Weighing The Pros & Cons of Bulletproof Coffee
Butter coffee, aka Bulletproof coffee, is a combination of black coffee, grass-fed unsalted butter, and MCT (Medium Chain Triglyceride) oil. (Most commonly found in Coconut or Palm Oils). The concept comes from Dave Asprey, a Silicon Valley investor, entrepreneur, and “biohacker” known as “The Bulletproof Executive.”
Followers of the keto diet, the paleo diet, and other low-carbohydrate & high-fat diets have praised Bulletproof Coffee. It is designed to replace breakfast and should be enjoyed on an empty stomach.
Is Bulletproof coffee good for you? Let's weigh the pros and cons.
Benefits of Bulletproof Coffee
Bulletproof coffee was designed to allow the combination of caffeine and fats to lead to the consumption of fewer calories. Aside from weight loss, there are other potential health benefits to Bulletproof coffee, including improved cognitive function, an increase in energy, and decreased inflammation.
Studies in humans have determined that an intake of coffee can improve several aspects of brain function, such as energy levels, mood, memory capability, vigilance, and reaction times.
Caffeine can improve both mental clarity and brain function. The chemical reaction it causes in our head leads to an increase in the capability of certain neurons like dopamine.
Nutritionist Fiona Tuck tells Huffington Post Australia: “For those on a ketogenic diet, the fat requirement is necessary to provide fuel for the brain and body as the body has been trained to burn fat for fuel, rather than traditional carbohydrates.”
Drinking Bulletproof coffee elevates ketone levels in the blood, which fuels the body in a carbohydrate-reduced diet.
Also, MCT oil requires fewer digestive processes than LCTs (Long Chain Triglycerides), which are found in fats from foods. Theoretically, they present more rapidly accessible energy.
It’s entirely up to you whether to include Bulletproof coffee in your regular diet or not. Just remember to be sensitive to what your body tells you so that you can give it what it needs. Need support in being attuned to your body? Join the Satori Prime community and they will give you all the support you can imagine possible…and more.
The Potential Downside of Bulletproof Coffee
Despite the benefits, there are many dieticians and nutritionists who have raised concerns about butter coffee. Bulletproof coffee does not make for a well-balanced breakfast. It replaces an entire meal, which means that the nutrient intake is greatly reduced. All the daily nutrients our bodies need must be squeezed into the remaining meals of the day.
Saturated fat has been demonized and studies have shown it does not cause heart disease. But it’s important to note that all of the studies were done on people using “normal” amounts of saturated fat present in food. They weren’t pouring massive amounts of saturated fat into their coffee. As fat is calorie-dense, over-consumption can be easy.
“Bulletproof Coffee could lead to weight gain, particularly for those not following a ketogenic diet,” explains Dietitian Jessica Spendlove, in the same Huffington Post Australia article. “For an individual on a regular carbohydrate-containing diet, Bulletproof Coffee at breakfast isn't likely to provide the satisfaction and energy levels that it would for someone on a ketogenic diet.”
Additional Information
When diving into the mind-body connection, so often, we fall into the trap of thinking that these are two separate entities, when in fact they exist as one. Our mind is inextricably linked to our body, and vice versa. Click below to listen to a mind-body conversation podcast to dive deeper and distinguish this connection for yourself!
