Have you recently found yourself in the depths of WellnessTok?? If not, here is what you’ve been missing- a trending “internal shower” drink that was originally recommended by Daryl Gioffre, a board certified chiropractor.

He says this drink can boost vitamin c, omega 3 fatty acids, decrease inflammation, improve digestion, and reduce constipation. And clearly people are needing help with all of the above because I have been seeing this drink everywhere.

So what’s in it??

The recipe calls for 6 ounces of filtered water, 2 tablespoons of chia seeds, and the juice from half an organic lemon.

Mix it together, let it sit for five minutes (so the chia seeds can ‘gel’), and throw it back.

It sounded simple enough, and I can appreciate the nutritional benefits of each ingredient individually, so I thought I’d give it a try.

My Version

Instead of using a fresh lemon, I had some organic bottled lemon juice from whole foods that I used (p.s. if you like having lemon juice on hand but hate how expensive lemons can be, and then feel like the other half dries out after you use the first half, and they go bad before you can use them… just buy bottled lemon juice. I can often times find it quite a bit cheaper than it would be for lemons)

I also opted for 1 tablespoon of chia seeds instead of 2. It honestly just seemed like a lot so i halved it.

And lastly, I added a pinch of Redmonds mineral sea salt to add some more minerals and up the hydration.

The Benefits

Lemon juice provides your body with vitamin c in its natural form. Vitamin C is a great source of antioxidants, plays a role in synthesizing collagen in the body, and boosting the immune system, to name a few.

Chia seeds- these little guys are really a nutritional powerhouse. They are full of minerals, antioxidants, and fatty acids, and can help with inflammation, digestion, support heart and skin health, and even help with blood sugar balance. They are also filled with insoluble fiber which can help with digestion and regular bowel movements. This is the reasoning behind the idea that this drink can “keep you regular”.

Chia seeds also have a unique ability to “gel” because of their hydrophilic (meaning “water-loving”) outer layer that can absorb up to 10x its weight in liquid.

My Review

Honestly? It looked like gross swamp water… and it didn’t taste a whole lot better.

Plus, I don’t think we should be dependent on a drink like this to alleviate symptoms of constipation (which it appears to be people’s number one motivation for trying this drink).

Regular bowel movements are a sign of a healthy metabolism and it’s the body’s way of detoxing waste and toxins. If you’re body isn’t already doing this, it could be a sign of something bigger going on and a “quick fix” like this drink, may not help the actual problem.

It might actually make the problem worse. When people rapidly increase their fiber intake (like this drink potentially can do), they can experience bloating, gas, and constipation. Like I mentioned earlier, too much fiber can be just as problematic as too little.

Some natural remedies to encourage regular bowel movements include staying hydrated, incorporating regular exercise and movement to your day, and slowly increasing fiber-containing foods.

Some of my favorite high fiber foods include fruit like blueberries and apples, vegetables like asparagus and leafy greens, legumes and properly prepared grains!

There you have it- my thoughts on the latest trending “internal shower” drink. As with all things holistic wellness, there truly is no quick fix. The true magic lays in sustained, holistic habits over time- nourishing your body with real food, moving your body, staying hydrated, managing stress, and spending time in nature.

-Kaelyn

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