- 17 hours ago
Diet breads for weight loss, magic exercises for strong muscles, secret tricks for skin and hair: Many tips on the web are ineffective, some are dangerous, but others are promising. In Good Shape has put some trends under a microscope.
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00:06Here's a top trend on TikTok that's supposed to be good for your health.
00:10Dopamine dressing.
00:12Bright fabrics, colourful jewellery, outlandish outfits.
00:16So what's it all about?
00:18Activating happiness hormones.
00:21But does dopamine dressing really boost your mood?
00:24Well, it certainly won't do any harm to try it out.
00:27But with a lot of advice darting around the internet, it's hard to tell.
00:32Is something helpful? Pointless? Dangerous?
00:36Take nicotine pouches. Some say they increase energy and alertness.
00:41Hmm, time to take a closer look on In Good Shape.
00:59Snooze, nicotine pouches containing tobacco are in, especially among young people.
01:04Snooze. That's what you put in your teeth, down here.
01:10The tobacco industry says they can help smokers quit cigarettes.
01:14But experts warn, the reality is often different.
01:20We're increasingly seeing people at our outpatient clinic who don't even smoke,
01:24but who have a severe nicotine addiction as a result of nicotine pouches.
01:30Tobias is a college student in his late 20s.
01:33Nicotine pouches are part of his everyday life.
01:39It's under my lip now, touching my gums.
01:44Nicotine enters the body via the mucous membranes in the mouth.
01:48Tobias says the buzz he gets helps him concentrate better in exam situations.
01:55For instance, when things get stressful when taking tests,
01:58and you can't leave the room for two hours.
02:04One advantage is that it doesn't affect your lungs,
02:07so your stamina doesn't suffer.
02:10Using snooze to improve performance?
02:13Social media is awash with the idea.
02:16Even rappers are rhyming about it.
02:26Addiction specialist Tobias Rüther from the LMU Tobacco Outpatient Clinic in Munich is concerned.
02:33Original snooze contain powdered tobacco leaves,
02:35but there are also tobacco-free pouches with a high nicotine content.
02:40There's a new phenomenon in which young people suddenly have a product to which they are addicted.
02:46They're no longer able to choose whether to consume it or not.
02:50And of all known substances, whether legal or illegal,
02:53nicotine is almost the hardest to quit.
02:57It's comparable to alcohol or heroin.
03:00And that worries me.
03:04The advantage over cigarettes is that snooze does not produce
03:07the carcinogenic substances that are formed when tobacco is burned.
03:11But that does not make them healthy.
03:17It does slightly increase blood pressure,
03:20cause a bit of diabetes, a bit of sugar problems,
03:22and it can cause a bit of cardiac arrhythmia.
03:25What's quickly evident is that it causes ulcerations or inflammation of the oral cavities,
03:31and we sometimes see tooth loss.
03:36Snooze is often a gateway to nicotine addiction.
03:39But some people use it to get off of tobacco.
03:44To try and stop smoking cigarettes.
03:48I feel that it's better for my lungs.
03:50I don't know what it's going to do to my teeth,
03:51but we'll find that out at a later date.
03:56But many people do it for fun, including Tobias' friends.
04:00He himself uses snooze and still smokes.
04:05I also smoke.
04:07I know different kinds of people.
04:09Some don't smoke at all.
04:10Some do it while smoking.
04:12And some people are totally opposed to smoking,
04:15but really like snooze.
04:23Nicotine pouch use is increasing all over the world,
04:26especially in Europe and South America.
04:44The poison control center has also noted a sharp rise
04:52in the consumption of snooze and tobacco-free nicotine pouches
04:55because they repeatedly lead to household accidents.
05:01It's mostly children who accidentally put the products
05:05into their mouths or even swallow them.
05:08Fortunately, serious poisoning is rare.
05:10When a child ingests a large amount of nicotine,
05:13the most common effects are nausea and vomiting,
05:16pallor, cold sweats and shaking.
05:19Tobias Rüte believes we need stricter rules.
