Embarrassing and distressing ‘side effect’ of TikTok trend for eating entire cucumbers in one sitting

“Sometimes,” says the TikTok star known as “Cucumber Guy,” “you gotta eat a whole cucumber.”

Next up, 23-year-old Canadian influencer Logan Moffitt has sparked a global wave of chopping, pickling and nibbling by sharing viral recipes for cucumber salads prepared in plastic containers.

His videos typically receive over 10 million views and have sparked a wave of copies on social media, which have also proven to be popular.

In Iceland, the virtual craze has even led to suppliers facing a nationwide shortage of the vegetable.

But experts say eating too many cucumbers can cause nasty side effects, such as diarrhea, flatulence and kidney problems.

Although regular lettuce is safe and healthy for regular consumption, consuming too much of it can lead to negative side effects.

Carolina Schneider, Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Consultant from the US said: ‘The high water and fiber content can cause digestive problems when consumed in large quantities.

‘That’s because fiber stimulates bowel movements and in some people, especially if they’re not used to a high-fiber diet, this can lead to bloating, gas or even diarrhea.’

Cucumbers provided many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, fiber and manganese.

However, research has also suggested that too much vitamin K can affect blood clotting, while too much potassium can cause hyperkalemia – when potassium levels in the blood are higher than normal.

Many people have few or no symptoms of hyperkalemia.

When symptoms do occur, they are usually mild, including muscle weakness, numbness, tingling and nausea, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

The Ottawa, Canada-based content creator starts most of his videos with the words, “Sometimes you gotta eat a whole cucumber, let me show you the best way to do it.”

Sudden symptoms may include palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, or even nausea and vomiting.

Experts told MailOnline that it would be ‘very difficult to overdose’ on such nutrients, but nevertheless warned that people taking blood-thinning medication should watch their vitamin K intake.

Registered nutritionist and author Rob Hobson said: ‘There’s nothing wrong with eating cucumber. And even if you eat a lot, you’re unlikely to stick with it for long as the novelty will likely wear off.

‘It is very difficult to get an overdose of nutrients through food, as often happens with supplements.

‘Instances of excess potassium and vitamin K are more common in individuals with very specific health problems than in healthy individuals.

‘For example, people who use blood thinners such as Warfarin should pay attention to their vitamin K intake. However, this is a specific case and can be addressed by adjusting the dosage.’

He added: ‘Of course it’s a good idea to vary your fruit and vegetable intake and not just rely on one type of fruit and vegetable.

‘Given that the average intake of fruits and vegetables is already below the recommended five per day, I wouldn’t stop anyone from eating cucumber.’

Professor Gunter Kuhnle, an expert in nutrition and food science at the University of Reading, told MailOnline: ‘Too much potassium can have adverse effects, but it is likely to be difficult to achieve this with cucumbers.

‘To get the recommended daily amount of potassium, you need about 2.5 kg of cucumber. That’s a lot.

‘The safe upper limit for vitamin K is around 1 mg/day. That is equivalent to 6 kg of cucumber. That is also difficult to achieve.

‘However, someone who is taking blood-thinning medication and suddenly wants to eat large amounts of cucumbers should pay attention to whether this affects the functioning of the medication.’

Research from the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology also shows that people with allergies to melons, zucchini and bananas may also have a cucumber allergy.

Cucumbers provide many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, fiber, and manganese. However, research has also suggested that too much vitamin K can affect blood clotting, while too much potassium can cause hyperkalemia – when potassium levels in the blood are higher than normal

But consumers aren’t the only ones getting into trouble because of the viral TikTok trend.

Icelandic supermarkets and suppliers have been scrambling to keep up with demand for the vegetables as supplies have dwindled due to an unprecedented surge in demand.

Farmers in Iceland, which has a population of 393,600, produce about six million cucumbers.

The Icelandic farmers’ association, the Horticulturists’ Sales Company, has said it is currently unable to meet consumer demand, but hopes supply will return to normal “within a week or so”.

In 2021, Greek cheese disappeared from the shelves of several supermarkets due to the TikTok craze surrounding a pasta dish with baked feta.

That same year, a recipe for a salmon rice bowl that went viral was also tested on the Kewpie mayonnaise supply.