Category Archives: TikTok

The ‘Winter Arc’ Challenge Is All Over Social Media. But What Does It Mean?

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I like to think I’m aware of most internet trends.

I’ve been on team Moo Deng and Pesto since day one, I’m all over autumn’s Tavern Food trend and I even like finding niche Subreddit obsessions.

But it took a rise in Google searches for “winter arc” for me to learn about the challenge.

If that seems odd, given that one TikTok about the topic has gained almost 24 million views at the time of writing, perhaps that’s because I don’t have much gym content on my FYP (working out seems to be a big part of many people’s “winter arc”).

If you’re as unfamiliar with, or confused by, the trend – the most popular video of which shows a man simply shaving his head – as I was, allow us to explain.

In its most basic form, it’s about transforming yourself over winter

The “winter arc” refers to the “90 days before the end of the year where you can get ahead of the ‘New Year, new me’ crowd and hit your goals,” TikToker @jessback2earth explains.

That means that yesterday, October 1, was the start date of the “winter arc”, which is basically an early New Year’s resolution.

Some people are signing a “winter arc contract” with themselves, establishing the rules of their new resolutions.

The main categories seem to revolve around working out, dieting and generally “glowing up,” however.

The tone of some “winter arc” videos seems needlessly punishing – lots of them are shot with gloomy greyscale colouring, and show people working out in the pouring rain.

Others, which warn “bro, it’s gonna get cold out… trust me” are a little hard not to wince at – it can run a bit Fight Club-esque.

Perhaps that’s why one video, which calls “mfs who unironically say ‘winter arc’” “cornballs” and uses the hashtag “cringe”, has gotten almost 70k views.

Still, as a TikToker commented on that clip, “it’s all about improvement at the end of the day.”

Should I do a ‘winter arc’?

Depends on what your “rules” are.

Some – like this TikTok which suggests breaking off any relationship to avoid “distractions” – are obviously quite silly.

In fact, isolation seems to be a big part of many winter arc rules – a Redditor claims they’ll “reject all social events with no purpose for three months” and avoid “girls”.

That’s a bit of an issue, seeing as socialising can be extra-important during the winter months.

Some posts, which promote exercising and getting sunlight in the winter, can be beneficial as vitamin D levels drop in the colder months and many of us stop working out just as our bodies need the benefits of exercise the most.

But, as with New Year’s resolutions, they can run the risk of being extreme and self-defeating, especially as Christmas, Halloween, and other festivities roll around.

Why are people shaving their heads for a ‘winter arc’?

Still confused as to why that buzz-cut video we mentioned earlier has gotten so many views? TikToker @jayboogz2x has answers.

His “number one” winter arc rule is that “you’ve gotta go the buzz cut route”.

That’s because, he said, “that way you ain’t even thinking about your hair – you’re thinking about how you can level up”.

Other “distractions” include video games, masturbation, and sleeping ”’til 8 or 9 am”, the creator said.

We’re not saying a “winter arc” is inherently bad, and a lot of commenters disagree with its most extreme adherents, instead using the time to self-reflect and maybe get a few more gym sessions in.

But if, as TikToker @lenalifts says, your “new January 1st is October 1st,” remember to set reasonable, safe expectations.

And if possible, keep attending “social events with no purpose” as the nights grow longer.

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I’m A Doctor ― This Common Gut Health Buy May Be A Waste Of Money

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It’s well-known that if you’re going on antibiotics, you’ll need to supplement the tablets with probiotics to protect your gut’s microbiome, right?

The medication wipes out the “good” bacteria along with the bad, and you need something like a specially-designed probiotic drink to restore it, the common argument goes.

But Dr. Karan Rajan, who’s known for spreading his medical know-how on TikTok, recently shared a video explaining that the relationship isn’t as straightforward as that.

Why not?

“Whilst there are some strains of bacteria known to have a protective effect at reducing the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, there’s no guarantee your average supermarket probiotic [drinks] contain these strains, even if they claim to,” he says.

“And even if they do contain it, are they even alive or present in sufficient concentrations to have any effect?” he asked.

He’s not alone in doubting the supermarket supplement.

Women’s Health writes that “the benefits [of supermarket probiotic drinks] are negligible,” with or without antibiotic use; dietitian Sophie Medlin told Which?, ”[the effect of probiotic supplements] depends on what bacteria is already present in your gut. This is why it’s hard to prove probiotics offer the same benefit to everyone.”

