Bulletproof Coffee

Two tablespoons of fat to start the day?  ...And in my coffee?

Bulletproof coffee is a key component for many intermittent fasters. However as a dietitian, it’s a trend that I’ve dismissed for several years now as just that – a trend that I could never tie enough consistent, credible research to justify recommending or trying.  But over the past eight weeks, bulletproof coffee has slowly become a staple in my morning routine.

So what changed? 

Well, let’s just say that after a trying a few days of fasting, a plain cup of black coffee wasn’t cutting it!  I just wanted a splash of cream and sugar but those were off-limits – or at least until after 11:00am.  And sometimes when you’re pushed to desperation points (in my case, being forced to drink black coffee!), you start to wonder about other options….such as bulletproof coffee. So, I contacted fellow dietitian and good friend Amanda Nighbert who swears by her bulletproof coffee recipe (which she allowed me to share) to get some tips.  If I was going to try it, I wanted to do it right.  

So what’s it like?  

It’s not super-thick or oily – something I assumed it would be. The mouthfeel is similar to coffee that has just has cream or milk in it, and when mixed (which Amanda recommends doing in the blender to fully disperse the fat) the coffee turns into a frothy drink similar to a latte. I found it surprisingly good and pretty enjoyable to drink!

Am I still drinking it?

I’ve continued to drink bulletproof coffee most mornings because 1) I actually like it and 2) I like that the fat keeps me full through the morning - so much so that I often forget that I am technically "fasting."  An even bigger plus for me though has been that I don’t get that mid-morning blood sugar drop on the mornings that I drink it. I'm still not sure if it’s the coffee, the fasting, something else I’m doing in my routine, or a combo, but something seems to be working to regulate my blood sugar making work much more enjoyable through the morning. 

So what now?

Just like with intermittent fasting, I’m still struggling to incorporate bulletproof coffee into my professional knowledge base, and I haven’t seen enough research to sell me on the benefits of MCTs.  However, I am glad that black coffee pushed me to step out of my nutrition comfort zone, and I also can’t help but think that drinking a bit of fat in my coffee every day is probably better for me than adding sugar and artificially-flavored creamers.  

Follow Amanda on instagram @amandanighbert or on Facebook.

Have you tried Bulletproof Coffee?  If so, tell me what you think in the comments below. Also, stay tuned to later this week when I share my personal experience with Intermittent Fasting!