What Is ‘Stacked Water’—and Is It Actually Higher Than the Common Factor?

For such a easy, unassuming beverage, water is bizarrely fashionable on social media. In the event you’ve ever been bored to tears by the style of the plain stuff, a complete group on TikTok devoted to growing new and thrilling variants has your again. Each few months, it appears, a brand new development emerges from the area of interest informally referred to as WaterTok. Proper now, it’s all about brewing “stacked water,” which, like its predecessors, goals to make the easy act of hydration just a little extra enjoyable (and maybe, extra wholesome) by adulterating H₂O with a variety of mix-ins.

What’s stacked water?

Because the title would possibly recommend, the stacked water development goals to raise plain water right into a extra broad-spectrum well being drink. Creator @itsjeffreyshouse, who helped popularize stacked water within the first place, in all probability affords essentially the most apt description in a January 14 video: “It’s principally a brilliant water that’s simple to customise with what you want.” Not solely will the water itself hydrate, however “boosters” can goal particular bodily signs or efficiency considerations, flavoring can enhance the style, and added fiber will assist enhance your general consumption for the day—an rising precedence for a lot of TikTokers due to the fibermaxxing craze.

To make stacked water, you begin with a standard water base (both nonetheless or glowing is ok), then add boosters like collagen (for a protein increase), creatine (for improved muscle energy and athletic efficiency), probiotics (for higher intestine well being), electrolytes (for sooner exercise restoration), and vitamin C (for a stronger immune system); flavoring brokers like honey, coconut water, or lemon juice; and a fiber supply like flax seeds or chia seeds. (Plus ice for a long-lasting chill!)

For an easy-to-imitate stacked water recipe, look no additional than Stackhouse’s personal TikTok web page. Within the January 14 video, he makes use of two teaspoons of Very important Proteins collagen, strawberry puree, lemon juice, a scoop of Jacked Manufacturing facility creatine, a Blume SuperBelly acai pomegranate “probiotic hydration powder,” and an elderberry “immunity powder” with nutritional vitamins and electrolytes, in that order. In different movies, he substitutes mango pulp and coconut water; frozen combined berries and strawberry Liquid IV; and black cherry juice, an elderberry Emergen-C, lime juice, chia seeds, and chilly brew hibiscus tea. Regardless of the mix, you need to find yourself with a colourful liquid that resembles fruit punch.

Is stacked water really higher for you?

Whereas there are various social media fads that make execs roll their eyes or wring their fingers, stacked water isn’t essentially one in all them, Ethan Balk, PhD, RDN, affiliate professor of scientific diet and the director of the grasp’s applications in scientific diet at New York College’s Steinhardt Faculty of Tradition, Schooling, and Growth, tells SELF.