Just when we thought TikTok could not lead to stranger trends, its latest craze, known as the “healthy car”, has raised questions and confusion among experts and consumers. If you haven’t heard of it, the “healthy car” has become a phenomenon after TikToker Amanda Jones said it was a healthier alternative to the soft drink. It consists of ice, balsamic vinegar and carbonated water. Yes, you read that right: Balsamic vinegar – the ingredient you add to salad dressings. The idea is for the mixture to taste like Coca-Cola. But he does really?
Everyone knows that drinking carbonated beverages regularly is not the best thing for our health, but is it really worth replacing it with a carbonated beverage based on vinegar? TikTok is known to affect teenagers, so it is disturbing that they are told that they should drink vinegar instead of soda if they crave the drink. With all the latest wellness trends in TikTok, it’s easy to consume in this world, but do you have to believe everything you see?
To find out, I talked to several nutritionists and a dentist. Here’s what they had to say about this latest trend at TikTok.
The “healthy car” contributes to the culture of nutrition
One of the big problems with the “healthy car” is that this is another trend rooted in the culture of eating. “It’s a lower-calorie alternative to drinking soda, and many people think it automatically makes them healthier, but it’s not,” said Christine Byrne, a registered North Carolina nutritionist who specializes in eating disorders.
Gabriela Barretto, a registered nutritionist and sports nutritionist, agrees, noting that the trend confirms the idea that there is good against bad food or drink. “This suggests that sugar is the enemy and that there are certain foods that will affect or spoil your health, which is all a product of food culture,” she said. “By attributing moral value to food, we are reiterating the idea that eating these foods means you are doing something wrong or bad, and this continues to increase the negative relationship with food for many people. As a result of these habits, many people eventually develop malnutrition.
Excessive consumption of sugary drinks is not good for us because it puts us at risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and many others. But let’s be honest, when you decide to drink soda, it is likely that you will not drink it because of the health benefits. Drink it because you crave sugar, soda or caffeine, or just because you like it.
“Ordinary Coca-Cola is not something you should drink at every meal, but as part of a nourishing overall diet, it’s good to eat sometimes,” Byrne said. If you drink soda, she added, it is best to combine it with food or snacks, because getting a lot of nutrients (not just sugar) will help keep your blood sugar more stable.
It is as sour as soda
Like other carbonated beverages, “healthy car” is very acidic. Every food and drink has a pH value, which shows how acidic or alkaline it is. To determine the level of acidity, the product is usually tested using pH strips or a pH meter and then measured against a pH scale that has a range of zero to 14. Water, for example, is considered neutral and has a pH of 7. Anything with a pH below 7 is considered acidic, and anything with a pH above 7 is considered low acid or alkaline.
“Consuming this amount of balsamic vinegar, which is strongly acidic at pH 2 to 3, in a drink can be harmful,” said Barreto. This is because strongly acidic beverages can erode tooth enamel, irritate the esophagus and create or worsen acid reflux. “In general, when we consume balsamic vinegar in a salad, there are other ingredients and the content of balsamic vinegar is not so high,” she added.
From the point of view of oral care, the “healthy car” trend is no healthier than the consumption of ordinary soda. “The pH of vinegar is about 2 to 3, which is about the same level of acidity as a full sugar car or diet car, which means it’s just as harmful to enamel at high volumes,” said Dr. Joyce Kang, a California-based. cosmetic dentist. “For reference, tooth enamel demineralizes at pH 5.5, so whether it’s a normal car or not, both are unhealthy for teeth.”
Possible health risks
It is important to know that the “healthy car” trend may not be suitable for anyone who wants to try it. People who have esophageal problems and acid reflux should avoid this trend. “For someone with gastroesophageal reflux disease, such a sour and sparkling drink can cause acid reflux, although the same goes for any type of sparkling drink, as well as anything with a lot of acid,” Byrne explained.
According to Byrne, for most people there are no physical health risks to worry about. However, if you are taking medication and are worried about potential interactions, always ask your doctor or pharmacist first.
If you decide to drink a “healthy car” or other carbonated beverages, Kahng offers to drink it in a short time or with a meal. “Drinking something that is acidic for a long time is the worst thing you can do because it prolongs the acidic pH intraorally,” she said. “Remember that carbonation and flavors lower the pH in the acid zone, which is not great for teeth.
It is better to drink the real deal
Now that you know that “healthy Coca-Cola” may not be worth the fuss, you’re probably wondering if it’s better to drink the real or diet version. “Soda has been identified as one of the main culprits and major causes of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but metabolic diseases are very complex,” Barreto said. “There are many factors, including genetics, environment, overall lifestyle, socio-economic status and others.”
She admits that while carbonated gas contains sugar, she does not believe that sugar is something we should be afraid of. “The more we fear about certain products or ingredients, the worse our relationship with food becomes,” she said. “And we know from growing research and experience, this doesn’t work at all to improve people’s health because it leads to a more restrictive diet, which ultimately worsens rather than improves health.”
As for diet soda, there has been speculation over the years about its health value, but there is no evidence to support this. Although the long-term effects of artificial sweeteners are still debated, they are generally safe to consume. “There are many myths about diet soda, such as that it will actually raise your blood sugar, increase your insulin response, make you crave more sugar, and so on,” Barreto said. There are even claims that artificial sweeteners can cause changes in intestinal bacteria, which is not entirely false. “While this is potentially true, the dose that can cause harm or changes is much higher than that in a box of diet car,” she said.
In general, Barreto believes that diet soda is a good alternative for people who enjoy the taste of soda, but should monitor their blood sugar levels, such as those with diabetes. Byrne points out that some people may experience bloating and bad breath from drinking diet soda. “Just like a regular car and even a ‘healthy car’, drinking carbonated drinks is unlikely to have a huge impact on your health, good or bad, because no food or drink is powerful enough to do so.
Eventually
It is important to reiterate that just because something is on trend in TikTok does not mean that it should be copied. It is healthy to question viral tendencies and ask yourself how they could be harmful or beneficial. If you are ever in trouble, it is best to be careful and ask a professional first.
If you’ve tried the “healthy car” trend and really like it, then be sure to drink it. But if you don’t like it, that’s fine too – you can choose the real deal or the diet version instead. The most important conclusion from this is that not every food or drink should be “healthy” and you should be able to enjoy your favorite foods or drinks in their original form. According to Byrne, “you don’t need to create ‘healthier’ versions of your favorite foods, because these exchanges will never satisfy you the way the real thing will be.”
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended for health or medical advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified medical professional about any questions you may have about your medical condition or health goals.