A memory from a family gathering 15 years ago has remained stewing in my mind.

 

Long story short: A relative was proudly showing off a brand new vibrating belt. For just $35, the product promised rock-solid abs even with zero exercise.

 

Last I heard, it's now another long-abandoned piece of equipment.

 

Such ridiculous health fads aren't new to us, yet there's always something in vogue. Recall the height of Covid. Through the grapevine, parents heard that coconut water worked wonders against the virus. Sales spiked as people hoarded the drink. Since the boom, the claim's been debunked. We'll ignore the ivermectin fiasco.

A health fad is a fad when it promises one thing: dramatic results. Once they're further popularised through viral videos or word-of-mouth, consider some of us sold.

 

Misguided or not, they're done all in the name of health—something many of us struggle to manage or even understand. 

 

Like many, I've subscribed to a couple of health fads myself. I'm guilty of self-diagnosing too.

 

Heartburn, bloating, burping? You name it. First, it was Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), then Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD), or Acid Reflux.

 

I'm all for digging in good food, even if it comes with a dose of pain. Post-meal, I walk out of a restaurant with the grace of a "lanky pregnant lizard", as my friends would describe me.

 

The sensation's hard to describe—it's both acidic and bitter; a distinct burning sensation in the chest that makes digestion feel like it welcomes a wave of bile.

Almost as convenient as my "diagnosis" were the self-prescribed solutions. Online, I stumbled onto the idea of Intuitive Eating. The whole point is to eat only when you're hungry and stop when you're full. All you gotta do is listen to your body and make food choices that feel good.

 

It sounded simple and harmless enough, except I began feeling more sluggish than ever. In reality, I ate too much or too little, and only at the oddest hours. Meals were shockingly inconsistent. Hunger came at 4PM or 12AM. At times, it didn't come at all.

 

That meant I could be going about with one huge meal or six small ones a day. A bowl of plain oats, or Samyang Spicy Noodles topped with veggies, fried egg and pork belly slices.

 

Needless to say; it failed, and I still feel like a bloated lizard on most days.

 

 

According to Pooja Vig, 52-year-old Clinic Director and Functional Medicine Nutritionist of The Nutrition Clinic, there shouldn't be any shortcuts to good health at all.

 

She tells me that a number of factors may be causing such bloating symptoms. It's actually pretty common. Data and knowledge is key here. Not viral trends, but actual facts that will lead to wise healthy decisions for ourselves.

 

"Everyone is really different," Pooja notes. "It could be the status of your gut microbiome, or you may even have food sensitivities that have yet to be discovered. These need to be thoroughly investigated."

Whichever the case, she recommends to start with a basic health test before going on yet another wild Google chase. For starters, that'll help paint a better understanding of the body's overall condition—what it lacks, and what appropriate tweaks should be made to the diet.

If you're part of the itty-bitty-titty club, you might have heard of the Papaya Milkshake Theory. Apparently, the drink's said to be a natural remedy for breast enlargement.

Its winning ingredient, phytoestrogens, is a plant-based compound that produces estrogen-like effects. It's said to aid in reproductive development, particularly for women.

 

23-year-old Fion first learned about it through a Taiwanese Variety programme back in Secondary School. "I don't recall who exactly, but celebrities were raving about this on a variety show," she recounts, "I was instantly sold on the idea. My mom even stirred me on."

 

During puberty, Fion would buy papayas and religiously prepare them every day. On days when time isn't of essence, she'll actively seek out fruit juice stalls that sell them too. "It was a self-image thing, and I guess I was caught up with comparing myself with others."

 

She's embarrassed looking back at the episode now.

 

"Who even decided that big breasts were best??"

 

Then came acne and the height of K-pop. As much as she began obsessing over Korean culture, she became equally invested in achieving good skin. Whatever little she saved from pocket money quickly went into beauty products.

 

Not just that, but also collagen hot pots. Till this day, she hears a particular nagging in her head: “Drink more soup! It's good for your complexion!" It's one she grew up hearing, often repeated like a broken record.

