Details on the ‘Bulletproof coffee’ craze

Bulletproof coffee is a great way to get healthy fats first thing in the morning.

Replacing your morning coffee’s dose of milk and sugar with a portion of butter helps to kick-start your day into overdrive, according to advocates of the Bulletproof Coffee trend.

South Coast Sun has set out to explain Bulletproof coffee, which is a cup of black coffee with grass-fed butter and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) oil mixed in. Bulletproof coffee was designed by the owner of Bulletproof Executive, Dave Asprey, to “supercharge your brain function and create effortless fat loss with no cravings”.

Paleo-dieters and grass-fed butter fanatics are now adding the butter and oil combo to their morning javas.

“Bulletproof coffee is a great way to get healthy fats first thing in the morning,” says Kerry Bajaj, a Be Well health coach in New York City.

“Starting the day with healthy fats provides energy, is good for cognitive function and supports your hormonal system.”

Butter from grass-fed cows supplies a healthier ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids, when compared to what comes from conventionally raised livestock. MCTs are a unique form of fat that require less energy and enzymes to be digested when compared to another type of fat known as long-chain triglycerides, says Bajaj.

“There is some evidence that regular consumption of MCTs can induce very mild fat loss over time,” says Christopher Ochner, PhD, research associate at The New York Obesity Nutrition research centre.

“MCTs may also help regulate cholesterol levels, but the types of coconut oils and things from which people typically try to get MCTs often contain dangerous amounts of trans and saturated fats,” says Ocher.

“It’s an extra 200 to 300 calories, so it has to replace some food or another caloric beverage,” he adds. “Otherwise, you would gain an extra nine to 14 kilograms each year by having a cup per day.”

“If buttered coffee isn’t your thing, you can still get plenty of benefits from MCT oil,” says Bajaj. “Drink your coffee black alongside a scrambled egg cooked in MCT or coconut oil, which is naturally rich in MCTs. You can also add them to your favorite smoothies. Just remember to stick with the all-natural varieties.”

If you are trying to cut down calories or saturated fat, Bulletproof probably isn’t the brew for you. But it does have a whole lot more health benefits than many of the other blended, whipped or cream-topped coffee monstrosities out there.

How to make bulletproof coffee:

1. Boil one cup of filtered water.
2. Use the water to brew strong black coffee from two and a half heaped tablespoons of freshly ground coffee beans.
3. Add one tablespoon of MCT oil,l; you can work up to one to two tablespoons over several days.
4. Add one tablespoon grass-fed unsalted butter or ghee; you can work up to two or more tbsp over several days.
5. Mix in a blender for at least 20 seconds, until it’s creamy and no oil sits on the surface.

Original article: Women’s Health Magazine.