IN SHORT: A TikTok video claims that combining cucumber, apples, ginger, spinach and lime juice can help you lose belly fat in less than a month. However, experts say that this has not been medically proven.
A video posted on TikTok claims that mixing cucumber, apples, ginger, spinach and lime juice can help you lose belly fat.
The voice in the video instructs users to chop two cucumbers, two apples and ginger, extract lime juice, add two cups of spinach and blend them.
“You will lose belly fat in less than a month … incorporate this powerful smoothie into your daily routine, consuming one glass a day and you’ll see significant improvements in your belly fat,” the voice says.
The video also comes with a warning: “Don’t use this homemade recipe too much.”
It has been viewed over 236,000 times, with more than 12,700 comments and 158,000 reposts, on TikTok. The video was also posted on Facebook.
But can this combination help you lose belly fat in less than a month? We checked.
‘Not medically proven,’ says expert
The ingredients listed are antioxidants and can, according to one study, reportedly help reduce the oxidative stress that contributes to obesity, or having too much body fat. Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants, two of the molecules found in the body.
Cucumbers, apples and lime are fruits with different properties that are beneficial to the body when eaten individually. Spinach can help fight oxidative stress, while ginger can help with weight loss.
But consuming them in combination can’t reduce belly fat, according to Dr Rotimi Adesanya. He’s the head of medical services at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Medical Centre, in Lagos, Nigeria. He told Africa Check that the combination only had preventive properties.
“Ginger has anti-fat properties that help with weight loss and cholesterol reduction. This is confirmed by research done by medical experts, but not for abdominal fats. When we talk about supplements like spices and fruits, they are low-calorie substances and supplements. They are more preventive than curative. Preventing fats does not mean treating fats.”
Republish our content for free
For publishers: what to do if your post is rated false
A fact-checker has rated your Facebook or Instagram post as “false”, “altered”, “partly false” or “missing context”. This could have serious consequences. What do you do?
Click on our guide for the steps you should follow.
Publishers guideAfrica Check teams up with Facebook
Africa Check is a partner in Meta's third-party fact-checking programme to help stop the spread of false information on social media.
The content we rate as “false” will be downgraded on Facebook and Instagram. This means fewer people will see it.
You can also help identify false information on Facebook. This guide explains how.
Add new comment