Viral TikTok trend with frozen honey is making people sick, but there's a simple reason why

Internet – The latest TikTok trend that's capturing people's attention doesn't involve a dance or a challenge, but rather frozen honey. But the side effects of this challenge are raising concerns amongst health experts.

TikTok user Lala tried out the frozen honey challenge, warning her followers that it can lead to an upset stomach and unwanted bowel movements.
TikTok user Lala tried out the frozen honey challenge, warning her followers that it can lead to an upset stomach and unwanted bowel movements.  © Collage: screenshot / TikTok / lalaleluu

If you haven't seen the latest TikTok trend involving frozen honey, prepare your eyes (and stomach) for the worst.

The new viral trend involves freezing a bottle of honey for at least eight hours and chowing down on it once it's reached a gel-like state.

While it might seem harmless to eat honey, which has numerous health benefits in small amounts, experts are warning against the trend.

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TikTokers who tried out the latest craze have followed up on their trials with warnings that it can cause excessive bowel movements after consumption.

The problem here lies within the amount of honey people are eating. Rather than just taking a tablespoon of the sticky and sugary substance, people are consuming the frozen honey in massive quantities.

This is causing major digestion issues and sharp stomach pains that are so painful, some users joked about needing their stomachs pumped after eating it.

The dark side of the frozen honey challenge

Some TikTokers got creative with the frozen honey challenge, crafting various drinks including the trendy ingredient.
Some TikTokers got creative with the frozen honey challenge, crafting various drinks including the trendy ingredient.  © Collage: screenshot / TikTok / cafehailee

Kristin Kirkpatrick, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic, told NBC News that the side effects people have experienced coincide with that of fructose malabsorption – something that occurs when one's intestines aren't able to properly break down fructose.

"Honey is great, but having it in small amounts to sweeten is really a healthy relationship with food, and using it to get a lot of followers and a lot of attention and having it in excess amounts is crazy," Kirkpatrick said.

But hearing about a stomach ache caused by frozen honey and experiencing it yourself are two different things, and likely the reason this trend has continued.

Though it's unclear where the trend originated, its widespread popularity is evident, as the #frozenhoney tag on TikTok has over 707.9 million views.

Despite the side effects, TikTokers are getting creative with their frozen honey concoctions. While some adding corn syrup to dilute the honey, others are crafting drinks like iced lattes with the frozen sugary substance.

Whether you're doing it to be trendy or are tempting the hands of fate to see how your body reacts, proceed with caution and listen to your internal organs when it inevitably becomes too much for them to handle.

Cover photo: Collage: screenshot / TikTok / lalaleluu

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