What is bulletproof coffee? Will it really help you peel off pounds?
“Promotes fat loss.” “Keeps you full for hours.” “Improves focus.” “Boosts mental acuity.” “Aids digestion.” “Helps build muscle.”
These are just a few of the claims being made by the proponents of bulletproof coffee. Does it sound too good to be true? Find out here…
When I was recently at San Francisco CrossFit, I overheard some athletes talking about their favorite “bulletproof recipes.” I could make out a few words of the conversation: “coffee,” “butter,” “coconut oil.” I was like, “YUCK! Why would anyone ruing a perfectly good cup of coffee by putting butter in it? ”
They explained that, as strange as it may sound, the combination of coffee, butter and coconut oil blended until frothy creates delicious coffee drink that mimics a rich, fullfat latte. I was like …”Why not just get a latte?” Their response: “Milk isn’t Paleo!” I explained, “…dairy isn’t Paleo, which means butter isn’t either.” And so it goes with Paleo diets; everyone simply makes up what’s okay or off-limits based on what they’re trying to sell. I have yet to meet one person following a Paleo diet that adheres to the principles set out by Loran Cordain, Ph.D., the so-called founder of the modern-day Paleo Diet. Here are the Paleo principles, according to Cordain.
What is Bulletproof Coffee?
Bulletproof coffee is being touted as a Paleo-friendly coffee because no milk or soymilk is used. It’s become increasingly popular among the CrossFit community, even if it doesn’t make sense. Like coconut oil and bacon, these food jags spread like viruses among the 10,000+ CrossFit gyms throughout the world and to the millions of athletes participating in CrossFit.
Proponents of drinking bulletproof coffee says it improves mental clarity, promotes weight loss and helps you get leaner. Dieters drink a cup of bulletproof coffee in the a.m. and they say they feel full for hours and don’t have cravings. If you can drink a coffee beverage with 200 calories or so worth of fat in it instead of a meal, it may help you reduce your calories and aid weight loss. At this time, there are no clinical studies suggesting that bulletproof coffee does promote weight loss.
The benefits of have bulletproof coffee is that it will taste rich and creamy because both butter and coconut oil are loaded with saturated fats and fats are slow to digest and will keep you feeling satisfied for quite some time. In addition, sat fats whip up to a nice frothy and rich texture and mouthfeel much like whipping cream.
The Bottom Line on Bulletproof Coffee
Since bulletproof coffee is sugar-free, I like it as one choice for your morning wake-me-up. It’s certainly going to be better than a mocha or some other overly sweetened gourmet coffee drink. As an added bonus, the saturated fat will keep you satisfied longer but it’s not a coffee drink that will change your life. Will it help you peel off pounds? Probably not, unless you cut your calories or increase your exercise too.
However, there are real heart-health issues that are linked to saturated fat intake and coconut oil and butter are among the richest sources of sat fats. If your calories and sugar intake are kept in check, saturated fat may pose little health threat, but as part of a high-calories, high-sugar diet, saturated fats are linked to heart disease.
If you want to try it, here are a few recipes.
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Bulletproof Classic Coffee Recipe
1. Brew 1 cup (8 oz.) of coffee.
2. Add 1-2 tablespoons grass-fed, unsalted butter or ghee
3. Mix it all in a blender for 20-30 seconds until it is frothy like a foamy latte
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Vanilla Bulletproof Coffee
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Bulletproof Coffee or Tea Recipe
Here’s another by Wellness Mama
