What Is Bulletproof Coffee And Is It Healthy For You
There are probably as many different ways to prepare or take your coffee as there are days in the average month. Black, one sugar, a splash of cream, with an espresso shot, as a latte, cold brewed, double brewedthe list goes on and on. Theres also an avid tribe of coffee drinkers who add butter. Thats right whether for purported health reasons and diet goals or simply because they agree with the often-tossed-around phrase that everything tastes better with butter, some people skip the milk, cream, and sugar and make their morning cup of coffee with grass-fed butter. Known as Bulletproof coffee, this creamy coffee drink is a breakfast stapleif not an offered as breakfast in its entiretyfor many people practicing intermittent fasting or who are adherents of the keto diet, paleo diet, or other low-carb diets.
If you dont regularly follow niche diet and wellness trends, theres a good chance youve never heard of Bulletproof coffee and it may sound entirely unappetizing. But, if youre a lover of creamy coffee drinks and low-carb living, your interest may be piqued. Either way, if youre like us and think it can be fun to learn about different diet trends and consider whether they appeal to you or may improve your own health, keep reading for all the basics about Bulletproof coffee. Well answer common questions including what Bulletproof coffee is, how you make Bulletproof coffee, and if Bulletproof coffee is healthy.
It Might Power Weight Loss Increase Energy And Sharpen Focus
I learned about the power of butter at 18,000 feet of elevation near Mt. Kailash in Tibet, states the Bulletproof Coffee website, and that, more or less, is how the story starts . Dave Asprey, a Silicon Valley investor and technology entrepreneur, according to his website and a biohacker according to his , is the brains behind Bulletproof Coffee.
Bulletproof Coffee is a unique coffee blend that uses unusual ingredients to induce metabolic effects that help people lose weight and that promote amazing focus,according to Asprey. Its a trend thats picking up steam with fitness enthusiasts, CrossFitters and coffee nuts.
Confused? We were too. Heres how BulletProof Coffee works.
What makes it different from other coffees?
The first thing thatll surprise you are the ingredients: coffee, unsalted butter and an extract of coconut oil. Specifically, the official Bulletproof Coffee recipe calls for Bulletproof Upgraded Coffee Beans, Bulletproof Upgraded Brain Octane and unsalted butter .
Can I drink Bulletproof Coffee if I purchase those specific ingredients?
There is technically a difference between Bulletproof Coffee and bulletproof coffee, but its minimalits like the difference between Kleenex and tissue . You can buy regular coffee beans, unsalted butter and MCT oil and make bulletproof coffee, but it wont be Bulletproof Coffee. Make sense?
Can I use regular butter?
Okay, so to make my coffee bulletproof, all I do is add butter and oil, right?
May Raise Your Cholesterol Levels
Many studies have been conducted on low-carb and ketogenic diets, which are often high in fat and may include Bulletproof coffee.
Most of this research confirms that these diets do not increase your levels of total and LDL cholesterol at least on average (
4 ).
However, butter seems to be particularly effective at raising LDL cholesterol levels. One study in 94 British adults showed that eating 50 grams of butter daily for 4 weeks increased LDL cholesterol levels more than consuming an equal amount of coconut oil or olive oil .
Another 8-week study in Swedish men and women with excess weight found that butter raised LDL cholesterol by 13%, compared with whipping cream. The researchers hypothesized that it could have something to with its fat structure .
Also, keep in mind that not everyone responds the same way to a high-fat diet. Some people see dramatic increases in total and LDL cholesterol, as well as other markers of heart disease risk .
For those who have cholesterol problems while on a low-carb or ketogenic diet, the first thing to do is avoid excessive intake of butter. This includes Bulletproof coffee.
SUMMARY Butter and ketogenic diets high in saturated fat may increase cholesterol levels and other heart disease risk factors in some people. For those who have elevated levels, its best to avoid Bulletproof coffee.
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Benefits Of Bulletproof Coffee:
- Coffee usually gives you a caffeine buzz in the beginning, but can also lead to a crash later on. This recipe will give you a longer, steadier boost of energy.
- Healthy fats from butter & MCT oil help to stop food cravings that often happen when drinking coffee. So theoretically it could help you lose weight.
- Without getting too scientific, MCTs are saturated fatty acids that are easier to digest than other types of fat, so it is great for digestion.
- Generally, the MCT oil in bulletproof coffee will help you feel full & satisfied, will give you more energy, and give you a clear, focused mind.
Is Bulletproof Coffee Healthier Than Other Types Of Butter Coffee
The verdict is still out on whether butter coffee has the same nutritional effects as Bulletproof Coffee. Zamarripa points out that Bulletproof encourages the use of grass-fed butter, which she says is higher in omega-3 fatty acids than conventional butter. Omega-3 fatty acids have been associated with benefits like lowering inflammation in the body. Grass-fed butter also contains vitamin K2, which is important for heart and bone health.
