No beverage has defined Silicon Valley aspiration over the past decade like bulletproof coffee, the brainchild of cloud-computing innovator David Asprey. A whole host of tech executives and celebrity fans, including Maya Rudolph and Shailene Woodley, have touted its praises.1
Lovers of bulletproof coffee self-report that making the drink their morning brew decreased brain fog and boosted weight-loss.2
In this article, we’ll investigate the truth behind the hype. We’ll explain what bulletproof coffee is, how it’s made, and how drinking it can support you in your health or weight loss goals. Then, we’ll advise who should avoid this potent brew.
What is bulletproof coffee?
Bulletproof coffee is an alternative to conventional coffee made from high-quality coffee beans, unsalted butter from grass-fed cows, and MCT oil, like the kind derived from coconut oil.
How is bulletproof coffee made?
Coffee, unsalted butter from grass-fed cows, and MCT oil are blended together to make a latte-like drink.
Bulletproof coffee health benefits
Many health benefits are linked to bulletproof coffee, and these are a few of them:
Antioxidant content
Coffee is rich in antioxidants which can help protect the body from oxidative stress.3
Lower cholesterol
MCT oil may decrease instances of bad ‘LDL’ cholesterol and promote good ‘HDL’ cholesterol, enhancing heart health.4
Improved physical fitness
MCT oil consumption is linked to better stamina during exercise and sports.5
Increased metabolism
People who consumed MCT oil during a trial had a faster metabolism than those who didn’t.6
Scientific studies show that the ingredients within bulletproof coffee can enhance overall health. However, there have been no studies to date which investigate the specific health benefits of bulletproof coffee.
Bulletproof coffee for weight loss
Bulletproof coffee can support you in achieving your weight loss. This is because it:
Encourages fat burning
Coffee encourages fat burning due to its effect on metabolism.7
Increases feelings of fullness
MCT oil releases two hormones which increase feelings of satiety, making you less likely to reach for that mid-morning snack.8
Supports the ketogenic diet
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, mid-protein, low-carb diet that induces a state called ketosis to encourage fat loss. Ketogenic diet programs have proven themselves useful at increasing weight loss among the obese.9 Bulletproof coffee is a ketogenic food, and MCT oil likely quickens the onset of ketosis.10
Who should avoid bulletproof coffee
Bulletproof coffee isn’t for everyone, and a few people may want to avoid it, including:
- People with caffeine sensitivities. Some might experience bloating, diarrhoea, or skin rashes when they consume caffeine and should avoid bulletproof coffee11
- People on a low–calorie diet. A cup of bulletproof coffee can contain as many as 450 calories, so it is unlikely to fit into a low-calorie diet12
Last updated: 9 October 2020
Sources
1 https://www.fastcompany.com/3032635/bulletproof-coffee-the-new-power-drink-of-silicon-valley
2 https://www.fastcompany.com/3032635/bulletproof-coffee-the-new-power-drink-of-silicon-valley
3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4665516/
4 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26545671/
5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805166/
6 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805166/
7 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5696634/
8 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4192077/
9 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2716748/
10 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5987302/
11 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/food-intolerance/
12 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4960974/
