There I was, mindlessly scrolling on TikTok, as I do every night, ensuring I optimize every minute of my screen time. My index finger hovered in apprehension over a new product, something about a wellness sect.

In a little glass jar, “Join the Coconut Cult” was embroidered in a fun font. My short attention span searched for new meaning in each fleeting 30-second clip. My mind tried to grasp the concept of this probiotic yogurt, meant to be savored by the solitary spoonful. I couldn’t help but wonder at its oddity —and success rate.

“Ten dollars?! That’s absurd,” I whispered to myself, nestled in the cozy refuge of my bed.

Do the benefits exceed the steep price? I can’t say for certain. I’ve only tried it for a week and have yet to spot any noteworthy differences in my skin or stomach. I was hopeful, especially after hearing other University of Oregon students echo the same enthusiasm about the product. 

“Social media really influenced me to buy Coconut Cult along with my friends who had tried it and loved it,” UO education major Peyton Humberstone said. “I love weird little health hacks on TikTok, so when I heard it was great for your gut and digestion, I was like, ‘Yeah, okay, I’ll try.’”

What culminated from a silly little trend, the gut health movement has accrued a lump sum of supporters on social media, with Coconut Cult’s Instagram amassing 175,000 followers. But the probiotic-packed elixir comes with a laundry list of do’s and don’ts for consumption.

“You have to take it on an empty stomach with a clean spoon and just one scoop. You can’t mix it or double dip. All these ‘restrictions’ had me a little thrown off. Like, why?” Humberstone said.

“I was thinking how awesome it was gonna be to wake up and take it every morning because it was so yummy,” she added.

But as time went on, the potent potion proved to exacerbate her stomach pains, inciting nausea and vomiting. “I could barely eat anything all day because I felt like I was gonna throw up,” Humberstone said. 

Though the brand’s blog acknowledges the possibility of similar symptoms, it highlights the importance of an adjustment period, suggesting an antihistamine to acclimate the microbiome to the influx of new, beneficial bacteria strains.

GI-related issues rank third on the list comparing health issues among U.S. college students dating fall 2024, according to Statista. I’m in active pursuit of an end-all remedy, and I’m knocking CC, aloe vera juice and sauerkraut off my list.

This isn’t to deter you from gut-healing discoveries; rather, it’s to raise awareness about the difference between trends and reality. Most people, myself included, get swept up in the microbiome health wave without fully understanding why we’re chugging a glass of kefir each morning.

I’ve come to the conclusion that #guttok is overhyped. It’s infiltrated the self-obsessed 18 to 24-year-old demographic, enabling a wealth of misinformation as we rigorously search for answers to our tummy troubles.

My best advice: do the research yourself, and more importantly, listen to your body. Investing in wellness shouldn’t break the bank, especially when it comes sealed in an Instagram-friendly jar.

Additional research article about gut health – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3983973/