From what I can tell, they have high standards for sourcing, which could be good, Lemein says. But ultimately, one’s nutritional outcome for consuming or not consuming Bulletproof Coffee is going to come down to their overall daily intake of nutrients and how Bulletproof Coffee is balanced out with the rest of their diet.
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How To Make Keto Coffee Taste Good Add Some Flavor
Now that you know the basic recipe for bulletproof coffee, its time to personalize it to your taste.
Here are a few things you can add to the above to make it taste like the coffee at your favorite coffee shop:
Add a drop or two of vanilla extract or peppermint extract, or a pinch of cinnamon or even some nutmeg to dress it up a bit. My preference is vanilla, but every once in a while I like cinnamon and nutmeg in my coffee.
To sweeten it with a natural sugar-free sweetener, I am loving monk fruit sweetener these days. My favorite is this So Nourished sweetener.
If you are able to handle artificial sweeteners then I LOVE the multitude of flavors they have over at Skinny Mixes! They have this nice Caramel Trio pack which has my favorite flavors in it! Take 10% off your first order by using this coupon code: KETOGENICWOMAN
UPDATE: These sugar-free syrups now come in a variety of non sucralose flavors! This means that coffee lovers can dress up their keto bulletproof coffee with natural keto sweeteners! See those here!
Is Bulletproof Coffee Bad For You
Whether Bulletproof Coffee is a healthy choice will vary from person to person based on overall health and diet, nutritionists say. But there are a few points to consider, like Bulletproofs high saturated fat content. Overall, adding saturated fat to one’s diet is not generally deemed healthy, as we want to limit our saturated fat intake and focus on unsaturated fats more, says Lemein.
Butter adds a significant amount of calories to coffee, she says, and she also recommends people eat their calories rather than drinking them, as liquid calories dont contribute to satiety in the same way as solids: While adding butter to your coffee may make you feel fuller for longer, so will eating a balanced meal in the morning, Lemein says.
Also of note: According to nutritionist Brooke Alpert, the concept of Bulletproof coffee promotes fasting in that it allows you to still consume something without actually breaking your fast in the morning. So while you may feel full, you’re not getting the nutrients that a healthy meal would offer.
That said, grass-fed butter has its benefits. Its a good source of vitamin A, which is important for keeping our immune system, eyes, and skin healthy, and its also high in a fatty acid called conjugated linoleic acid, which studies show may promote fat loss.
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The Butter Is Essential Obviously
As far as the butter, I use Kerrygold regular old salted butter. You can also use unsalted butter. Grassfed butter is definitely better than regular butter because it has vitamin K that the cows get from from grazing on all that grass. Vitamin K helps clear out your arteries so that the healthy fat found in butter can easily move throughout your body. Some people prefer the unsalted kind found in the silver package, but I honestly prefer my regular gold sticks because I think my butter coffee winds up tasting like a salted caramel latte that way.
Yum!
A lot of people call my butter coffee a bulletproof coffee recipe. I’ve been making this since before that company and trend went wild, and my cup of coffee is very different because of the addition of extra flavorings and spices that I personally think makes it tastier and easier to ingest every morning! I also like to incorporate the french press into my creations. No idea if that’s part of their usual schtick.
Also, every single time I hear them say that I can’t get the David Guetta song out of my head.
I’m bulletproof, nothing to lose. Fire away, fire away. Ricochet, you take your aim.
Benefits Of Brain Octane C8 Mct Oil In Bulletproof Coffee
MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides . MCT oil boosts ketone production on the keto dietand of the MCT oils out there, Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil is scientifically backed as the best of the best. This top-notch fat is a staple ingredient in Bulletproof Coffee recipe because of its:
- Purity: Its pure C8 derived from 100% coconut oil. Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil is triple-distilled and purified with just water, heat and pressure. That means you get pure, highly ketogenic C8 MCTs.
- Quality: All of our MCT oils are produced according to our strict quality standards.
- Taste: Its flavorless and odorless, unlike some other MCT oils, and typical coconut oilif youre not a fan of coconutty things.
More Recipes From Bulletproof
Breaking down the science
Different types of fats have different jobs. And because of Brain Octane C8 MCT Oils molecular structure, its four times more effective than plain coconut oil at raising your ketone levels, so your body and brain can run more on fat instead of glucose. This is what gives you sustained energy, sans the crash.
The best part: While MCT oil is amazing for keto dieters, you dont have to be in ketosis to benefit from it. In fact, research shows that Brain Octane C8 MCT oil doubles the available ketone energy in a healthy brainregardless of the diet you follow.
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Bulletproof Coffee Without Butter What Is Ghee
Ghee is basically butter separated into its dairy and non-dairy parts. Its heated to a point where the oil separates from the milk, so the dairy portion of butter is removed and whats left is the only the clarified oil.
If you have issues with dairy, ghee is a healthier alternative to using butter and is great for people who cant have or want to stay away from dairy. Learn more about Ghee here.
See, you still have a way to have that keto butter coffee!