05:23As usual with drug policy, it needs to be clear.
05:26Are these things banned or allowed?
05:28I don't like this gray area.
05:30Meanwhile, Tobias says he'll continue to use snooze,
05:33in addition to cigarettes.
05:39Some trends are brand new.
05:41Others are just a rehash of the familiar.
05:44Take bed rotting.
05:45It's basically lazing around in bed the whole day.
05:48All you need are snacks, your phone and the remote control.
05:52Proponents say it can be really relaxing.
05:57And I just learned this word, bed rotting.
05:59But psychiatrists like Jessica Gold warn that lying around in bed
06:03could also be a sign of depression.
06:07Another trend, hot girl walk.
06:11Our ancestors didn't have TikTok, so they simply called it walking.
06:16It's definitely healthy.
06:18A new study shows just 11 minutes of walking a day
06:22reduces your risk of heart disease and cancer.
06:27Ice bathing is also old hat, but it's re-emerging, big time.
06:34The Silver Lake in northern Germany,
06:37rather chilly in the cold season
06:39with a water temperature of 5 degrees Celsius.
06:42Lennox and Felix go for a winter swim every day to toughen up.
06:46Don't wait, just get in.
06:49But fitness trainer Alex Rogmann advises beginners to warm up first.
06:55Of course, it's 1 degree Celsius out here today,
06:58so it makes sense to warm up.
07:02Then things get serious.
07:04Every single step is sheer pain.
07:06These beginners have been in an ice barrel before,
07:09but the lake is a completely different challenge.
07:12Fabia and Ilya get ready.
07:22They have a maximum of 5 minutes.
07:24The clock is ticking.
07:26For the body, ice bathing means danger.
07:30Stress hormones, adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol are released.
07:34This makes the heart beat faster.
07:39Blood pressure and breathing rate also rise sharply.
07:44The blood vessels in the extremities immediately constrict.
07:48This keeps the warm blood in the core of the body near the vital organs.
07:53Blood flow to the brain is also reduced.
07:56An extreme situation for the circulation.
08:01This can be dangerous if you're not used to it.
08:08On the one hand, there's the cold shock response.
08:11This causes the peripheral vessels to constrict,
08:13so the body's core and the organs are supplied with blood.
08:16But this is dangerous because the heart must work harder
08:20to pump against greater resistance.
08:22At the same time, the body sees ice bathing as a stress situation,
08:26which triggers a diving reflex.
08:30And this gives the heart the impulse to beat more slowly
08:34in order to conserve oxygen.
08:37This can confuse the heart so much
08:39that it can lead to arrhythmia or even cardiac arrest.
08:46That's why the head must always stay above water.
08:50And in general, people with cardiovascular diseases
08:53should consult their doctor before they start ice bathing.
08:58Alex's group has been in the cold water for almost five minutes.
09:02Now the feel-good hormones start to kick in.
09:06The release of stress hormones has diminished.
09:08The blood supply to the brain is better than before the cold shock.
09:12The body now releases dopamine and beta-endorphins,
09:16a feeling of happiness.
09:18Regular ice bathing is also said to help prevent sickness.
09:22But there's no clear evidence to back this up.
09:27The fact is that ice bathing releases corticosteroids
09:30in addition to these happiness hormones.
09:33These are known to have an anti-inflammatory effect.
09:36And it could be, although this has not been scientifically proven,
09:40that chronic inflammation can be better treated as a result.
09:44It's similar to a cold chamber.
09:46That's also used for chronic rheumatic diseases and chronic pain.
09:50It has a positive effect there.
09:52The same applies to ice bathing.
09:56Blood sugar levels also seem to benefit from the cold shock.
10:00We asked the internist, Frank Fusten.
10:04Insulin resistance decreases and sensitivity to insulin rises.
10:08So there are positive effects on the blood sugar level,
10:11on the regulation of the blood sugar level via ice bathing.
10:15That's actually been scientifically proven.
10:18But it's still controversial whether taking a regular dip in a cold lake or ice bath
10:23actually helps the immune system to better fight disease.
