Mashable: Many hydration-obsessed users are experimenting with artificially sweetened water concoctions on #WaterTok.

The latest trend taking TikTok by storm is #WaterTok, where users share their recipes for flavored water that promise to help with hydration and weight loss. With over 97 million views, #WaterTok has become a virtual Candy Land of sweet concoctions made with low- or zero-sugar flavor packets or "skinny" syrups, such as banana split, Skittles, and cotton candy.

One popular TikToker, Tonya Spanglo, who boasts over 774,000 followers, credits flavored water for helping her meet her daily water intake goal of 90 ounces. Spanglo, who underwent gastric sleeve surgery three years ago, struggled to drink enough plain water until she started adding flavor to it. Her recipes often feature creative combinations of flavored syrups and powdered flavor packets, like Jolly Rancher cotton candy and salted caramel apple.

However, the trend has sparked controversy, with some users denouncing it as "sugar water" or an aspartame overload. Health professionals have also raised concerns about the long-term effects of artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose, aspartame, and saccharin, which are commonly found in low- or zero-sugar drinks. These sweeteners have been linked to health problems, including an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Nutritionist Michelle Blum told Her Campus that while these flavored water recipes may not contain significant calories, fat, or sugar, they do contain controversial ingredients, similar to those found in diet sodas. Blum points out that the artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, and preservatives present in these flavored waters can make them more akin to diet soda than pure water.

Despite the controversy, some users find the trend helpful for their weight loss goals or for encouraging hydration in those who struggle to drink plain water. Spanglo, for instance, credits flavored water for helping her shed over 200 pounds and shares stories from her followers who have successfully increased their water intake with flavored water, even in challenging situations such as dealing with dementia.

there's a current trend on tiktok where people make "water recipes" under the hashtag watertok and they add syrups and stuff to their drinking water to make it "taste good" and its getting hate but i mean, go on you aren't hurting anyone, make your little potions.

— The Other Happy Place (@otherhappyplace) April 16, 2023
Spanglo acknowledges that she is not a physician or nutritionist and advises her followers to seek professional advice if they have questions or concerns. She emphasizes that as long as the flavored water recipes are made with sugar-free ingredients, they can still count towards daily water intake.

As the debate continues, #WaterTok remains a viral trend on TikTok, with users sharing their creative and colorful flavored water recipes. Whether it's a passing fad or a long-term lifestyle change, the controversy surrounding #WaterTok highlights the importance of being informed about the potential pros and cons of flavored water recipes and consulting with healthcare professionals for personalized advice on hydration and weight loss goals.