What to know about TikTok's okra water trend before you try it

A slimy drink with slimy claims

Mia Erickson

3 min read

October 25, 2024 - 3:14PM

Lifestyle

Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News.

In this article:
A lowdown on the supposed benefits of okra water
Why we should leave the health advice to the experts
How to better address your dietary fibre and gut health concerns

Can’t bring yourself to stomach a glass of TikTok’s okra water? You’re not alone. Here’s what an accredited dietitian has to say about the many supposed health benefits associated to the slimy concoction.

They say the price of beauty is pain, but as TikTok’s latest trend suggests, the price of wellness may well be tolerating the weird, wacky and gross.

Over the past few weeks, creators across the platform haven’t been able to contain their excitement for their new favourite health concoction – a glass full of okra’s slimy mucilage.

While okra water certainly isn’t the first gross thing people ingested in the name of wellness, it’s rapidly gaining traction on the internet thanks it’s long list of supposed health benefits – especially for women in the bedroom.

But is guzzling a daily glass of this slime really the answer to our longevity, immunity and libido woes? Body+Soul chats to 9an expert about what this trend could really do to your health, inside and out.

A low-down on the supposed benefits

From boosting immunity to transforming sexual performance, the claims relating to okra water consumption are nothing short of amazing, boosting searches for the concoction by 470 per cent on Pinterest.

Posting clips of themselves preparing their daily dose, users across TikTok and social media swear by okra water for its ability to improve digestion, regulate blood sugar, and increase female fertility.

One user on Instagram even hails the slimy concoction as a natural lubricant, attributing her balanced hormones, heightened libido and improved fertility to regular okra water consumption.

Okra is a healthy vegetable when consumed as part of a balanced diet. Image: iStock

With claims as drastic as these, it’s no wonder the rising popularity of this natural slime on social media has raised a few eyebrows among health experts. But lubrication benefits aside, does this slimy drink possess any nutritional or dietary benefit? According to Nikki Lancaster, an accredited dietitian, nutritionist and cooking coach, the answer is complicated.

“This trend has been driven by the high plant mucilage in this vegetable, which is a slimy form of soluble fibre,” she explains, “The danger of this trend is that the health claims have very little to no substantiation in the science and oversimplifies the effects of this soluble fibre on overall health.”

“Okra is a healthy vegetable when consumed as part of a balanced diet, alongside other foods, however in such a concentrated form is posing more of a health risk than a benefit,” she continues.

“The risks outweigh the potential benefits in my opinion, such as digestive issues due to the high fructan content, interference with prescribed medications such as Metformin (a Type 2 Diabetes blood sugar regulation medication), allergic reactions, and overconsumption of oxalates which can contribute to kidney stones.”

@byzareefa
recently discovered the surprising benefits of drinking okra water! 🌿 From improved digestion to glowing skin, this natural elixir packs a punch of health benefits. Cheers to a happier, healthier you! 💧 #OkraWater #fyp
♬ original sound - byzareefa

Leaving the health advice to the experts

Okra water is only the latest in a long line of troublesome TikTok health trends, gaining popularity shortly after users’ obsession with ‘Tadpole water’ (water loaded with chia seeds). It’s a trend Lancaster, among a rising number of health professionals, is increasingly concerned about.

“TikTok and social media-endorsed trends often have people consuming concentrated or large quantities of single foods or nutrients, and while these nutrients may be ‘healthy’ and beneficial in a normal setting, anything in such large quantities can be harmful,” she says.

“In practice, I have seen the negative effects of trends such as the celery juice diet, where clients take the Tik-Tok trend too far, resulting in kidney stress exacerbation and nutrient imbalances in the body.”

Relying on extreme trends such as okra water to deliver a quick fix, people often overlook areas of their diet and lifestyle that could be improved.

Has our obsession with quick fix elixirs become dangerous? Image: Pexels

How to better address your dietary fibre and gut health concerns

According to the dietitian, there are plenty of more effective (and far less disgusting) ways we can increase our dietary fibre and promote a healthy gut, starting with the foods we choose to load our plates with.

“Dietary fibre is obtained from any plant-based foods, such as grains and cereals, fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts and seeds,” Lancaster says.

“By consuming a varied diet, aiming to eat from the five core food groups according to the Guide to Healthy Eating and opting for the ‘whole’ versions of foods (wholegrain, whole fruit, whole vegetable), dietary fibre targets should be adequately met and the need for these Tik-Tok trends redundant.”