The truth about $5 food that claims to flatten your stomach, soothe digestion and enhance complexion
It’s been hailed as a miracle in a jar.
Coconut Cult probiotic yogurt has amassed a devoted following who claim that a single spoonful a day has flattened their stomachs, cleared their skin and transformed their digestion.
But what is actually in that spoonful – and can it really deliver such results?
The product, made from fermented coconut cream is packed with an astonishing 50 billion live bacteria per tablespoon. While similar to traditional yogurt in its probiotic benefits, it is not pasteurized after fermentation, meaning the bacteria are still alive and active when you open the 16-ounce container.
Sometimes, they are so active that the $40 jar hisses or even explodes, a feature the company embraces as proof of potency.
While it has become a holy grail fridge staple for a generation raised on wellness trends, health experts aren’t convinced of the wealth of benefits fans tout online.
‘To some people, it can work,’ said Brian Chau, a food science consultant specializing in probiotics and gut health, told the Daily Mail.
‘The complexity is in the gut microbiome of each person, how their diet was shaped from when their mother was pregnant to when they were raised as a kid.
Probiotics have been a buzzword in the wellness space for years
Coconut Cult probiotic yogurt has amassed a devoted following who claim that a single spoonful a day has flattened their stomachs, cleared their skin and transformed their digestion
‘Clearer skin is a possibility, but scientific research and clinical studies have not been substantiated. Same applies for weight loss. These are claims that are hard to substantiate widely.’
Probiotics have been a buzzword in the wellness space for years. They are live microorganisms, mostly bacteria but also some yeasts, that when consumed in adequate amounts confer health benefits.
The digestive tract is home to trillions of bacteria, collectively known as the microbiome and probiotics help keep this internal ecosystem balanced.
They crowd out harmful bacteria, support digestion by helping break down food and communicate with the immune system to keep inflammation in check.
Different strains do different jobs. Some target bloating, others support vaginal health, and many simply help keep things running smoothly.
Many probiotic foods are made through fermentation, a process where bacteria or yeasts are added to ingredients like milk, cabbage or coconut cream. The microorganisms consume natural sugars and produce compounds that preserve the food and create beneficial bacteria.
The concentration of these live bacteria is measured in colony-forming units, or CFUs; a count of how many viable microorganisms are in each serving.
A single tablespoon of Coconut Cult, for instance, contains roughly 50 billion colony-forming units, or CFUs. By comparison, a serving of a standard probiotic yogurt contains about one billion CFUs.
By that math, Coconut Cult is one of the most concentrated probiotic foods on the market. And at $5 a serving, one of the most expensive.
But according to Jennifer Scherer, a registered dietitian nutritionist and medical exercise specialist, ‘more is not automatically better.’
‘Clinical outcomes depend far more on strain specificity, host response and context than sheer bacterial volume,’ she told the Daily Mail.
Coconut Cult is the brainchild of Noah Simon-Waddell, who has said he developed the recipe after steroids damaged his gut and he began experimenting with fermentation in his mother’s California kitchen.
A single tablespoon of Coconut Cult, for instance, contains roughly 50 billion colony-forming units. But according to Jennifer Scherer, a registered dietitian nutritionist and medical exercise specialist (pictured), ‘more is not automatically better’
By that math, Coconut Cult is one of the most concentrated probiotic foods on the market. And at $5 a serving, one of the most expensive
The result was a dairy-free yogurt made from organic coconut meat, cream and water, fermented with 16 different probiotic strains: L. lactis, S. thermophilus, L. salivarius, L. acidophilus, L. helveticus, L. plantarum, L. gasseri, L. brevis, L. casei, L. fermentum, L. reuteri, L. rhamnosus, B. longum, B. infantis, B. breve and B. bifidum.
‘Strain specificity matters,’ Scherer said. ‘The research on probiotics is strain-specific, not species-specific. Benefits demonstrated for one strain cannot automatically be applied to another.
‘So the presence of 16 strains sounds impressive, but what matters is whether those specific strains have evidence supporting the claims being made.’
Still, fans rave about the product online,
‘I’ve been taking 1 tablespoon every morning for about three months and I think it has helped me tremendously,’ one person wrote on Reddit. ‘I go to the bathroom more regularly and my bloating is way down. I’m afraid to stop taking it.’
Meanwhile on TikTok, one customer claimed they’ve ‘never looked hotter’ and their ‘stomach has never been flatter.’
Some reviewers, however, are less effusive in their praise.
‘Do not, under any circumstances, smell it before taking your spoonfuls,’ one wary person warned on TikTok.
Meanwhile, a writer for Food & Wine tried the chocolate mousse flavor and admitted it was ‘really tasty.’ However, after four days of use, she reported: ‘Have I noticed immediate results (i.e. a lack of inflammation, flawless skin, and impeccable hotness)? No.’
Scherer added: ‘A single spoonful of a probiotic, even a high-potency one, is unlikely to universally deliver dramatic results like weight loss, “flattened stomachs,” or clearer skin.
‘Some individuals may experience improved bowel regularity or reduced bloating, but those outcomes are highly individualized and often temporary if broader dietary patterns don’t support gut health.’
And nutritionists say the product far from the only way to get gut-healthy bacteria.
‘In some senses, that is worth the price as an alternative or vegan option,’ Chau said. ‘Other ways to consume probiotics can be through yogurt or kefir if the sensitivities do not exist.’
Kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut and conventional yogurts with live and active cultures all provide probiotics at a fraction of the cost.
The company’s own guidance reflects a cautious approach.
They recommend starting with just one spoonful per day on an empty stomach, using a plastic spoon (metal, they say, can potentially interact with the probiotics), and never double-dipping to avoid contaminating the jar.
For the average healthy person, a serving of Coconut Cult is unlikely to cause harm, though it may come with some risks.
‘Many people can benefit from having more probiotics, but it will depend on their existing diet and current microbiota,’ Chau said. ‘If coconut yogurt is the first time introducing probiotics, then smaller dosages might be warranted.
‘A large influx of new microbes will shock the system and cause some harm. Balance is the key. Understanding one’s diet is critical.’
May Tom, a functional medicine dietician, warned that some people should think twice about hitting the purchase button: ‘Because this is coconut-based, if someone is really sensitive to saturated fats genetically, they need to be mindful that two fluid ounces of this yogurt contains eight grams of saturated fat.’
Tom also said that people with with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) should avoid Coconut Cult. SIBO is a digestive condition where bacteria that normally belong in the colon multiply in the small intestine, causing bloating, gas and abdominal pain.
‘Anecdotes can be compelling, especially when someone feels better quickly,’ Scherer said.
‘But gut health outcomes are multifactorial. Sleep, stress, fiber intake, alcohol, ultra-processed food intake and overall dietary diversity often play a larger role than any single product.’