What Is Cacao Butter
Cacao butter is a byproduct of processed raw cacao beans. These beans also produce cacao powder and cacao nibs, but the butter specifically comes from the cold-pressed oils in the beans. Cacao butter and cocoa butter keep candy bars perfectly melty, add smoothness and shelf life to skin care products and give recipes a deliciously mild chocolate flavor.
Unlike conventional grass-fed butter, this butter is completely dairy-free and considered a vegetable fat. While other vegetable-based oils contain inflammatory damaged fats, cacao butter is loaded with natural, stable saturated fats that may help support a healthy inflammation response.
Best of all, this butter delivers a rich, chocolatey flavor with no added sugar and fewer stimulating effects compared to cacao powdermaking it the perfect keto-friendly fat to use wherever youd find conventional chocolate.
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How To Prepare Butter Coffee
This coffee is very easy to make with the freshly brewed coffee with butter and use. To add butter, you need to choose the best quality of butter. It should be marked as coffee grass-fed as this provides omega-three fatty acids and vitamin K. The butter has been linked to the lower rates of heart disease.
Try to find an unsalted and organic butter its also essential. If you want to achieve a latte like consistency is to emulsify the fat with coffee. You can do this by using immersion and regular blender to mix them carefully.
Replace the butter with some coconut oil that will provide a small dose of lauric acid. Moreover, you can make your butter coffee without using a blender.
Can You Make Butter Coffee Without A Blender
To make butter coffee, you will need a blender. You can try making it with a shaker bottle, but the result just wont be as good. Instead of a frothy, creamy beverage, youll end up with oily, black sludge.
The key to getting the right consistency and smoothness is the speed at which a proper blender can mix everything. The butter and oil is split up into really tiny particles which are then dispersed throughout the liquid, making it nice and consistent.
It should be worth noting here that even a stick blender wont do the trick you?must use a proper blender. Also, its helpful that the blender is made of a plastic that can handle hot liquids.
If you have some doubts, you can check out our list of the best blenders for bulletproof coffee.
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Is It Ok To Drink Bulletproof Coffee Every Day
For people who are following a very low carb diet regularly or those following a full blown keto diet plan then drinking Bulletproof coffee daily is probably safe so long as you are using the exact correct ingredients.
Grass fed ghee butter is much healthier than regular table butter and so long as sugars and milk or creamers are omitted from the drink and its consumed as largely a meal replacement in the morning the drink is not likely to affect your health negatively any time soon.
Most people get into trouble by adding this drink to a morning routine without changing the morning routine enough to make this drink a healthy daily drink.
If you want a Bulletproof coffee every now and then just be advised that it wont be as healthy for you as it could be and it could be a bit bad for your weight situation too but then again there are quite a few Starbucks drinks that arent very healthy either.
Everything in moderation unless you are following a very specific and regimented plan.
Lastly I Add Almond Butter In This Vegan Bulletproof Coffee
Along with cacao butter and coconut oil, I add a spoonful of almond butter. I find that almond butter gives this vegan bulletproof coffee a bit of thickness and texture, as well as vitamin E, magnesium, fat and fiber.
Because almond butter is a thick consistency compared to coffee, to get it properly mixed in the coffee, you’ll need the milk frother wand . The same tip about not mixing coconut oil into coffee with a spoon applies to not simply mixing almond butter into coffee with a spoon.
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What Are The Side Effects Of Mct Oil
For the vast majority of people there really arent any side effects to worry about when taking MCT oil.
MCT oil is a natural substance made from regular foods and its a good source of healthy fats whether you take the oil in your buttered coffee or elsewhere.
Its usually recommended however that people who are just starting to take MCT oil should begin with a smaller dose and work up to a full size dose. This is to minimize the effect of digestion changes in the body with the consumption of abruptly higher levels of fats.
Jumping from supplementing with no MCT oil to consuming a full dose overnight can result in mild diarrhea or lose stools but only while the body adjusts to the new supplement level. This effect is usually minimal when taking a smaller dose and working up to a full size dose.
Okay But Will It Help Me Lose Weight
That depends entirely on who you are and what you currently drink and eat for breakfast. Bulletproof coffee could help you lose weight if you use it to replace a daily sugary shortstack, or if you currently don’t eat breakfast at all.
In that case, BPC may provide a sense of fullness that you might not have experienced otherwise. Eating more calories from longer-lasting sources of energy can help you cut back on random grazing later on.
But and this is a big but drinking 100% dietary fat isnt your best bet. Replacing black coffee, tea, or a low-fat latte with a bulletproof blend will add more calories to your total daily intake without much of a difference. In fact, drinking calories instead of chewing them can make you feel more ravenous for your next meal and there are so many better-for-you foods to choose instead!
To that end, I think the real problem with the bulletproof approach is that it encourages going from one extreme to another. Bulletproofs site talks about the “Sad American Diet” as one thats high in refined carbohydrates and added sugar an over-consumed nutrient according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The issue: Since most of us also already over-consume saturated fat in our current eating plans, adding more through beverages is just unnecessary.
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