Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Our honest review of Nutiva’s product line: Should you buy it?

Learn about the pros and cons of the Nutiva and Coconut Secret product lines

Christine VanDoren
By

When it comes to oils and sauces, it’s easy to not think about the ingredients and nutrition facts, as you’re likely more focused on the food itself. However, this information is just as important. Today, I’ll will be reviewing various Nutiva products and giving my honest opinion on whether or not I think they should be a staple in your kitchen.

Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

Nutiva coconut oil.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Nutiva coconut oil can be a great healthy alternative to other oils. It can typically be used at higher heats, and it makes a tasty addition to many meals. 

Recommended Videos

Ingredients

  • Organic unrefined cold-pressed virgin coconut oil

Important nutrition facts

Serving size: 1 tbsp

Calories: 120

Total fat: 14 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 0 mg

Total carbohydrates: 0 g

Protein: 0 g

Related

Should you buy it?

I would recommend this product because it doesn’t have any added sugars. While it is high in fat, coconut oil is a great source of healthy fats that promote brain and heart health and healthy hormone levels.

Nutiva Organic Avocado Oil

Nutiva avocado oil.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Similar to coconut oil, avocado oil is a healthier oil option, whether you’ll be using it for cooking or mixing into a dish. Avocado oil has a neutral taste and can stand a high smoke point of 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ingredients

  • Organic steam refined avocado oil

Important nutrition facts

Serving size: 1 tbsp

Calories: 120

Total fat: 14 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 0 mg

Total carbohydrates: 0 g

Protein: 0 g

Should you buy it?

I would recommend you purchase this product. It’s organically sourced and is a great option for grilling, roasting, sautéing, and even adding to salads.

Nutiva Organic Almond Coconut Spread

Nutiva almond coconut spread.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re looking for an alternative to your typical nut butters, this spread may be a tasty choice. It’s vegan, plant based, and gluten free, making it an option for a wide range of people.

Ingredients

  • Organic dried coconut
  • Organic palm oil
  • Organic roasted almonds
  • Organic coconut flour
  • Organic tapioca flour
  • Organic cane sugar
  • Organic coconut milk powder (organic coconut milk, organic tapioca maltodextrin)
  • Organic high oleic sunflower oil
  • Organic sunflower lecithin
  • Sea salt
  • Organic vanilla extract

Important nutrition facts

Serving size: 2 tbsp

Calories: 210

Total fat: 19 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 35 mg

Total carbohydrates: 9 g

Dietary fiber: 4 g

Total sugars: 3 g

Protein: 2 g

Should you buy it?

With this product, it’s really up to you. The second ingredient is palm oil, and there has been plenty of debate about how ethical its extraction is considering the impact on the environment. Beyond that, all-organic ingredients have been used to make this spread, and there is less added sugar than in other similar products.

Coconut Secret Organic Coconut Aminos

Coconut Secret coconut aminos.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Coconut aminos are an alternative to soy sauce that you can add to various dishes, whether you are stir-frying, dipping, or marinating. 

Ingredients

  • Organic coconut tree sap
  • Sea salt 

Important nutrition facts

Serving size: 1 tbsp

Calories: 15

Total fat: 0 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 270 mg

Total carbohydrates: 4 g

Dietary fiber: 0 g

Total sugar: 3 g

Protein: 0 g

Should you buy it?

I would recommend this product because of how it can replace soy sauce, and it contains 72% less sodium!

Coconut Secret Organic Spicy Coconut Aminos

Coconut Secret coconut aminos.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you need your coconut aminos to have a little kick, this flavor is the way to go!

Ingredients

  • Organic coconut tree sap
  • Sea salt
  • Organic smoked paprika powder
  • Organic ginger powder
  • Organic garlic powder
  • Organic scorpion chili powder

Important nutrition facts

Serving size: 1 tbsp

Calories: 15

Total fat: 0 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 270 mg

Total carbohydrates: 4 g

Dietary fiber: 0 g

Total sugars: 3 g

Protein: 0 g

Should you buy it?

I would recommend this coconut aminos product as well because it has so few calories, less sodium than others, and can make flavoring your dishes that much easier by eliminating the need for some spices.

Coconut Secret Organic Garlic Sauce & Marinade

Coconut Secret sauce.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This garlic stir fry sauce could pair nicely with almost any combination of meat, veggies, and noodles.

Ingredients

  • Organic coconut tree sap
  • Sea salt
  • Organic garlic powder
  • Organic ginger powder
  • Organic cayenne pepper

Important nutrition facts

Serving size: 1 tbsp

Calories: 15

Total fat: 0 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 300 mg

Total carbohydrates: 4 g

Dietary fiber: 0 g

Total sugars: 3 g

Protein: 0 g

Should you buy it?

Overall, this sauce is a good option because it’s so low in calories. It’s important to note that just one tablespoon contains 13% of your daily sodium intake, so be careful with measurements!

Coconut Secret Organic Teriyaki Sauce & Marinade

Coconut Secret sauce.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Teriyaki is another tasty flavor that this brand offers, and it pairs especially well with rice, salmon, and broccoli — or any of your favorite veggies.

Ingredients

  • Organic coconut tree sap
  • Sea salt
  • Organic ginger powder
  • Organic onion powder
  • Organic garlic powder
  • Organic cayenne pepper

Important nutrition facts

Serving size: 1 tbsp

Calories: 30 

Total fat: 0 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 280 mg

Total carbohydrates: 8 g

Dietary fiber: 0 g

Total sugars: 8 g

Protein: 0 g

Should you buy it?

