From cortisol face to sexy water: are TikTok diet trends actually worth your time?

In just a few short swipes, the app can introduce outlandish ideas and theories you never knew existed, making you question decades-held beliefs with just a few persuasive claims. And with 33% Of Gen Zers trusting TikTok more than doctors, it’s essential to get the facts straight on your next scroll, as falling for extreme wellness claims could have serious consequences for your health.

To help you keep a smart head about it, we asked Ro Huntriss (@dietitianro), a qualified dietitian, to weigh in on some of TikTok's most popular diet trends. Here’s what she had to say…

Well, now social media has a new buzzword: ‘oatzempic’ – an aptly named diet drink made by blending oats, water and a dash of lime juice into a viral sludge. Many users claim that drinking this homemade concoction daily can help you to shed unwanted pounds.

So is it actually true? “There is some method to the madness here,” says Ro. “As oats contain a soluble fibre called beta-glucan, the theory is that they work in a similar way to semaglutide mediations in that they help us to feel fuller for longer, so we’re less likely to consume additional calories through snacking throughout the day.”

Wellness enthusiasts have massively embraced the trend, with thousands sharing their own takes on sexy water – mixing in everything from fruits and veggies like lemon and cucumber to trendy health powders like chlorophyll, collagen and adaptogenic mushrooms into their H2O.

So should we be doing the same? “The main benefit of sexy water is that it helps increase your hydration, mostly by adding flavour and novelty,” says Ro. “As for the nutritional value of infusing water with herbs or vegetables, only tiny amounts of nutrients or antioxidants will actually leach into the drink, unless you’re actually eating those garnishes afterwards.”

That said, if you’re not a fan of plain water’s bland taste, Ro reckons that adding a little sweetness can encourage you to drink more throughout the day, which is important for your overall health. As you probably already know, staying hydrated can reduce headaches, improve organ function and generally keep you feeling your best.

Things get more interesting when it comes to nootropics. “It’s definitely a growing field of science, and there is emerging evidence that functional mushrooms like Lion's Mane could help improve cognitive focus. Similarly, there’s some research to suggest that collagen can support skin health and elasticity,” Ro explains.

This made-up term refers to a puffy or bloated facial appearance that some users believe is caused by extra levels of the stress hormone cortisol coursing through the body.

But can lengthy traffic jams and high-pressure deadlines really change our face shape? “Not exactly,” says Ro. “There is a medical condition called Cushing’s Syndrome¹ that can cause facial puffiness when people over produce cortisol, but if we’re zooming out to the entire population, it’s incredibly rare.” To put it into context, incidence rates range between 1.8 and 3.2 cases² per million people.

“For most people, it’s unlikely that stress alone would cause facial swelling, but that’s not to dismiss your experience of a puffy face," says Ro. “A bit of facial swelling is common, but it can easily happen if our diet is high in salt or if we’re dehydrated – so there could be lots of other reasons it’s regularly happening to you.”

“Beer contains ingredients like yeast, barley and hops, which in theory can contain some antioxidants and B vitamins, but there’s no scientific evidence to suggest that sitting in beer has any real benefits for your health,” she says. “And remember, beer also contains alcohol, which might actually irritate some people’s skin.”

If you’re looking to build better skin, Dr Ro suggests focusing on your diet, rather than sudsing up in a boozy bath. “As protein is the building block of everything in our body, eating enough can naturally support skin regeneration. Make sure you’re also getting a good dose of antioxidants from a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables, which can help to fight off oxidative stress that can damage the skin.”

One final tip? “Swap the beer for water,” says Ro. “Staying hydrated is one of the best and most accessible ways you can support your skin in the long-run. It might not be sexy, but I’m a big believer that wellness doesn’t need to cost a fortune.”