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TikTok's latest health trend - the "internal shower" - may cause stomach problems, nutritionists said today.
Clips viewed by millions show users drinking a glass of water with lemon and two tablespoons of chia seeds.
It is said to flush out the body and act as a natural laxative.
Nutrition experts told MailOnline that the 'hack' - as it has been branded on social media - could cause bloating and discomfort if drunk too quickly.
Others accepted that it could work but warned that it could potentially cause an intestinal blockage, which is considered a medical emergency.
They said it's better to consume more fiber from various plant sources throughout the day to relieve constipation.
TV producer and author Jac Vanek (pictured) has racked up hundreds of thousands of views on her video testing the trend
TV producer and author Jac Vanek (pictured) has racked up hundreds of thousands of views on her video testing the trend
Two tablespoons of chia seeds provide about 10g of fiber, which is equivalent to half a can of baked beans and about a third of the recommended daily intake.
Fiber is essential for the functioning of the intestines. It works by making stool softer and bulkier, making it easier to pass.
TV producer and author Jac Vanek has received hundreds of thousands of views on her video testing the trend.
Meanwhile, NHS surgeon Dr. Karan Rajan described the drink as “more of an internal drain cleaner than an internal shower”.
He described it as "probably one of the first TikTok trends that actually works and won't kill you," but warned that it tasted like "frog spawn."
Dozens of other gut health experts and food bloggers have endorsed the trend, including Dr. Lindsey Schmidt and Ashley McCrary-Mac, who each have hundreds of thousands of followers.
Lemon is only added to enhance the flavor, with the main benefits revolving around chia seeds alone.
In addition to promoting good gut health, chia seeds have been linked to strengthening bones and the heart, improving blood sugar levels, and reducing the risk of diabetes.
Chia seeds, which cost £1 for 150g, quickly absorb water and replenish their size several times when left in liquid.
They also form a gel-like texture that is easy to swallow and digest.
For this reason, and because of their purported wealth of health benefits, they are often added to smoothies, oatmeal, and yogurt.
However, chia seeds are still considered “novel foods” in the UK and Europe, meaning they are not widely available and their effects have been little studied.
But Professor Tom Sanders, a nutrition expert at King's College London, told MailOnline: "I wouldn't be surprised if they made irritable bowel syndrome worse."
Dr. Ian Johnson, a nutrition expert at the Quadram Institute Bioscience in Norwich, said chia seeds' high fiber content could make them a "useful occasional dietary supplement."
But he added: “As with any unusual dietary component, I doubt that consuming large doses in a single meal is a very good idea.
“Some unconventional sources of fiber consumed in this manner are known to cause intestinal obstruction.”
Dr. However, Johnson insisted that there is no evidence that this applies to chia seeds.
Intestinal obstruction occurs when food contents cannot pass through the intestines because they can become blocked.
This can lead to dehydration, a hole in the intestines allowing contents to spill into the abdomen, and aspiration – when stomach contents are breathed into the lungs.
Dozens of other gut health experts and food bloggers have endorsed the trend, including Dr. Lindsey Schmidt (left) and Ashley McCrary-Mac (right), who each have hundreds of thousands of followers
Chia seeds, which cost £1 for 150g, are tiny black seeds from the Hispanic salvia plant - a member of the mint family
They absorb water quickly to form a gel-like texture and are often added to smoothies, oatmeal, and yogurt for their health benefits. In addition to promoting good gut health, the seeds have been linked to strengthening bones and the heart, improving blood sugar levels, and reducing the risk of diabetes
Dr. Carmen Piernas, a researcher and nutritionist at the University of Oxford, told MailOnline that fiber should come from a "variety of sources throughout the day, every day".
She said: “Drinking it once a day would probably add fiber and should help gut health.
"But it is more important to consider the rest of the diet and try to follow a healthy plant-based eating pattern, which would certainly help achieve the daily fiber recommendation, rather than a single dose with large amounts of fiber, for which we don't but know the risks."
Dr. Duane Mellor, a nutritionist at Aston Medical School in Birmingham, agreed that the TikTok concoction would be a good source of fiber.
But he told MailOnline it "could cause bloating and discomfort" if not taken with enough water.
He said the seeds should be "consumed with plenty of liquid and ideally mixed into salads, bread or porridge rather than consumed mixed with water".
TikTok has previously come under fire for dangerous viral trends, including one that encouraged people to try to form melted hot honeycombs, which left a boy with third-degree burns.
And a girl had part of her intestines removed after swallowing magnets while copying clips they used to create the look of a tongue piercing.