Medlin and Women’s Health both agree that research into the effectiveness of probiotic drinks is thin on the ground.

It’s not that nobody thinks any probiotic drink can help; it’s just that proving they do can be harder than you’d think.

“The jury is still out about which strains and which dosages are the most effective,” Dr. Karan Rajan says.

“So instead of spending your money on [probiotic drinks], there is something more evidence-based and effective that you can do during and after taking antibiotics.”

Which is?

I hate to be this person, but; plain ol’ fruits and veggies, apparently.

“Add more prebiotic fibres to your meals,” the doctor advised. “These plant fibres feed and encourage the growth of the existing good bugs.”

He added that “you can get these prebiotics in the form of supplements like psyllium husks or fibre-rich plants ― fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses.”

The doctor went on to say that brightly-coloured plants “tend to have a higher concentration of polyphenols, which our good gut bugs love.”

“Instead of these store-bought probiotics, go for the stuff naturally found in food ― they’re more likely to contain live bacteria in the form of lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which happen to be two of the most researched strains of probiotics,” Dr. Rajan ended his video.

Of course, listen to your doctor first, and if you’ve noticed benefits from drinking probiotic drinks then continue enjoying them.

Though some argue there’s not much proof for their effectiveness, there’s no definitive proof they don’t work, either.

But as dietician Kaitlin Colucci told Which?, while they “can be beneficial” for people who are unwell, “For healthy people without symptoms there’s no need to take probiotic supplements.”

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The 1 Thing That Will Make Your Bathroom More Dementia-Friendly

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According to the NHS, research shows there are more than 944,000 people in the UK who have dementia, and this is only increasing as people are lving longer.

The NHS also state that in the early stages of dementia, sufferers may be able to live at home, continuing to enjoy doing the things they have always done and having an active social life.

However, there are steps you or a carer can take at home to make the condition easier to manage and offset the more difficult days of dementia.

Now, Dementia UK have shared tips for making bathrooms more dementia-friendly

On their TikTok channel, a specialist dementia nursing charity have shared their tips for making bathrooms more dementia-friendly, and they’re really simple.

Most notably, the charity recommend using brightly-coloured towels which, as well as just making your bathroom a little more colourful, will stand out more on the towel rail and make spotting them easier.

Additionally, the experts recommend that if you have a fabric bathmat, this should be rolled up when not in use to prevent trips and falls.

While this is probably just good practice in general, NHS Inform urge that dementia sufferers are at a higher risk, saying: “There are different personal risk factors that cause people to fall, however, people with dementia are at greater risk because they: are more likely to experience problems with mobility, balance and muscle weakness.”

Dementia UK offer more tips for making bathrooms accessible

On their website, Dementia UK recommend the following steps for making bathrooms a safer place for dementia sufferers:

  • Stick a written sign or a picture of a toilet to the door to help the person identify the bathroom
  • Leave the bathroom light on at night to help the person find their way
  • Fit a toilet lid and seat in a different colour from the toilet itself to make it more visible
  • Use a free-standing toilet roll holder. These are easier to see than wall-mounted holders, and putting it right next to the toilet means the person does not have to stretch and potentially lose their balance – but if the person is prone to falls, be aware that they may be a trip hazard
  • Install rails or handles at useful points such as in the bath/shower and next to the toilet
  • Provide a bath or shower seat if the person has mobility or balance problems
  • Use flood and scald prevention plugs in the basin and bath
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I Just Learned Why Lemons Look So Juicy On TV, And Frankly I Feel Betrayed

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We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about how forecasters know where to point on green screens when announcing the weather.

We’ve even shared how actors manage to look so, well, dead while playing corpses; so you’d think we’d be pretty familiar with Hollywood magic by now.

But it never even occurred to me ― until now, at least ― to ask how lemons on TV look so darn juicy.

It took a TikTok from director and filmmaker David Ma, who shoots commercials and movies alike, to realise that what I’d been seeing on-screen had been a scam all along.

How?

He started his video with a syringe, injecting water into a plump slice of lemon.

“This is the trick to getting the perfect squeeze,” he captioned his video, revealing a slow-mo shot of the artificially juiced-up citrus splashing its droplets of lies over some broccoli.

