When life gives you problems, eat a whole lemon – according to style and fashion influencer Victoria Magrath.
The 34-year-old from Britain shared her favorite drink recipe with her 690,000 TikTok followers, claiming it has boosted her metabolism and reduced bloating.
Victoria says she found the drink through the plant-based content maker, dubbed the ‘mood-boosting lemon olive oil drink’ jen jones, which claims it is the perfect drink to boost immunity and detoxify.
“I’m going to eat this whole lemon,” Victoria says in the clipwhich has been viewed almost 400,000 times since it was posted at the end of August.
Fashion and beauty influencer Victoria Macgrath says the drink is a mood booster and makes her feel healthier
Victoria swears by the drink, which she adapted from a health influencer on TikTok
After washing the lemon and cutting off the ends, Victoria mixes it with a tablespoon of olive oil, a tablespoon of honey, a piece of ginger, two dates, a cup and a half of water and a “dash of cinnamon.”
“I’m going to blend this super high for a few minutes,” she said. ‘Until everything is mixed.’
“It’s super creamy,” she enthuses, as she sifts it into a bowl.
“One addition I like to do is add some ground chia seeds,” she added.
“A small teaspoon of that,” she instructed. “Mix that all together.”
Victoria’s preferred method is to serve the lemon concoction over ice with a straw, which allows the flavor and creamy texture to dominate.
“This is great for your gut,” she beamed. ‘I have noticed that it helps with my bloating.
The influencer added: ‘It’s so creamy and delicious too.’
Victoria showed users how to make her gut-healing drink, which starts with washing and blending a whole lemon
She mixes the whole lemon with some extra virgin olive oil, which nutritionist Amanda Hart says can help fight inflammation
Her drink received mixed reviews from her TikTok followers, but Victoria claims it helped her feel healthier
Amanda says lemons are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which can boost the immune system and overall health
In one video, the fashionista says she’s having a bad mental health day and makes the drink as part of her routine to feel better
Victoria had first spoken about the drink in a previous video in which she admitted to having a “bad mental health day” and did so to make herself feel better.
“It’s really a mood-lifting effect,” she enthused.
Although Victoria is a fan of her lemon drink, some TikTok users questioned all the health benefits it claims to have, with some saying it could be harmful to the enamel on teeth.
‘I used to drink a whole lemon a day, even with a straw my teeth were so bad after 2 years. My dentist scolded me!! Maybe 2-3 a week max,” one user wrote.
But others were immediately converted to the magic of the lemon drink.
‘I tried it this morning! incredibly tasty! not sour at all!’ one follower shouted.
‘Just made it and I can’t believe how good it is!’ another agreed.
Others said they tried it and hated it.
“Omg it was disgusting,” someone commented on the video.
Nutritionist Amanda Hart, out Amanda Hart Wellnesstold DailyMail.com that the drink can certainly have some health benefits, but don’t expect it to radically change your life.
‘Lemons are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which can boost our immune system and overall health,’ explains Amanda. ‘They also stimulate the production of digestive enzymes in our liver, aiding digestion and nutrient absorption.’
She added that olive oil – especially extra virgin olive oil – is high in monounsaturated fats, which are beneficial for heart health.
“It also contains polyphenols that can fight inflammation in the body and improve the gut microbiota,” she explained.
Ginger and cinnamon are often thought of as digestive and anti-inflammatory agents, Amanda explained.
‘Ginger is known to promote gastric emptying (the time it takes for food to pass from the stomach and into the small intestine) and soothe the digestive tract, reducing feelings of bloating, gas and discomfort.’ , she said.
The nutritionist added: ‘Cinnamon also has many benefits; it is packed with antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory effects. Some research also suggests it may reduce bloating and other digestive symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome.”
According to the expert, mixing all these ingredients – even the chia seeds – can ‘certainly’ contribute to a healthier gut, provided it is combined with a balanced, nutrient-rich diet.
“(The drink) is generally safe to consume this mix in moderation as part of a balanced diet,” she said.
The nutritionist added that while the concoction was a “great way to start the day,” it was important to note that it wasn’t a one-stop shop for better health.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how often someone should drink it,” Amanda noted. “It’s best to take into account your specific needs, preferences, and any existing medical conditions.”
“It’s not a magic pill,” she reminded lemon lovers. ‘Everyone’s body responds differently to certain foods, so while these ingredients can support gut health in general, individual effects may vary.’
It’s not the first time lemons have been touted by TikTokers for their health properties. In a popular recipe circulating on the app, foodies added half a squeezed lemon to a cup of coffee, claiming it could help with weight loss.
However, medical professionals said there was no conclusive evidence that this was the case.
‘A cup of coffee with half a lemon squeezed into it, as a coffee lover this doesn’t sound appealing at all,’ revealed nutritionist Kate Llewellyn-Waters.
‘But can it help with weight loss?’ she mused. ‘Each product has health benefits as an individual food, but there is no conclusive human evidence that lemon coffee supports weight loss.’
Kate explained that lemon juice was low in calories and rich in vitamin C, but there was not enough scientific evidence that it would lead to weight loss.
“Alone or added to coffee,” she said. ‘To lose weight: replace sugar-sweetened soft drinks with water with lemon in it.’