The smoothie challenge is a viral internet trend that involves filming yourself drinking smoothies very quickly. It gained popularity in 2022 on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, with people attempting to drink smoothies as fast as possible while being timed.
How did the smoothie challenge start?
The origins of the smoothie challenge can be traced back to competitive eating contests, where participants would try to consume massive amounts of food and drink in a short period of time. However, the smoothie challenge gained mainstream popularity in March 2022 when TikTok user @yoworld2 posted a video of himself drinking a huge smoothie very quickly.
The video went viral, amassing over 17 million views. @yoworld2 challenged his followers to try beating his time, and soon many other users began posting their own smoothie challenge attempts. This sparked a trend of people filming themselves speed-drinking smoothies and competing to get the fastest time. Popular tags associated with the videos included #smoothiechallenge and #smoothieskull.
What are the rules of the smoothie challenge?
While the smoothie challenge can be done solo, it often involves two people competing against each other to see who can drink a smoothie fastest. Here are some common rules:
- Make a smoothie using any combination of fruits, vegetables, protein powder, nut butter, milk/milk alternatives, ice, etc.
- Use a timer to time how long it takes to drink the entire smoothie.
- Drink through a straw placed in the bottom corner of the glass/bottle.
- No stopping during the challenge – the goal is to drink the smoothie non-stop until it’s all gone.
- No throwing up – vomiting means automatic disqualification.
- The competitor who finishes drinking their smoothie fastest wins.
The size of the smoothie varies, but they are often 20-40 ounces. The thickness of the smoothie also affects the challenge, with thicker smoothies containing things like oats or nut butters being more difficult to drink quickly.
What are some popular smoothie challenge recipes?
People get creative with their smoothie challenge concoctions, coming up with recipes packed with nutrients or calories to make drinking quickly more of a struggle. Here are some popular recipes used for the trend:
Protein power smoothie
- 1 cup milk
- 1 banana
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 2 scoops protein powder
- 1 cup ice
Green monster smoothie
- 1 cup almond milk
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 cup kale
- 1 banana
- 1⁄4 avocado
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- 1 cup ice
PB oats and banana smoothie
- 1 banana
- 1⁄4 cup rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 11⁄2 cups milk
- 1 scoop protein powder
- 1⁄4 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 cup ice
What are the benefits of the smoothie challenge?
When done responsibly, there can be some benefits to taking part in the smoothie challenge, including:
- Improved smoothie making skills – Making smoothies very quickly forces you to work on skills like efficient chopping, measuring, and blending.
- Better smoothie drinking technique – Trying to gulp smoothies quickly makes you learn how to chug efficiently and get it done as fast as possible.
- Potential increased nutrient intake – Giant smoothies can pack in lots of fruits, veggies, protein, healthy fats, etc. So you may get more nutrients, if you can keep the smoothie down!
- Fun, competitive enjoyment – Like other viral challenges, it can be fun to participate in as a way to compete against yourself, friends, or online challengers.
What are the dangers of the smoothie challenge?
When taken to the extreme, the smoothie challenge does pose some dangers, such as:
- Choking hazard – Trying to chug smoothies too quickly can make it go down the wrong pipe.
- Stomach discomfort – Drinking that much that fast can cause nausea, bloating, cramps, and pain.
- Brain freeze – Rapidly drinking thick, icy smoothies often results in the dreaded brain freeze headache.
- Unbalanced nutrition – Focusing solely on speed means you may ignore nutrition and just throw in sugary, fatty ingredients that allow you to drink quickly.
- Food waste – If you fail the challenge by vomiting, all of those ingredients are wasted.
- Encouraging disordered eating – The challenge promotes bingeing and could be triggering for those struggling with body image or eating disorders.
Tips for trying the smoothie challenge safely
If you want to attempt the smoothie challenge, here are some tips to stay safe:
- Use a timer and cap your max drink time at 2-3 minutes. Anything faster increases risks.
- Only use smoothie recipes with real, healthy ingredients – avoid excessive sugars.
- Size your smoothie to be large but manageable for your body size and tolerance.
- Never force yourself to drink past discomfort – stopping early is better than making yourself sick.
- Do not try to numb your throat by drinking something cold beforehand, which can increase risks.
- Have someone monitor you in case of choking and stop you if they see signs of distress.
- Talk to a doctor first if you have a history of disordered eating, gastro issues, emetophobia, etc.
Smoothie challenge alternatives
If trying to chug a massive smoothie fast doesn’t appeal to you, there are other fun and safe smoothie-related challenges you can try, such as:
- Smoothie ingredients race – See who can prep smoothie ingredients fastest.
- Best smoothie flavor competition – Mix up unique flavor combos and have friends vote.
- Smoothie art challenge – Use smoothies and toppings to try creating cool designs.
- Smoothie mile – Blend up a mile’s worth of fruit/veg (around 2,000 steps).
- Savory smoothie challenge – Make smoothies using unconventional savory ingredients.
- Greens challenge – See who can pack the most veggies into a smoothie.
The science behind drinking smoothies quickly
There is some interesting physiology and anatomy behind chugging smoothies at high speeds during the smoothie challenge. Here’s what’s going on inside the body:
The throat
The esophagus, which transports smoothies from the mouth down to the stomach, uses rhythmic, wave-like muscle contractions called peristalsis to move food and liquid through the throat. Taking big, fast gulps of thick smoothies forces the esophagus to move much faster than normal.
The stomach
The stomach starts secreting extra gastric acid and enzymes when you begin drinking a smoothie to help digest it. Downing a smoothie very quickly results in a rapid influx of volume that the stomach has to accommodate by relaxing its muscular walls. This can cause bloating and discomfort.
The small intestine
Too much smoothie consumed quickly can overwhelm the small intestine as well. This section of the gut is only capable of absorbing nutrients and fluid at a rate of about 30 grams per hour. Drinking quickly floods the small intestine, causing excess fluid to bypass absorption and end up in the colon, potentially resulting in diarrhea.
The colon
The colon pulls as much water out of undigested material as possible before compacting waste. But if overwhelmed by large smoothie volume, the colon may struggle to reabsorb fluid. This can cause painful gas, bloating, and urgent bowel movements.
The brain
Drinking icy smoothies rapidly can trigger brain freeze, a short headache caused by cold stimulating the roof of the mouth. This triggers arteries connected to the brain to constrict, which creates a quick stabbing head pain that passes once the mouth warms up.
Conclusion
When performed responsibly, the smoothie challenge can be a fun way to improve your smoothie skills and indulge your competitive spirit. However, take caution to avoid potential dangers like choking and stomach issues. Focus on enjoyment rather than risky speed. And consider alternative smoothie-themed challenges if chugging isn’t your thing.
With the right mindset and preparation, you can find a version of the smoothie challenge that provides all the thrill and none of the ills!