I knew stars tended to use more injectables than we think, but I wasn’t aware the procedure extended to their dinner.

Other sneaky food-filming tricks include placing a water-soaked, microwaved tampon behind a bowl of food to create the illusion of a steaming meal and using acrylic ice cubes (which don’t melt) for cold drink campaigns.

Meanwhile, most on-screen “ice cream” is basically a form of buttercream made from vegetable shortening, corn syrup, and icing sugar.

Oh, and that “frost” on the glass of beer in adverts? Yeah, that’s more than likely aerosol deodorant sprayed onto the container to give the illusion of cold condensation.

Don’t even get me started on poultry in adverts, which is usually so raw it’s bloody on the inside (!!) and brushed with dish soap to get that perfect glisten.

People had *thoughts* in the comments

“Here I’ve been thinking I had all dry lemons for the last 10 years,” one commenter wrote.

“Not lemon filler…” another commented.

“I thought those gains were natural,” yet another TikTok user joked about the falsely turgid segment.

Looks like Hollywood’s not above setting unrealistic beauty standards for fruit, too…

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The Simple Reason Why You’ve Been Storing Your Cheese Wrong

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Have you found that no matter how well you seal plastic food bags, cheese always tends to go off inside of them very quickly?

Yes, me too. I find myself reaching for the cheese a couple of days later, only to see that it’s suddenly inedible.

Well, it’s not because we haven’t sealed them effectively, according to one medical expert. It’s much more simple than that and in part comes down to the types of cheese we’re having.

Dr Karan Rajan explained in a recent TikTok video that if you’ve been wrapping your cheese in food bags, you’ve been setting yourself up for failure.

How to properly store cheese

So if, like me, you thought that most foods could be refrigerated in the same way, this will be a cold awakening. (Sorry.)

Dr Rajan explained: “Once you finish gobbling your cheese like a hungry little rat, try and avoid putting your cheese in a plastic bag. Especially softer cheeses which have a higher water content.”

These include Havati, Mozzarella, and Gouda.

He said: “This is because moisture can get trapped in the plastic bag and cover the cheese surface. This provides a breeding ground for bacteria and mould — and not the tasty kind.”

Instead, Dr Rajan recommends using cheese paper, which actually is a thing, yes. Alternatively, parchment paper is a good choice, too.

If you are still keen to use plastic bags, Dr Rajan recommends first wrapping the cheese in wax, parchment or cheese paper before placing it inside of the bag.

Fortunately, harder cheeses like Parmigiano can withstand plastic bags no problem.

He did also point out that you could just eat the food very quickly, ‘for science, of course’ and to reduce food waste.

Of course.

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TikTok Creators Are Telling Us To Go Sunscreen-Free, WTF Is Going On?

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In an era of widespread misinformation, it’s perhaps not surprising that people are now shirking sunscreen. Why not, eh?

Currently on TikTok, the hashtag #AntiSunscreen has amassed over 5.3 million views.

Over on X (formerly Twitter) influencer Gubba Homestead said in a video that amassed 1.2 million views: “I don’t wear sunscreen, and I never will. We blame the sun for cancer when we should be blaming our diets… Sunscreen and a poor diet will make you sick.”

Additionally, data from Glam reveals that this trend is having an impact on Google searches with searches for “Does sunscreen cause cancer” increasing by 160% in the past 30 days.

This is particularly frustrating as Cancer Research UK revealed this year that rates of the skin cancer melanoma — which is caused primarily by UV rays — are at the highest ever in the UK.

Alarmingly, as little as five cases of sunburn in a lifetime increase the risk of skin cancer melanoma, which can spread to other organs.

Experts urge people to apply sunscreen

This trend is not something experts approve of, or recommend.

Dr. Mariano Busso, a Beverly Hills board-certified cosmetic dermatologist, spoke with Glam and said: “Seeking health advice from content creators can be dangerous.

“Using sunscreen has been scientifically proven to protect skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light, including both UVB and UVA rays. By not using sunscreen, you are greatly increasing your odds of sun cancer.”

There is no proof that sunscreen causes cancer, but there is plenty of evidence that not protecting your skin against the sun can lead to skin cancers.

Studies show that regular daily use of SPF 15 sunscreen, when used as directed, can reduce your risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by about 40 percent, and lower your melanoma risk by 50 percent.