 

"All these celebrities had such crystal glowy skin and silky hair. I felt horrible about myself with my acne-prone skin," he recalls. Desperate in her hope that collagen hot pots were the long-fabled Fountain of Youth, Fion made it a point to consume them at least once a month.

 

 

Having been in this line for 15 years, Pooja's unfazed by the ridiculousness of these fads. Yes, including the belief that people need less protein as they age (Fun fact: It's false). That said, she's never heard of the Papaya Milkshake fad in her life, and refrained from chiming in on its efficacy.

 

As a rule of thumb though, she stands wary of any one thing that's touted as a cure-all miracle.

 

Asked her thoughts about less-known alternatives like edible Bird's Nests, and she isn't quick to dismiss it. Like hot pots, Bird's Nests provide a rich source of collagen too, and have been proven to be effective in improving skin health.

 

Among many other healthy food choices, Pooja affirms that traditional remedies definitely have its place in the system. There's no harm in trying a new thing, it seems. "Food like Bird's Nests can be used as part one's wider toolkit," she adds.

 

"Just not a miracle that will override the effects of other factors like poor sleep and stress."

The Attempt:

Much like a seasoned cafe hopper, 28-year-old *Norah is more than familiar with health fads too. She's jumped from one to another all her life. She points to Tumblr, YouTube and online forums as her main source of information.

 

"I'd get on whatever that's trending, basically."

 

She goes on to tell me all about the Baby Food Diet and Apple Diet—both of which she had tried on separate occasions. "Being my lazy self, I bought pre-made baby food; ones in jars from the supermarket and had them for meals. Oh my god, they tasted so bad."

I'm not surprised. Replacing breakfast and lunch with jars of pureed ham and strained peas? That doesn't sound appetising at all.

It took diligence on her part to ensure that things were going to plan. As much as possible, she'd avoid dining out. Otherwise, she'd strategically schedule social activities before or after meals. Like Fion, this was driven by her obsession of attaining "good looks" defined by society.

 

"Thinness was a trend. For whatever reason, so many people wanted to get rid of a thigh gap. I did too." These attempts were rarely about health, which she now realises at an older age.

 

"I've learned that there's a limit to how much you can sleep hunger away. The more you can't have something, the more your body naturally craves it."

 

Before anything even worked though, she was on to the next thing.

 

As her myopia began to deteriorate, she began consuming more carrots. She'd even volunteer to have friends' leftovers whenever carrots were the ones left uneaten. Her vision continues to worsen at -600 today, so all that conscious consumption proved futile.

 

The Apple Diet? It requiredher to eat at least three a day—one enough to keep the doctor away, three to cause alarm.

 

"These kinds of health fads—the Baby Food and Apples Diet—contain misinformation which can be very dangerous," Pooja laments, stressing that they can cause "extreme nutritional deficiencies."

 

According to her, weight management is more about the quality of food. It's bad practice to simply count calories. She recommends looking at macronutrients and the glycemic load (how quickly food affects your blood sugar) instead.

 

It's not that clear cut. "There's also other factors—the consideration of hormones, for instance, and how that can impact someone's weight and metabolism."

 

*Norah isn't entirely wrong about carrots though. Pooja chimes in: "Orange foods like carrots, mangos and apricots are high in beta-carotene, which is a form of Vitamin A. It's what you'll need for good eyesight. Still, she stresses the dangers. Say, if someone has high blood sugar or insulin resistance, it might not be good to have them all the time.

 

"Again, this loops back to bio-individuality."

 

Just because it works for one person, doesn't mean it's a one-size-fits-all.

Behold the ever-growing list of health & wellness myths. Some of these have been so ingrained in us even if they're baseless and lack clear scientific research. It's not surprising, considering we live in a world where celebrity diets are somehow praised and glorified.

 

It's hard to sift through what's best for us when there are infinite routes to good health. Whatever the case, take it from a professional. Register for a health screening; rely on trusted sources instead.

Safe to say, you won't find good health after inhaling packs of chia seeds. The key isn't hiding in a fad diet or elimination regime. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

 

 

Author: Eve Lock, RICE Media.

 

Content originally published at If Health Fads Are Scams, Why Do We Still Fall for Them?