For fitness enthusiasts, TikTok is a great resource for finding motivation, inspiration, and workout advice. However, it can sometimes be a strange place.

Exhibit A: A recent trend from TikTok has seen people take dry pre-workout and protein powder. By dry spoon, we mean that they take a spoonful of dry powder and pour it straight into their mouth, instead of mixing it with milk or water in a shake like a regular person.

The trend is reminiscent of the cinnamon challenge that swept the web a few years ago, and like the cinnamon challenge, this latest trend is getting just as messy and benefiting no one.

But while the dry pickup challenge is just a little fun, it can also be dangerous. Speaking to POPSUGAR, nutritionist Ayat Sleymann explained that the pre-workout can contain huge doses of caffeine, which can be dangerous when consumed quickly. “A sudden dose of excessive caffeine can trigger rapid and irregular heartbeats, which could lead to sudden cardiac arrest and even death,” Sleymann said.

The reason we dilute the pre-workout with liquid is that it slows down the absorption, which means you aren’t putting all of that into your system at the same time. “There have been reports of stroke, heart attack, hepatitis and death due to failure to follow dilution instructions,” Sleymann said.

Dietitian Sarah Grace Meckelberg agrees that dry supplements are a bad idea. She says when you dry the powder off, you risk accidentally inhaling it and getting it into your lungs and sinuses, which can put you at risk for infection. “You’ve probably seen this happen: someone puts the spoon in their mouth, only to inhale and squeeze a ton of powder out all over the place,” Meckelberg said.

And even if you’re not infected, your teeth won’t thank you for putting a dry scoop of supplements in your mouth. “Many pre-workouts contain citric acid, and putting this hard acid directly on your teeth can eat away at your enamel in a way that permanently damages them,” Meckelberg added.

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