10:31You need clear data to prove this.
10:34And as far as I know, there's currently no such data.
10:37But I believe that if your body is fitter,
10:40you're actually more robust and better equipped to fight any diseases that affect your body,
10:44especially those caused by viruses or bacteria.
10:50Despite the benefits, it's important to take a cautious approach when starting out.
10:58There's a rule of thumb.
11:00Only stay in the water for as many minutes as the water is cold.
11:04Meaning that if the water temperature is 10 degrees Celsius,
11:08then you should stay in the water for up to 10 minutes.
11:11If you're new to ice bathing, a few seconds are enough.
11:18Even if not all the effects of ice bathing have been scientifically proven,
11:23once it's over, you certainly feel happy.
11:29And here's our hit parade of current trends for weight loss.
11:32There's the cucumber craze.
11:34Cucumbers with cheese, sauces, spices.
11:37Chances of success from a scientific standpoint, negative.
11:42Lemon coffee.
11:43A few squeezes of lemon in your coffee and the pounds will allegedly melt away.
11:48Then there's tadpole water.
11:51A mixture of water, chia seeds and lemon juice.
11:54Or smearing castor oil on your belly button.
11:58Oh, if only it were that easy.
12:01More effort is required for the popular keto diet.
12:07Matthias Hofmann spent just under two years inventing and then discarding recipes.
12:13And then he developed his own grain-free bread, ketogenic bread.
12:18It is mainly made up of fat and seeds.
12:20The baker has been following a ketogenic diet himself for six years.
12:28At first, I did it to lose weight.
12:30I lost 10 kilos without exercise.
12:33And then it was about being more efficient, fitter.
12:37Having to eat less throughout the day.
12:39Not being hungry.
12:40That's how it went.
12:45Keto bread is just one part of his diet.
12:49The ketogenic diet mainly comprises fatty foods like fish, cheese, nuts, and avocados.
12:59As well as low-carbohydrate vegetables such as zucchinis and cucumbers.
13:05Fruit, with its high fructose content, is eaten less often.
13:09Matthias Hofmann adheres strictly to the keto diet.
13:13The rules are 80 to 85 percent fat, 10 to 15 percent protein, and about 5 percent carbohydrates.
13:20The German Nutrition Society, on the other hand, recommends 55 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent fat, and 15 percent protein.
13:31Normally, our body gets most of its energy from carbohydrates.
13:35It breaks them down into glucose, our main source of energy.
13:42Excess glucose is converted and stored in the liver and muscles as glycogen.
13:47If there is too much glucose in the body, the sugar is converted and stored as fat.
13:52Fat deposits form on the belly.
13:56If we leave out carbohydrates and instead eat lots of fatty foods, the body adapts.
14:02First, it taps into its stores in the liver and muscles.
14:06Once these stores are used up, after a few days, the body goes into ketosis.
14:12It forms ketone bodies in the liver from fatty acids.
14:20These breakdown products of the fat metabolism now provide the necessary energy.
14:26The body burns fat, and our fat deposits melt away.
14:31Doctors and scientists have been studying the ketogenic diet for years.
14:36Among them, Jan Ahrens.
14:43Why does our body know what ketosis is?
14:46Why can it do that?
14:47Living beings developed it millions of years ago to endure hunger,
14:51which we humans had to do in the past, and still do in some places.
14:55To survive starvation, we have to live off our body's resources.
15:01We can tell whether the body is in ketosis by measuring ketones in the blood or urine.
15:06At 0.2 millimoles per liter, the body is slightly in ketosis.
15:12Between 0.5 and 3 millimoles, the metabolism is completely ketogenic.
15:20The diet means that we eat a lot of fat, so smaller amounts of fruit and vegetables.
15:25That can lead to nutrient deficiencies.
15:27There are fluid changes, so you can become dehydrated, although you don't have to.
15:33There are electrolyte changes, which can cause kidney stones.
15:37The blood sugar level also drops.
15:39That doesn't happen to everyone, but it can do.
