Instagram can be a fantastic outlet for inspiring and motivating people to improve their health. However, sometimes it’s easy to get wrapped up blue ticks and followers without actually taking a step back to ask yourself “Does this person know what they’re talking about?”. Here are three Instagram health trends that aren’t what they may seem…

1. Having abs means you are super healthy

A defined toned stomach doesn’t always indicate health! We are bombarded with pictures that fit an image we have been conditioned to believe is “ideal”. However, just because someone has abs on show it doesn’t necessarily mean they are healthy as it doesn’t take into consideration their relationship with food, mental state or stress levels which are extremely important for overall health and wellbeing. Health should be viewed with a holistic approach and it cannot be pin pointed to aesthetics.

2. There are magic teas that make you “detox” and drop weight

Probably the number one promoted thing in the weight loss realm of Instagram is ‘detox teas’ endorsed by many celebrities and influencers for their detoxifying properties. This is a false. Your body is extremely equipped to detox itself! Support yourself with delicious healthy food and do not buy into the detox tea trend as it can cause more harm than good.

3. Protein is the most important macronutrient

Over the years protein had become a macronutrient that gets a lot of attention. However, carbs and fat are just as important as each macronutrient has a different role to play within the body. For example, carbohydrates provide use with energy and fats are crucial for keeping our hormones happy. The recommended intake of protein is 0.75g per KG of bodyweight which is a lot less than 1 – 2g per pound of bodyweight I often see recommended through social media platforms.