If you haven’t heard the hype about Bulletproof Coffee recently, you might have been hiding under a rock!  Just kidding 🙂 But, in all honesty, it has quickly become the latest health fad, so I thought it was worth a post to explain how it truly ranks as a ‘health food’.

What Is Bulletproof Coffee?

Bulletproof coffee uses a specific type of coffee that is very low in mycotoxins, a naturally occurring fungus found in most coffee beans.  You brew one cup of it and are then supposed to blend in 1-2 tablespoons of organic, grass fed butter, with 1-2 tablespoons of MCT (medium chain triglyceride) oil, which is similar to coconut oil in profile.  The idea is that you have it as your breakfast, and it boosts your energy, improves your brain power and keeps you full until lunch.

The Pros of Bulletproof Coffee

• The type of coffee used (mycotoxin free), is grown at high altitudes in Central America, and organic, which is a pro.
• If you recently saw the cover of Time Magazine, the verdict is out that we need healthy fats in our diet, and butter is one of them.
• When you are consuming butter, to have the proper health benefits, it really should be organic and grass-fed.  Butter is an excellent source of vitamins, including Vitamins A, E & K.
• The MCT oil is also a beneficial oil for the body.  Studies have shown MCT oil, the primary type of fat in coconut oil, to help with Alzheimers symptoms in patients.  Also, MCT oil is actually metabolized by the body to be used as energy, not stored as fat.

The Cons of Bulletproof Coffee

• There are studies showing coffee is beneficial to our health (in moderation).  However, coffee can be detrimental if you already have adrenal fatigue, experience chronic stress, or have sleep problems as it can spike cortisol levels, putting your energy levels on a roller coaster ride for the day.
• Adrenal (stress/energy) problems, can lead to a whole host of other problems, including hormone (menstrual & fertility) issues and digestive issues.
• Bulletproof coffee is marketed as a breakfast replacement.  While you are getting some nutrients from the butter, you’re better off from a nutrient perspective to be including real food as you would with a smoothie.
• I am never a proponent for calorie counting, but if you simply add bulletproof coffee in addition to your diet, you are essentially adding an entire meal to your daily intake.

My Experience With Bulletproof Coffee

I decided I had better try it one morning before writing about it.  Now, keep in mind I already eat saturated fat and MCT oils in my regular diet, so wasn’t expecting any cognitive differences. However, coffee tends to make me jittery, and also affects my sleep.  I also find that after a coffee, I have an energy crash a few hours later.  Here’s what I experienced with bulletproof coffee:

• It didn’t keep me full for the morning.  I had to eat again about 2 hours later.
• It did taste delicious – much like a latte.
• I often get jittery after a regular cup of coffee, and I didn’t after bulletproof coffee.
• I slept TERRIBLY that night, even though I drank it as early as 9am in the morning.

The Verdict on Bulletproof Coffee

• If you are a coffee drinker as is, and experience NO jitters or sleep problems whatsoever, the mycotoxin-free bulletproof coffee beans do provide a high quality source of caffeine.
• Adding some healthy fats to the coffee can make it taste delicious, and are beneficial, if you’re not already getting these sources of fat in your diet.
• Should this be your breakfast? Absolutely not. You wouldn’t have a regular latte for breakfast (I hope!), so this is no different.  Stick with a nutrient dense smoothie, or veggie omelet.
• Should you be drinking it all day? Absolutely NOT! Your sleep will not be the same.  Either you’ll be waking up between 2-4am, or not able to fall asleep when you normally would.

Instead of coffee, I’d recommend trying Matcha Green Tea, or Kombucha.