“Sometimes,” says the TikTok star known as “Cucumber Guy,” “you just have to eat a whole cucumber.”
The 23-year-old then slices it up. Canadian influencer Logan Moffitt has sparked a global wave of slicing, pickling and shredding by sharing viral recipes for cucumber salads prepared in plastic containers.
His videos regularly rack up more than 10 million views and have sparked a wave of imitators on social media, which are proving equally popular.
In Iceland, the virtual craze has even caused suppliers to face a national shortage of the vegetable.
But experts suggested today that eating too many cucumbers could lead to unpleasant side effects including diarrhoea, flatulence and kidney problems.
Canadian influencer Logan Moffitt has sparked a global chopping, pickling and shredding wave by sharing viral recipes for cucumber salads prepared in plastic containers.
While regular salad is safe and healthy for regular consumption, excessive amounts of anything can lead to negative side effects.
Carolina Schneider, registered dietitian and nutritional consultant based in the US saying:The high water and fiber content can cause digestive discomfort if consumed in large quantities.
‘This is because fiber stimulates bowel movements, and for some people, especially those who are not used to a high-fiber diet, this can lead to bloating, gas, or even diarrhea.’
Cucumbers provide Abundant vitamins and minerals, including vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, fiber and manganese.
However, research has also suggested that too much vitamin K may affect blood clotting, while too much potassium can lead to hyperkalemia, when potassium levels in the blood are higher than normal.
Many people have few or no symptoms of hyperkalemia.
If symptoms do occur, they are usually mild, such as muscle weakness, numbness, tingling and nausea, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
The content creator, from Ottawa, Canada, starts most videos by saying, ‘Sometimes you just need to eat a whole cucumber, let me show you the best way to do it.’
Sudden signs may include palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, or even nausea and vomiting.
Experts told MailOnline that it would be “very difficult to overdose” on these nutrients, but still warned that those taking blood-thinning medication should monitor their vitamin K intake.
Registered nutritionist and author Rob Hobson said: ‘There’s nothing wrong with eating cucumber and even if you did eat a lot of it, it’s unlikely you’d continue to do so for long as the novelty would probably wear off.
It is very difficult to overdose on nutrients from food, as is often the case with supplements.
‘Cases of excess potassium and vitamin K are more likely to occur in people with very specific health problems than in healthy people.
‘For example, people taking blood thinners like warfarin need to monitor their vitamin K intake, but this is a specific case and could be solved by modifying the dose.’
She added: ‘Of course it is a good idea to vary your intake of fruits and vegetables and not rely on just one.
‘Given that the average fruit and vegetable intake is already below the five-a-day recommendation, I wouldn’t put anyone off eating cucumber.’
Meanwhile, Professor Gunter Kuhnle, an expert in nutrition and food science at the University of Reading, told MailOnline: ‘Excess potassium can have adverse effects, but it would probably be difficult to achieve this from cucumbers.
‘It would take around 2.5kg of cucumber to meet the recommended daily intake of potassium – that’s a lot.
‘The safe maximum level of vitamin K is about 1 mg/d, which would be equivalent to 6 kg of cucumber, which would also be difficult to achieve.
‘However, someone who is taking blood-thinning medication and suddenly decides to consume large amounts of cucumbers should check whether this will interfere with their medication.’
Research from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology also suggests that people with allergies to melons, zucchini and bananas may also suffer from cucumber allergies.
Cucumbers provide many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, fiber, and manganese. However, research has also suggested that too much vitamin K can affect blood clotting, while too much potassium can lead to hyperkalemia, when potassium levels in the blood are higher than normal.
But consumers aren’t the only ones in trouble due to the viral TikTok trend.
Icelandic supermarkets and suppliers have been racing to keep up after an unprecedented surge in demand for the vegetable caused stocks to dwindle.
Farmers in Iceland, which has a population of 393,600, produce around six million cucumbers.
Iceland’s farmers’ association, the Horticulturists’ Sales Company, has said it is currently unable to meet consumer demand, but expects supply to return to normal “in about a week.”
In 2021, a TikTok frenzy over a baked feta pasta dish wiped the Greek cheese off the shelves of several supermarkets.
That same year, a salmon rice bowl recipe that went viral also put Kewpie mayonnaise stocks to the test.