15:44Jan Ahrens often meets patients who not only want to lose weight on a keto diet,
15:49but who also hope to be cured of diseases like cancer.
15:53We know that cancer cells burn more sugar than healthy cells do.
15:58And so maybe it makes sense to reduce sugar and carbohydrates in the diet
16:02to avoid them as far as possible.
16:05But we know that sugar is still present in the blood
16:08even if we avoid carbohydrates completely.
16:10So we'll never achieve complete sugar depletion.
16:14And secondly, probably because of this, there are no reliable studies
16:18that show that this can actually influence cancer.
16:25There are no reliable scientific studies that show that a ketogenic diet
16:29can help fight disease.
16:31But research suggests that the ketogenic diet can have a positive effect
16:35on some disorders, like congenital metabolic disorders or childhood epilepsy.
16:43In any case, you should consult a doctor before embarking on a high-fat diet.
16:54Matthias Hofmann is convinced that the ketogenic diet is a good thing.
16:59And he doesn't find it hard work either.
17:05People think that they'll really miss sugar or pasta if they give them up.
17:08But there are alternatives.
17:10You just have to get used to it.
17:12You eat differently, but you definitely don't eat worse.
17:17The baker's keto bread products are a hit.
17:21He now sells them across Germany.
17:23But few people stick to a ketogenic diet for as long
17:26or in as disciplined a way as he does.
17:37Here are four things to ask when it comes to online health tips.
17:42Who's giving the advice?
17:44It should be easily recognisable
17:46and either a medical institution or other authority.
17:49What are the sources?
17:51The advice should be based on studies or guidelines
17:54from professional organisations.
17:56What's its purpose?
17:58Avoid information linked to advertising or sales offers.
18:04And does it give a balanced view?
18:06It shouldn't promise miracles.
18:09Beauty-related easy answers can be particularly seductive.
18:13So make sure to adopt some healthy scepticism about those.
18:21Sarah wants to remain anonymous.
18:23She wanted to lose weight, but almost died from a Botox overdose.
18:28Doctors at Essen University Hospital saved her life.
18:31She's back here for this interview.
18:33It's an emotional moment.
18:37Very nervous and happy at the same time because I survived it all.
18:42I couldn't walk.
18:44I couldn't speak.
18:45It paralysed my airways.
18:51The young mother wrote farewell letters to her family as she feared the worst.
18:56That I would die.
19:00After the birth of her child, Sarah wanted to lose weight.
19:03She saw tempting offers on Instagram.
19:06Gastric Botox and turkey.
19:10Losing 10 to 15 kilos without side effects, that sounded miraculous.
19:17You could eat again the same day, so the same day you'd be back to normal.
19:21You weren't restricted.
19:23And I thought, wow, I'll give that a try.
19:27But she became paralysed right after the treatment.
19:31250 of the clinic's patients developed botulism, a poisoning caused by an overdose of Botox.
19:38Some even died of it.
19:40Botulism used to kill many people, mainly as a result of spoiled food.
19:44It's the same toxin found in Botox treatments.
19:49Here, doctors injected it into her stomach wall, intragastrically.
19:53The stomach is a muscle, and it was supposed to be paralysed.
19:57But because the dosage was too high, the Botox entered her bloodstream and paralysed other muscles.
20:04Gastric Botox is a worldwide trend.
20:07The poison is famous for treating wrinkles.
20:09But it's also injected into the stomach lining of patients who want to lose weight.
20:14This prolongs feelings of fullness, and they shed pounds.
20:20All inclusive offers seem simple and straightforward.
20:24But if used improperly, Botox can lead to fatal paralysis.
20:29That's why many doctors advise against it.
20:34According to the discussions, including those of the Professional Society of Plastic Surgeons,
20:39medical professionals in Germany do not recommend it as a way to lose weight.
20:43It's off-label, which means Botox is not approved for this.
20:47Today, there are other ways to lose weight.
20:52Sarah wants to warn others about dubious promises on social media.
20:57I regretted it right away.
