While my TikTok For You page was once riddled with Chamoy Pickles and the sweet sounds of Tanghuhu ASMR, creators have seemingly embraced a “new year, new me” mentality. Apparently, everyone on my FYP decided to collectively swap their viral sweets for a (supposedly) magical and (alleged) gut-healing yogurt with a name to match its dedicated internet following: Coconut Cult.
Intrigued, I quickly fell deep into a rabbit hole of TikTok taste tests, where influencers praised the “holy grail” treat and took viewers on a step-by-step for how to properly eat it—because, yes, there are rules.
Social media users swear up and down that just one spoonful a day on an empty stomach can transform your health, from eliminating bloating to regulating your digestion and improving immunity thanks to their probiotic-backed formula. And while it is packed with active live cultures and bacteria to support your microbiome, I couldn’t help but feel it was just…too good to be true?
We tapped nutrition experts to find out what this cult yogurt all really about and whether it’s worth the hype—and $34 a bottle price tag.
So, What Are The Rules?
You’re not going to sit down in the morning with the entire $34 bottle of Coconut Cult. Let’s start with that fact. The company recommends small portions, especially if you’re newer to fermented foods. Try just one spoonful on a plastic spoon—and never double dip. It’ll stay good for about three to four weeks, so you can finish it before it goes bad.
“Double-dipping or using a spoon that has been in contact with saliva can introduce bacteria, enzymes, or other potentially harmful contaminants into the jar, disrupting the balance of probiotics and potentially causing the cultures to spoil,” registered dietitian Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LD, CLEC, tells Delish. “If you don’t follow these rules, the product might ferment incorrectly, develop off-putting smells or textures, or even become unsafe to consume.”
Manaker adds that using a clean, non-metal spoon is also important. Metal can sometimes react with the probiotics, impacting their potency or altering the flavor,” she explains. “Following these guidelines helps preserve the integrity and effectiveness of the product.”
What Makes Coconut Cult Different From Other Yogurts?
Yogurt, which is by nature fermented, has always been touted as a gut-friendly food, so what supposedly set Coconut Cult apart? On their website, Coconut Cult makes a point of noting that they “never pasteurize after fermentation, so our yogurt stays super probiotic rich and is naturally preserved with fermentation.” They say their fermented yogurt acts as the “perfect home to probiotics.”
They also claim, “The majority of the yogurt on the shelves is not only dead (no active probiotics at all), but it’s filled with refined sugar, gums, thickeners, preservatives and everything in between. These are all gut disruptors, therefore, these yogurts are in no way, ‘helping your gut’ as many of them claim.”
Does That Mean It’s Healthier?
First, about that “perfect home” claim: “Yes, pasteurization kills bacteria, including probiotics,” health creator Brooke Harter, who is currently pursuing her Masters in nutrition, tells Delish. “However, their claim suggests that most yogurts lack probiotics, which isn’t entirely true. Many commercial yogurts add live cultures after pasteurization to retain probiotic benefits.”
Coconut Cult has a 16-strain probiotic blend and just one tablespoon has 50 billion CFU (a.k.a. “colony forming units”), which is a measure of the number of live and active probiotic microorganisms. So, while, yes, it may be better, probiotics-wise, than some yogurts, there are still plenty of others out there that are filled with gut-healthy probiotics.
Other Ingredients
The ingredients in Coconut Cult are, in fact, clean and simple: The yogurt contains organic coconut cream, organic coconut meat, organic coconut water, and custom probiotic cultures.
Harter notes that there are no added sugars or preservatives. Plus, she says, it’s true that “many yogurts contain gums and thickeners, but Coconut Cult keeps it simple.” She gives it an “A+ for ingredients.”
In general, when looking for a healthy yogurt, she suggests checking the label for “contains live and active cultures,” and avoiding sugar, which, yes, can be considered a gut disruptor). Harter also recommends avoiding gums and thickeners, and artificial additives, as well as checking for strain transparency (“some brands list specific probiotic strains and not just ‘cultures,’ she says), and avoiding ultra-pasteurization after fermentation. “This ensures bacteria remain alive,” she reiterates.
Is There Such A Thing As Too Many Probiotics?
Live probiotics can absolutely be beneficial for health by improving gut microbiome balance, enhancing immune function, and aiding in digestion. But more doesn’t always mean better.
“Fifty billion CFU per ounce is extremely high for food-based probiotics. While high doses may be beneficial for some, excessive amounts could lead to digestive distress like bloating, gas, and diarrhea,” Harter says, before noting that research supports strain specificity over CFU count, meaning a lower-dose (of well researched and specific probiotics) will likely be more effective than just a mixed dose of strains, like Coconut Cult.
The Benefits Will Vary From Person To Person
The truth is, like nearly everything, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Coconut Cult is packed with healthy, clean ingredients and tons of live probiotics, Harter says. For some, that makes it healing, but for others, it may cause gas and bloating.
“While many creators on TikTok rave about its ‘magical’ effects, the results can vary,” Manaker adds.”Factors like your overall diet, lifestyle, and existing gut health all play a role.”
What’s The Bottom Line?
“Coconut cult is a luxury wellness product, not a necessity,” Harter says. “If you love the taste and can justify the cost, go for it. But if you’re looking for reliable probiotic benefits, a third-party tested supplement or a quality yogurt with live cultures is a better bet.”
Megan Schaltegger is an NYC-based writer. She loves strong coffee, eating her way through the Manhattan food scene, and her dog, Murray. She promises not to talk about herself in third person IRL.
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