We love a buzzy new wellness trend. From bathing clubs to cortisol mocktails to IV drips — lots of IV drips — we’ve covered a bunch this year.
But there are some viral trends with questionable health benefits that we’re happy to leave behind in 2025 — and we’ve got lots of members of the medical community behind us.
Here are the Instagram crazes and TikTok hacks you should kiss goodbye to at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Parasite cleanses
Heidi Klum raised eyebrows in August when she discussed her worm and parasite cleanse — but she also undoubtedly inspired some fans to follow suit.
“I’m going to deworm and de-parasite for the first time,” Klum, 52, told the Wall Street Journal. “I heard that you’re supposed to do this once a year, and I’ve never done it. So I feel like I’m really behind. I don’t know what the heck is going to come out.”
“Apparently, we all have parasites and worms,” she added. “If you are someone who eats raw things every now and then, like, for example, sushi.”
She didn’t share which specific cleanse she did, but noted it contained clove (“The parasite hates clove.”) and papaya seeds.
But several docs told The Post not to follow the supermodel down this particular runway.
“There are no clear, proven benefits to these cleanses,” said Dr. David Purow, a gastroenterologist at Huntington Hospital and VP, Medicine Service Line for Northwell Health Eastern Region. He stressed that not nearly enough research has been done — and Heidi’s claim about everyone being infected is not true.
“Not all people have parasites and worms as part of their normal microbiome,” he added — and if you do, you’re better off seeking medical attention.
Dr. Wendi LeBrett, a founding partner and medical advisor of Norms, said that these cleanses are “not necessary and potentially harmful.”
“The parasite cleanses that are marketed don’t have any sufficient evidence to effectively treat parasites,” she said. “With any medication or supplement, there is a risk benefit consideration between treatment effects and side effects including kidney or liver injury.”
Excessive protein
There’s added protein in everything these days, from Khloé Kardashian’s Khloud popcorn to Starbucks’ protein cold foam. Not even Pop-Tarts, Doritos, water or peanut butter — already naturally packed with protein — have been spared.
Some celebrities have spoken out about it, including Olympian Ilona Maher and Real Housewife Bethenny Frankel, who told The Post it’s an “an out-of-control fad that everyday people are fixated on as if they’re training for the Olympics.”
“They can also be calorie-dense. It’s another marketing gimmick like keto or carnivore or low carb or all the absurd fads I’ve witnessed over the years. Balance is key,” she said.
Experts are skeptical too. “These products should not be substitutes for meals that ideally would include fruits, vegetables and whole grains that offer fiber and a range of phytochemicals, nutrients which these products often lack,” registered dietitian Sotiria Everett, a clinical assistant professor at Stony Brook Medicine, told The Post.
It’s also entirely possible to consume too much protein, which can damage your arteries and increase your risk of heart problems.
The recommended amount each day is 0.36 grams per pound of body weight. So for a 150-pound person, that’s 54 grams — about as much as a large chicken breast and two large eggs.
Fibermaxxing
Fiber is good for you. It lowers your risk of constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticular disease and even colon cancer. It can also fill you up so you eat less.
And many people aren’t getting enough of it in their diets. But with the rise of “fibermaxxing,” social media users have shown it is indeed possible to have too much of a good thing.
“Similar to the benefits of eating a high-protein diet, many are overindulging in fiber for weight and diet management, as well as reducing inflammation in the body, which can help us look and feel better from the inside-out,” said Maura Donovan, a registered dietitian and medical education specialist of sports nutrition at Thorne.
“If someone who is typically eating 10 grams of fiber per day suddenly maximizes their fiber intake, they will most likely experience uncomfortable GI symptoms like gas, bloating and cramping,” she added. Too much can also mess with your body’s ability to absorb iron, calcium and zinc.
So how much should you eat? US dietary guidelines recommend about 25 grams of fiber per day for women and 38 grams for men. That number drops slightly if you’re over 50.
Mouth taping
Mouth taping was hardly a new trend for 2025, but it’s persisted despite numerous expert warnings.
That’s due perhaps in part to celebs fans including Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley Graham and Jimmy Fallon, plus influencers like Cory Rodriguez and James Jun.
They say taping your mouth shut — ensuring you breathe through your nose — can promote better sleep, reduced snoring, fresher morning breath, improved oral health and a more defined jawline.
But docs have called bull. “The general concept of mouth taping, from a scientific and biological perspective, doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Canadian ENT surgeon Dr. Brian Rotenberg told The Post.
More than that, it poses the risk of asphyxiation if your nose gets blocked.
“People might say, ‘Wait a second, surgery or mouth taping? Why wouldn’t I just tape my mouth?’ Because it’s not going to treat your apnea — and it might make it worse,” Rotenberg said.
“I do think nasal breathing is a good goal, and if influencers or celebrities think that’s the case, more power to them,” he said. “Where we differ is how to achieve that goal.”
It’s better, he said, to see a qualified healthcare professional: “Don’t take the advice of a social media influencer or celebrities you might like.”
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