long been an integral part of society. Today’s world is no different. As the new vehicle for trendsetting,  TikTok health “hacks” such as dry scooping pre-workout and drinking “healthy coke,” are posing real dangers to the health of the influenced. In order to ensure the safety of the public, these “health” trends must be verified by a professional, prior to being distributed as truth to the internet.

Unpasteurized milk

In recent years, almond milk, soy milk and oat milk have become popular staples of many households. However, a new trend of drinking raw, unpasteurized milk has influenced many to turn away from these alternatives.

Raw milk advocates argue that when milk is pasteurized, many beneficial nutrients, such as amino acids, antimicrobials, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids are strained out. While these all sound good, raw milk contains harmful bacteria—e.coli, listeria and salmonella—that can cause tuberculosis. Some symptoms of tuberculosis are weight loss, night sweats and high temperatures, indicating that there is a real and legitimate reason that milk is pasteurized. Instead of putting yourself at risk for a long night on the toilet, take supplements to achieve the same benefits.

Healthy Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola is known for its high sugar content and linkage to detrimental health effects. To counter this negative side effect while satisfying natural cravings, California actress Amanda Jones created an alternative beverage known on TikTok as “healthy coke.” This substitute, which is composed of balsamic vinegar and La Croix, tastes nothing like coke, and can also cause acid reflux. 

To further add onto this, replacing cravings with “healthier alternatives” are likely to lead to a guilt-deprivation cycle. Without the satisfaction of fulfilling the craving, people are likely to consume other sweet foods to compensate. 

Dry-scooping pre-workout

Dry-scooping pre-workout powder is exactly what it sounds like—eating workout powder with no liquid. While dry-scooping maximizes the caffeine in the pre-workout and makes personal records easier to achieve, it’s simply not worth the risk. 

A few years back, Briatney Portillo posted a TikTok where she tried dry-scooping pre-workout for the first time. Since the powder was not mixed with a liquid and slowly ingested, Portillo consumed about the equivalent caffeine content of multiple cups of coffee in a matter of seconds, resulting in a heart attack. 

Although pre-workout is a great way to set personal records, smaller intakes yield similar results without risking your health in the process.