How often to apply sunscreen

According to John Hopkins Medicine: “Generally, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating.

“If you work indoors and sit away from windows, you may not need a second application.”

I’d listen only to experts when it comes to cancer, TBH.

TikTok Community Guidelines strictly do not allow harmful misinformation, including medical misinformation that may cause negative health effects.

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Daters, Meet “Pebbling” ― The Penguin-Based Dating Trend Social Media Loves

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We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about “tolyamory,” where one or both partners silently permits the infidelity of another without ever explicitly addressing it.

We’ve covered the “orange peel” and “Dorito” dating tests, too. But what’s “pebbling” ― a penguin-inspired dating trend I keep seeing on my For You Page?

A viral TikTok from @jakeyboiarts describes it as giving “someone a bunch of something because you’re thinking about them, for example, a penguin that gives a pebble to another penguin they love.”

The video, which has earned over 640k views as of the time of writing, explained that “pebbling online is like someone who gets videos, memes, whatever, and you send them to someone.”

What’s that got to do with dating?

It doesn’t have to. Another TikTok video by autism-specialising therapist @myautistictherapist suggested that “the way [many autistic people] share love is through giving information” ― “pebbling” facts, as it were.

And that love can be for friends and family as well as partners. “A lot of the autistic people on this app are showing the world love by sharing what they know,” the therapist said; of course, the same goes for anyone else. It’s a little gift for those you love.

But seeing as the Gentoo penguin-based habit it’s based on is used for amorous avian couples, the trend has taken on a romantic hue on social media ― and the pros seem to approve.

Older forms of “pebbling,” like giving someone a gift, bringing them home a snack, or even telling them about a part of your day that made you think of them have existed for as long as love has, Psychology Today points out.

But relationship expert Gigi Engle told Metro.co.uk that the newer, online application is great for couples; “I think it’s the cutest thing ever because memes are a love language these days,” she said.

“Pebbling started with the advent of meme sending as a form of creating a connection with people… It can definitely strengthen a relationship because it’s similar to sending a message saying, ‘I saw this and thought of you,’” the romance expert added.

So… it’s always good?

As with anything else, you can have too much of a cute thing.

App user @jakeyboiarts’ TikTok references opening your phone to “hundreds” of notifications ― that might be overwhelming to some (it’s me, I’m ‘some’).

Engle also told Metro that, “Pebbling does have the potential to set an expectation of communication you’re going to have throughout your relationship, so that’s something to keep in mind.” Your partner may feel hurt if you’re unable to keep up the pebble pace for long.

And in the same article, dating expert Drew Wyllie of Pure dating app, advised that “What is deemed sweet and thoughtful for someone, may be irrelevant for someone else” and suggested pebblers “make a mental note of your partner’s likes and dislikes as well as their daily behaviours so you can make your presents more relevant.”

“Pebbling alone is not going to get you far,” Psychology Today adds, stating that the memes should be a jumping-off point for deeper connections and not your main romantic meeting point.

Still, though, if you are your beau have a sweet meme exchange going, then take it from the Gentoo gents and keep it rolling.

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People Are Realising How Crocodiles Actually Float, And I Haven’t Stopped Laughing

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I can only apologise for our sharing the fact that alligator penises are pretty much constantly erect.

But if it helps to make up for it, we have a far more uplifting (bad word choice?) bit of info about crocodilian creatures ― crocodiles swim, or at least float, in a really, really, reassuringly stupid way.

A presenter for CTV This Morning shared in 2020, “You know when a crocodile you see on the surface of the water looks so scary… what you don’t know is what they look like under the water.”

Which is?

In a clip shared on TikTok by@animals012, a crocodile was seen floating in a clear-sided tank.

The vessel allowed the camera user to see the rest of the croc’s body under its menacing head ― a body which was simply dangling straight below its intimidating snout like a fishing float.

Turns out there’s some serious science behind the spectacle. National Geographic writes that crocodiles and alligators “use their lungs like floats, and shift them about their torso using four sets of muscles.”

Zoologist Adam Britton told Newsweek, “The legs are splayed in a classic stabilising manner [in the viral video], and you can see the belly is enlarged because the lungs are extended toward the belly so pushing the guts into a smaller space.”

He added, “The only difference [in the video] is the crocodile has its body angled down at a steep angle, which is more common with juveniles and sub-adults.”

