Coconut is making a comeback in everything from yoghurts to shampoo 

Nigella Lawson and actress Jennifer Aniston advocate cooking with it. 

Gwyneth Paltrow uses it to clean her teeth, model Miranda Kerr adds it to salads and puts it on her skin, and Sienna Miller and model Alexa Chung have both been spotted sipping cartons of it. 

Their poison of choice? The humble coconut. Everything from yoghurts to shampoo, lip balm to porridge, comes with coconut these days.

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Everything from yoghurts to shampoo, lip balm to porridge, comes with coconut these days

Sales of all things coco-nutty are set to exceed £100 million in the UK this year as foodies, health gurus and beauty experts sing its praises.

But is coconut really a wonder ingredient, or another celebrity fad?

TROPICAL TIPPLE

Coconut water has been Britain’s fastest growing soft drink for the past three years.

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This mild, sweet liquid is found in the cavity of young ‘green’ coconuts. 

It is said to contain natural electrolytes – trace minerals such as potassium and sodium – that are vital for healthy muscle function and rehydration.

But does it work? Dietitian Noor Al Refae, of The Harley Street Cardiology Practice, says: ‘You should be able to get all the electrolytes and fluid your body needs just by drinking ordinary water and eating regular meals. There’s nothing in coconut water that you can’t obtain from other food sources.’

Coconut water has been Britain’s fastest growing soft drink for the past three years

She recommends reading the list of ingredients as ‘many brands come with added fruit juices which can up the sugar content significantly’.

‘GOOD FATS’ OIL

Coconut oil – a solid that melts during cooking – has soared in popularity. Enthusiastic ‘clean-eating’ bloggers such as Deliciously Ella and the Hemsley sisters have made it a store-cupboard staple.

But are the claims that eating coconut oil can boost ‘good’ cholesterol levels, encourage weight loss and boost memory true?

Miss Al Refae says: ‘Coconut oil is around 84 per cent saturated fat. That’s almost a third more than butter and six times more than olive oil.’

Saturated fat is usually seen as a ‘bad’, artery-clogging fat. But the type in coconuts – known as medium chain fatty acids – is digested quickly, making it easier to use as energy.

One definite bonus is that fewer toxic aldehydes – which have been linked to increased risks of cancer and heart disease – are released when you cook with it compared to olive oil.

Just remember to factor its fat and calorie content into your daily allowance: 4g fat and 35 calories per tsp.

BEAUTY MUST-HAVE

Coconut oil does a multitude of beauty tasks, removing stubborn eye make-up, moisturising skin and adding gloss to hair and nails.

Consultant dermatologist Dr Adam Friedmann, of the Harley Street Dermatology Clinic, says: ‘Coconut oil is gentle on the skin and can be absorbed by it to replace lost oils, so it should work pretty well as a simple cleanser and moisturiser, even helping conditions like dandruff.

Coconut oil does a multitude of beauty tasks, removing stubborn eye make-up, moisturising skin and adding gloss to hair and nails

‘I’ve seen more outlandish claims that, applied to eyelashes, it helps them to grow longer and thicker. But I can’t see how that would work.’

Oil ‘pulling’, a traditional Indian technique to detoxify and cleanse, in which a tablespoon of coconut oil is swilled around the mouth for up to 20 minutes, is advocated by Gwyneth Paltrow.

But will the trendy oil pulling kits you can buy in pharmacies really give you whiter teeth?

Dentists say that while the technique may help to reduce bacteria in the mouth, there’s no evidence that it will whiten your teeth, so don’t ditch the toothbrush just yet.

THE FRESH STUFF

Low in carbohydrates and high in fibre, snack packs of neatly chopped coconut looks like a healthy option – until you see the calorie count.

With 370 per 100g pot, ‘fresh coconut is not an ideal snack if you’re watching your calorie intake,’ says Miss Al Refae.   

Organic Drinking Coconuts

Try this for an occasional treat. 

Imported from Thailand, these real coconuts come with a ring pull on the top, to allow you to open them neatly and drink the unpasteurised, fresh coconut water inside. 

When you’ve finished, you can smash open the shell to get at the white coconut ‘meat’. 

marksandspencer.com 

£3 Shop

Nam Hong coconuts

Try packs of six fresh coconuts

rawnuts.co.uk 

£18.99 Shop

Crack It Coconut Opener 

Use this to get into the fresh coconuts

rawnuts.co.uk 

£3.99 Shop