Can the Ice Hack Help You Lose Belly Fat?
“Melt away belly fat!” “Lose weight really fast!” “Flush one pound of belly fat every day!” These are some of the captivating claims about the so-called “ice hack diet” or “alpine ice diet” that are circulating on TikTok — and amassing millions of views.
The videos tout a new “diet secret” involving a glass of ice and a mysterious white powder, and show before-and-after photos of relatives who purportedly lost 60 to 80 pounds using that secret — no diet or exercise needed. Viewers are urged to check the link with the details quickly, before the posts get taken down for “exposing the lies of the weight loss industry.”
If this all sounds a bit gimmicky, it absolutely is. “Once you hear that you don’t have to move your body or think about what you’re eating, you know this is a fad and probably not true,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, the creator of BetterThanDieting.com and the author of Read It Before You Eat It: Taking You From Label to Table. “Just like TikTok videos, all of these fads are short lived — hopefully.”
So why has the ice hack diet been so popular, and what exactly are the claims behind this mysterious fat-loss method? Here’s what nutrition experts say you should know about the latest weight loss craze.
What Is the Ice Hack Diet (aka Alpine Ice Diet)?
People clicking links for the ice hack diet in hopes of discovering some kind of secret about the cubes in their water glass are bound to be disappointed. In spite of the name, this so-called diet hack is not about ice at all, but rather a promotion for a supplement called Alpilean that contains “six alpine nutrients clinically proven to promote healthy weight loss by raising the inner body temperature to speed up the metabolism,” according to the manufacturer’s website. The manufacturer sells a 30-day supply of the supplements for $59.
The company claims that low internal body temperature is the culprit of obesity, and that by “normalizing your internal body temperature,” higher-weight people can become thin. Purportedly, these supplements can help achieve that. The only nod to ice in the brand’s promotional materials is the suggestion to take the supplement with a big glass of cold water daily in order to dissolve fat “even when sleeping.”
Essentially, the ice hack diet is a glorified advertisement, says Tiffany Lowe Clayton, DO, an obesity-medicine specialist at WakeMed in North Carolina. “It’s grabbed traction because social-media influencers are putting it out there as the best thing since sliced bread, but it’s not based on any professional opinion.”
Ice Hack for Weight Loss: The Latest Trending Diet
The ice hack diet, also called the alpine ice hack, has recently been touted by influencers as a quick-fix weight loss solution. A dietitian uncovers the truth about the ice hack diet and its claims.
Another diet trend on TikTok has gone viral. This time it’s the #icehack, which has amassed over 122 million views on the platform.
While some ice hack videos show fancy ice cubes for cocktails or clever ways to de-ice your windshield, most are promoting the ice hack for weight loss. Influencers have bombarded TikTok with testimonials on how the ice hack can miraculously melt belly fat.
Many videos contain strikingly similar claims: “This is a diet secret that’s been in the news but the videos keep getting taken down because it’s exposing the lies of the weight loss industry.” Then, influencers show before and after pictures of their mom, aunt or grandmother who have lost 60 to 80 pounds using the ice hack, all without diet or exercise.
Is it too good to be true? Yes, it is.
What Is the Ice Hack Diet (aka Alpine Ice Diet) and How Does it Work?
While the videos may show glasses filled with cubes of ice, the hack’s focus is not ice. The online onslaught is actually trying to sell an expensive dietary supplement called Alpilean, capsules full of ingredients derived from the Himalayan Alps, which is why it’s also being called the alpine ice hack.
Like many popular diet trends or supplements, there’s frequently a nugget of scientific evidence buried deep beneath the claims, yet it’s often overblown or misinterpreted. In this case, the Alpilean sellers claim the real cause of belly fat is low inner body temperature. They’re basing this revelation on a 2020 study conducted by researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine that showed our collective inner body temperature in the U.S. has decreased an average of a 0.05 degrees Fahrenheit every decade since the 1800s.
The Alpilean creators jumped on the premise that our declining inner body temperature is to blame for the rising rates of obesity in the U.S. Yet, co-author of the Stanford study, Julie Parsonnet, a professor of medicine, epidemiology and population health at Stanford University, told me it’s not that simple.
“Our immune systems – which also consume calories and would raise temperature – were likely much more active in the past than they are today. Even the bacteria that live in our bodies are different and they also produce heat,” she says.
So, we may have weighed less for many reasons that are not fully understood.
“Over time, we’ve gotten taller, fatter, cooler and healthier,” she says. “How these all relate to one another is unclear.”
Ice Hack Weight Loss: Science or Myth?
What is the Ice Hack Weight Loss Diet
The Rise of the Ice Hack Diet
What Are the Alpilean Supplement Ingredients?
Should you try the Ice Hack Diet?
The internet is buzzing with the term “Ice Hack Diet.” The latest to hit the limelight is the #icehack, amassing an astounding 122 million views. While some videos simply showcase innovative uses for ice cubes, the majority come with a weighty promise: an effortless route to weight loss.
Enthusiastic influencers share riveting testimonials, showing before and after transformations, all attributed to this ‘magic’ hack. Many claim that it’s a hidden gem in the weight loss narrative, so potent that its revelations are being censored to protect industry secrets.
So now the question on everyone’s lips is: can this icy trend truly melt away the pounds without the familiar challenges of diet and exercise?
In this article, we delve into the scientific research behind the Ice Hack Diet. We’ll answer pressing questions, debunk myths, and ultimately aim to provide an unbiased perspective.
Whether you’re a seasoned dieter or a skeptic, this post is your go-to guide for understanding the Ice Hack Diet.
What Is the Ice Hack Diet (aka Alpine Ice Diet)
At it’s core, the Ice Hack Diet (or the Alpine Ice Diet), is a weight loss strategy that claims to melt away belly fat without any dietary changes or exercise. But the reality is far more complex, so it’s a good idea to approach the trend with scientific scrutiny.
Most videos on TikTok portray the Ice Hack as a revolutionary secret that the weight loss industry doesn’t want you to know about.
The primary objective, however, isn’t to promote weight loss through ice but to market a supplement called Alpilean. These capsules contain ingredients supposedly sourced from the Himalayan Alps.
Alpilean sellers assert that the real villain behind belly fat is low inner body temperature. To validate this claim, they point to a 2020 study published by Stanford University. In a nutshell, the study states that average inner body temperatures have decreased over the decades.
This lowering of internal body temperature, they contend, is the cause of rising obesity rates in the U.S.
However, experts in the field, including one of the co-authors of the Stanford study, argue that the relationship between body temperature and obesity is not as straightforward.
Factors like lifestyle, diet, and even the bacteria in our bodies all play roles in our metabolic rate and body temperature. There’s more to the obesity puzzle than just low inner body temperature.
Thermogenesis
Another angle presented by Ice Hack enthusiasts is thermogenesis—the process by which the body generates heat. The claim is that cold exposure activates this process, thereby increasing metabolic rate and causing weight loss.
However, this simplifies a complex biological process, one that isn’t solely responsible for significant weight loss.
To add another layer of credibility, the Ice Hack Diet incorporates thermogenic ingredients like green tea extract, caffeine, and capsaicin into its Alpilean supplement. You can see the full list of ingredients below.
These ingredients have a reputation for boosting metabolism and burning fat quickly. Yet, the approach overlooks the importance of a balanced diet and other lifestyle choices.