However, the croc is floating rather than swimming, as swimming involves moving their tail or legs ― unless the current is helping them along.

Nonetheless National Geographic says that floating is how crocs sneak up on their prey as thrashing legs and tails might give them away.

So depending on how deep the water is, crocs with murder on their minds might well bob their way to their prey like the one in the video.

The post recently got a second life

A re-post of the clip by CASTROVANIA, shared last month, garnered some incredulous comments on TikTok.

“It’s 4 AM, I can’t breathe,” one commenter said, while another wrote, “I refuse to believe this.”

“What Instagram sees vs. reality,” another TikToker commented.

“Is nobody gonna talk about how he’s moving without moving?” yet another app user asked.

All I know is I’m going to find those cinematic shots of crocodile eyes peering perilously over the water a lot, lot less scary from now on…

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UK Gardeners Warned About This Watering Mistake Which Could Ruin Plants

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If you’re a keen gardener, you may be looking forward to the coming months as you fill your garden with plants, flowers, and even vegetables – but did you know that you may have actually been watering your plants wrong?

Yep, it turns out that there is a right way to water plants and it definitely isn’t just pouring water from a watering can over them the way that some of us are used to doing.

So, what is the right way to water plants?

According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), there is an art to watering plants, especially if you hope to avoid wasting water and give your plants the best possible chance at flourishing.

According to the RHS, the best time to water is in the mornings as this is when the sun rises and plants will start to use water. They added: “The foliage and soil surface is also likely to stay drier for longer than evening watering, discouraging slugs, snails and mildew diseases.”

Each individual plant has its own watering schedule so it is worth researching the plants growing in your garden to figure out a schedule for keeping them hydrated and thriving.

When you are watering plants, especially if you’re using a watering can, it’s essential to water them at the roots. This is because wet or humid foliage encourages fungal problems and evaporation from surfaces.

The RHS added: “Watering more thoroughly, but less frequently helps get the water down to the deeper root tips.

“It is better to water the garden before drought really sets in, to keep the soil moisture levels even and avoid the soil being continuously dry.”

However, the society warned that soil doesn’t have to be really wet all the time because plants need air as well as water to grow.

What is the best water to use on outdoor plants?

According to the RHS, rainwater is actually best as it’s freely available if you are able to store it. Additionally, tap water requires treatment and often contains more minerals than many plants need.

Who knew?!

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The 3 Major Reasons Why Women Get Much Worse Healthcare Than Men

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Following a TikTok user pointing out that her partner received more aftercare following his vasectomy than she did after giving birth, Dr Karan Raj stepped in to explain why women are still getting the short straw when it comes to healthcare, and specifically pain relief.

Dr Raj said that this is down to a combination of systemic unconscious bias, a lack of research, as well as a failure to acknowledge biological differences in how women process pain.

All of that has led to pain being dismissed, misdiagnosed or undertreated which can have lethal consequences.

Love. That. For. Us.

Why women’s healthcare still falls behind

The surgeon added that despite advances in healthcare, women are diagnosed ‘significantly’ later across over 700 diseases and in some cases, such as endometriosis, waiting up to 10 years for diagnosis.

Frustratingly, he also revealed that sometimes, women’s pain is wrongly attributed to psycological causes and the word ‘hysteria’ was only removed from the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM classification.

Additionally, women’s health and specifically pain-focused research is less likely to be studied in clinical trials which makes effective treatment difficult to find.

He admitted that to this day, we don’t know how women metabolise and react to various pain medications or how women experience or manifest pain.

Finally, he said that because there are so many knowledge and gender gaps when it comes to women’s pain, “It’s imperative that we treat the pain the patient has, not the pain we think the patient should have.”

How to advocate for yourself at the doctors

According to the period health experts at Clue, these are the best ways to advocate for yourself at a doctor’s appointment:

  • Be prepared and assertive. Write a list of symptoms to discuss with your doctor and on the day, , give the doctor the facts about your symptoms and don’t downplay your symptoms
  • Ask questions. For example, if you don’t feel that your doctor has considered alternatives, simply say, “is there anything else it could be?”
  • Try to not be pressured into treatment that you don’t want to do. It’s normal to need a second opinion and listening to your own thoughts and feelings matters, too
  • Take notes at your appointment to ensure that you remember everything that’s said and can refer back to them in future appointments
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