This sauce contains twice as many calories as the other flavor and a similar amount of sodium. The additional calories are due to more carbohydrates per serving from the naturally occurring sugar in the tree sap. While I think this product is good overall, some people may prefer an option with fewer calories and less sugar.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Christine VanDoren
Christine VanDoren
Contributor
Christine is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist with an undergraduate degree from Missouri State University. Her…
Everything you need to know about the Military Diet plan
Learn about the benefits and risks of the Military Diet
Saltines on a plate for the Military Diet

When you hear of the Military Diet plan, you likely assume it is something that members of the armed services follow. However, the diet is actually not even associated with the military! It is a strict way of eating that has been popularized on social media.
The Military Diet is designed to be a quick fix for weight loss -- a way to lose a significant amount of weight rapidly. As such, there are real concerns about the safety and sustainability of the Military Diet.
Whether you’ve seen the viral posts on social media of people touting their weight loss success stories on the Military Diet or want to lose weight quickly (we caution you against that) and want to learn more about the Military Diet, keep reading for our guide to the Military Diet, including what the diet entails and whether the Military Diet is safe and effective.

What is the Military Diet plan?
The Military Diet is a fad diet that is purported to help you lose weight rapidly -- up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) in one week and 30 pounds in one month -- by restricting calories and revving your metabolism. This diet is high in protein and low in calories, fat, and complex carbohydrates.
The metabolic boost is said to come from consuming certain combinations of foods prescribed on the meal plan. The Military Diet only consists of modifying what you eat and drink. It is a free program, and there are no supplements to take or specific products to buy.

Read more
What is the healthiest fruit? 5 items you should be eating daily
Fruit Salad

Consuming a variety of fruits can contribute to a healthy gut microbiome and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. But do you know which are the healthiest fruits for you? Let's look at how many and what type of fruits you should be eating for optimal health. 

What is the healthiest fruit?
The healthiest fruit is not a single fruit but rather a variety of fruits that offer a range of nutritional benefits. According to the American Heart Association, adults are recommended to consume 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

Read more
The Whole30 diet: Everything you need to know
Learn about what foods you can and can't consume on the Whole30 diet
Assorted vegetables sold at a market.

There are so many different diets out there, so is the Whole30 diet worth trying? While you don't want to follow a "quick fix" diet since they tend to cause more harm than good, as they are unsustainable, and many people gain the weight they lost right back, there are still ways of eating that promote health and wellness. The key is finding something that you would be willing to stick to long-term - that means it doesn't have any crazy or unrealistic restrictions!
With that said, there are certain circumstances under which following the Whole30 diet for a deliberately short time can be beneficial. For example, if you’re experiencing digestive issues routinely after eating with no known cause, trying an elimination diet and recording your symptoms and reactions as you reintroduce foods can elucidate your potential food sensitivities.
After the potential culprits are identified, you can resume a more liberal, diverse diet by excluding the trigger foods. Similarly, some guys may find a short-term, squeaky-clean diet can help them reset their brain and appetite to be keener with healthier eating habits after an extended vacation marked by indulgent eating or weeks of enjoying rich foods.
The Whole30 diet is designed for exactly these types of scenarios. Though highly restrictive and therefore not an easy diet to implement and stick with, the results can be rather transformative for those who can diligently adhere to the diet program for its entire 30-day duration. Fortunately, 30 days come and go fairly quickly. If you are experiencing symptoms of food sensitivities, the Whole30 diet just might be the dietary reset you need to start feeling better and making progress toward your health goals.
However, it can also be a controversial eating plan, and there are plenty of registered dietitians and nutritionists who take issue with some of the "rules" and exclusions set forth by the diet, so it warrants careful consideration of both sides before you jump in.
Are you curious to see if you’re up for the challenge and in need of rebooting your dietary habits and digestive health, or if you fall more in the camp that the Whole30 diet is a fad diet with little merit? Keep reading to learn all the need-to-know information about the Whole30 diet.

What is the Whole30 diet?
Created in 2009 by a married couple of sports nutritionists, Melissa Urban and Dallas Hartwig, the Whole30 diet is a 30-day dietary reset eating program designed to help people identify food sensitivities and triggers of inflammation, cravings, low energy, hormonal imbalances, and digestive dysfunction. Adherents of the Whole30 diet are asked to fully buy in for the entire 30 days, abiding by all the explicitly stated rules without slip-ups. Should a rule be broken, the dieter must restart their count from day one.
The Whole30 diet focuses on consuming whole, unprocessed foods, which is certainly a sound eating principle. However, because the list of rules is extensive, the actual diet is highly restrictive. The primary purpose of the diet is to remove trigger foods, and this includes many major food groups like dairy and grains. After the 30 days, the foods you miss eating can slowly be re-introduced one at a time while you’re expected to note any adverse reactions. If the food does trigger cravings, inflammation, bloating, low energy, sleep disturbances, etc., then you're supposed to permanently eliminate it from your diet.
Unlike most other popular diets, the Whole30 diet actually prohibits weighing yourself except for the first and thirtieth days of the program. Dieters are also asked not to track calories but to instead focus on eating to satiety.

Read more