Marianna’s Coconut Cloud Smoothie is pricey and high in saturated fat. Here's a cheaper, healthier twist on the popular drink.

Would you pay $17 for a smoothie? Most people wouldn’t! But that’s just what thousands of people did recently to try TikTok’s hottest smoothie, a recipe that, via the hashtag #bluesmoothie, has racked up 17.5 million views and counting.

Erewhon is the upscale grocery store in Los Angeles that’s selling the drink, which is called “Marianna’s Coconut Cloud Smoothie.” Created with influencer Marianna Hewitt, it features her brand of almond milk as a main ingredient — but that’s not what made this social media’s most famous smoothie. This stunningly beautiful bright-blue smoothie gets its hue naturally from blue spirulina, a type of algae.

The idea of consuming algae may sound odd, but past research suggests it could have anti-inflammatory effects in the body and decrease the risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease. Not to mention, spirulina is tasteless.

While the captivating color of the aforementioned viral smoothie may draw you in, you may find the texture is what hooks you. Those people who have tried the drink describe its mouthfeel as light and fluffy. No wonder “cloud” features in its name.

But this smoothie isn’t perfect — aside from its hefty price tag, its nutritional profile isn’t exactly sterling.

Although nutrition information for the Coconut Cloud Smoothie isn’t readily available online, that it contains coconut cream means it’s high in saturated fat, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The American Heart Association suggests limiting intake to no more than 6 percent of your daily calories — or about 13 grams (g) if you’re consuming 2,000 calories per day.

The original recipe also calls for collagen powder, which is part of what makes the original version so pricey. (A quick search on Amazon yields results for collagen powders that range from roughly $12 to $50 per container.) Collagen is a protein and the main component of connective tissues and the skin, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. While it might stand to reason that eating collagen would increase the collagen in your body (thereby making skin look more radiant), the article goes on to point out that there is not enough evidence to support that theory. Indeed, the author states that collagen cannot be absorbed whole by the human body, so it has to be broken down during digestion. These “collagen pieces” are then absorbed by the body and can be used for whatever purpose the body deems most critical — not necessarily to make collagen at all.

Rather than consuming collagen directly, ramping up your intake of nutrients that support collagen production in the body — more specifically vitamin C and zinc — can be helpful, per Harvard. The pineapple in the original recipe is an excellent source of vitamin C, with 78.9 mg per 1-cup serving, notes the USDA.

Even with that nutritional pro of the original beverage, there’s a smarter way to enjoy the trendy food.

In this twist on the viral blue smoothie, there’s a small amount of light coconut milk to replace the coconut cream and significantly lower the amount of saturated fat. Also incorporated is mango for an extra boost of the collagen-supporting vitamin, bringing the total amount in this smoothie to more than you need in a day, according to the National Institutes of Health. You’ll find zinc in the almond butter, too, per the USDA.

Another plus of this version: It’s about $5 per serving, after you pay the upfront costs of stocking your kitchen with these ingredients.

Here’s how to whip it up:

Nutrition per serving: 470 calories, 26g total fat (6.4g saturated fat), 11g protein, 57g carbohydrates, 11.2g fiber, 20.7g sugar (0g added sugar), 106mg sodium

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