Can consuming eggplant water help you shed 10kg in a week?

Hyderabad: A video claiming that consuming brinjal-infused water promotes weight loss is doing the rounds of social media.

A Facebook user shared the video and wrote, "1 eggplant, you will melt your belly fat in 7 days without diet or exercises, you will lose up to 10 kg in a week."

The video has over 1.5 million views when we last checked.

Eggplant or brinjal is high in fiber and is easy to digest. But can brinjal-infused water alone help you shed 10 kgs in a week?

FACT CHECK

Eggplant or brinjal is no doubt a tasty veggie. Not only that, but brinjal is beneficial for your gut health.

According to Healthline, eggplants are high in fiber and low in calories, making them an excellent addition to any weight loss regimen. Fiber moves through the digestive tract slowly and can promote fullness and satiety, reducing calorie intake. Each cup (82 grams) of raw eggplant contains 3 grams of fiber and just 20 calories.

Additionally, eggplants are often used as a high-fiber, low-calorie replacement for higher-calorie ingredients in recipes.

Though the article talks about the benefits of eating brinjal as a meal, there is nothing about drinking brinjal-infused water helping shed 10 kgs in a week.

We then contacted an expert to clarify if brinjal-infused water can help in weight loss.

Dr. Jaheerunnisha, a consultant nutritionist at Renova Hospitals, said without any exercise and a balanced diet it is not possible to lose weight.

"Yes, eggplant can help in weight loss with a proper balanced diet and exercise. It is a rich source of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It also contains high amount of water and it helps to burn belly fat," Dr. Jaheerunnisha said and added that eggplant is a very low-calorie vegetable and is an excellent diuretic, helps to get rid of fluid, and makes the stomach full for a longer period of time (give a satiating effect).

This vegetable can be taken by people who are looking to lose weight but only with proper exercise and diet, Dr. Jaheerunnisha concluded.

No single food will help you in your weight loss journey. Our body has multiple functions and it needs basic nutrients to stay healthy and fit. So, for weight loss, healthy food with balanced nutrients and exercise will keep you healthy.

Adding brinjal to your meal will fulfil your fiber intake. However, there is no study that says drinking brinjal water acts as a weight loss supplement, said Sujatha Stephen RD, chief nutritionist at Yashoda Hospitals.

Dr. M. Gayathri, Clinical Dietician from Apollo Hospitals says, It's not possible to loose weight only with this brinjal infused water. It's very important to follow a balanced diet along with some exercise about 45 minutes a day is must to maintain a healthy weight. This water is called as aubergine. Brinjal is rich in Fibre, good source of potassium. It helps in controlling bad cholesterol (LDL). This water can be taken one glass before each meal because of its fiber content one feels satiety (fullness) in that way it may be helpful.

There is no evidence to prove eggplant portion to be useful for shedding weight. Hit a gym, walk 30 minutes a day and eat healthy. No single food will help you achieve your desired result.

Hence, the claim stands false.