A simple concoction of rice water and lime has become the latest weight loss craze to take over TikTok.
Dubbed “rice-zempic,” the concoction promises to help shed up to two pounds every single day. But experts have warned that the miracle mixture may actually pose a serious risk to our health.
“There are so many health red flags with this latest TikTok diet trend that it’s hard to know where to start,” Masarat Jilani, resident doctor at the bladder care company Jude, told Newsweek.
TikTok influencer Monika Monroe is one of hundreds of users to share her recipe for “rice-zempic,” in which she mixes one cup of uncooked rice with one cup of hot water and the juice of half a lime.
“I drink it first thing in the morning,” Monroe said in a video that has amassed over 2.2 million views. “I drink water after that. [Then] at 2 p.m. I have a healthy lunch.”
However, Jilani warned that consuming uncooked rice water can put us at risk of food poisoning from the spores of a bacterium called Bacillus cereus, which can be found on as much as 50 percent of uncooked rice samples in the U.S., according to the National Institutes of Health.
“Expect to experience the usual unpleasant food poisoning symptoms if this happens: nausea, stomach cramps, and diarrhea,” Jilani said.
Insufficient straining may also result in consumption of the rice grains themselves. “If this diet hack leads to you inadvertently consuming uncooked rice, it is incredibly tough for our bodies to digest, and could lead to bloating, gas, and even risks damage to the intestinal tract,” Jilani said.
“Adding lime juice into the mix makes things worse. It is highly acidic, and consuming it in these quantities could irritate the bladder lining, exacerbating conditions like interstitial cystitis or overactive bladder.”
Users have claimed that the rice water’s weight loss benefits comes from the presence of resistant starch, which can act as a prebiotic, encouraging the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. However, Jilani said that you can get the same benefits from other foods that don’t carry the risk of bacterial infection.
“You can get that same benefit without the risks from other foods including cooked and cooled potatoes, so you could get the same effect from a potato salad without the risk of food poisoning,” she said.
Jilani added that the weight loss claims by some users on the “rice-zempic” diet were more likely to be down to the fact that the low-calorie concoction replaces breakfast, meaning fewer calories are consumed throughout the day.
“However, it is important to remember that this is not a healthy method to lose weight given the possible risks,” she said.
Is there a health issue that’s worrying you? Do you have a question about weight loss? Let us know via health@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
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