20:59And that's why I want to say to everyone else out there, don't do it.
21:06Christoph Kleinschnitz wants to raise awareness of botulism, the forgotten disease.
21:11He wants other doctors to recognize it and warns patients against seemingly simple solutions.
21:17They could be fatal.
21:20Social media promotes the slender, toned ballet body.
21:25So you restrict yourself when you eat.
21:28You look for new beauty tips every day.
21:31Torture yourself with sweaty workout programs.
21:34And swallow questionable supplements.
21:38This urge to optimize can be addictive or lead to eating disorders or depression.
21:45But there's also a completely different trend, body neutrality.
21:49Celebrating yourself exactly as you are.
21:55Plus-size model Tanya Marfo always wanted to be slender.
22:00I went on my first diet when I was 12 or 13 and started eating three crisp buns a day.
22:06That's all.
22:07And I drank lots of water and did therapeutic fasting.
22:10I tried Weight Watchers, the Atkins diet, intermittent fasting.
22:14I tried everything, from 12 until just before turning 40.
22:19Eating disorders can quickly develop, especially during puberty.
22:23The 44-year-old suffered from binge eating for years.
22:27Her peak weight was 198 kilos.
22:32A year ago, she had had enough.
22:34And decided to have bariatric surgery.
22:39At the start of the year, I wasn't feeling well.
22:42I could barely move.
22:44I've always been fun-loving, but I noticed that I couldn't even bend over or pick anything up.
22:49It got harder and harder.
22:51And then, when I was on a long-haul flight, I thought that if there hadn't been an empty seat
22:56next to me,
22:56I wouldn't have been able to fly.
23:00I was scared that I would get really sick.
23:06But it wasn't just concern for her health that prompted her to take this step.
23:11Others treated me with such hostility.
23:14People rejected me or even expressed their hatred of me to my face.
23:19Last year, someone spat at me on the street.
23:21It was horrible.
23:23Or just these constant snide remarks.
23:25I couldn't take it anymore.
23:28Tania wrote the book Size Egal or Size Doesn't Matter, together with journalist Karolin Matzko.
23:34Karolin suffered from anorexia for years.
23:38To put it bluntly, a fat person and a scrawny person write a book together and say,
23:45hey, we have the same problems.
23:48Sure, it always varies.
23:50And there's a typical anorexic, a typical bulimic or typical binge-eater.
23:56But essentially, it is always rooted in low self-esteem, which has many different causes.
24:05The fundamental problem is always a depressive tendency and the feeling of not being right
24:12and not being able to accept yourself.
24:16On Tania's blog Kurvenrausch or Curve Rush and on Instagram, she takes her followers on her journey.
24:24It's all about fashion, lifestyle and body neutrality, that is, accepting your body as it is.
24:30You don't have to love it obsessively, you just have to accept it.
24:35If we allowed more diversity, so much would change, people could be the way they are.
24:42Tania often misses more diversity in social networks, especially for adolescents.
24:48It's been proven that certain body types are not as present on Instagram.
24:52It's the same with people of color. There's a really long list.
24:56They don't get the same presence on the platform as the standard beautiful, slim,
25:00white woman with blonde hair, blue eyes, posting yoga and beauty content.
25:06But trends come and go. So Tania takes a more relaxed approach nowadays.
25:13How we perceive things changes. In the 1950s and 60s, Marilyn Monroe wore size 42. That's the average
25:21size of a German woman, 42, 44. And when I was young, there was Kate Moss. That was dangerously
25:27skinny. Kim Kardashian got butt implants, one of the most dangerous kinds of plastic surgery.
25:33What are we supposed to do? Adapt every 20 years? Is that the reality?
25:37Tania Marfo stopped following every trend long ago. Instead, she follows her own healthy path.
25:47And now we reveal the most important health trend. No, it's not a soup. Or a tricky exercise.
25:55Nor a secret anti-wrinkle cream. All you have to do is watch in good shape regularly.
26:01We'll keep you up to date. See you next time.
26:07Two hours.
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