What is “Bulletproof coffee”?
Why our founders enjoy adding it into their routine
- Written by Orla Ni Bhriain
The ketogenic diet has gained quite a lot of recognition in recent years. ‘Keto’ is a diet which focuses on reducing carbohydrate intake and increasing fat consumption, and is similar to the Atkins diet [1]. The general principle behind the keto diet is that when we reduce our carbohydrate intake and increase fat consumption, our body’s ability to burn fats becomes more efficient, and our energy levels are boosted [2]. The ketogenic diet has significant scientific basis, and supporters have seen improvements to their health that include increased ketones, and reductions in insulin and reduction in blood sugar levels [3].
Bulletproof Coffee is a high-calorie drink which is largely associated with the Keto diet that was created by the author of the Bulletproof Diet, DaveAsprey. Asprey traveled to Tibet to learn to meditate and improve his health and wellbeing and tasted a special blend of tea on his travels there, which was infused with yak butter [4]. Yak’s are long-haired domesticated bovine cousins that roam the Himalayan region [5]. Asprey noticed an immediate change as soon as he had the tea, he said
"After I drank it I noticed my brain felt much better than it had in a long time, even though I should have felt bad at that elevation,"[6].
When Asprey returned to America he started work to create his own blend of the drink [7].
The result of Dave Asprey’s hard work was Bulletproof Coffee, also known as butter-coffee - which is made with added fats and intended as a source of body fuel. Those who take the coffee claim to feel more focused, more alert, and more satiated throughout the day [8].
The key ingredients of Bulletproof Coffee are coffee, MCT oil - commonly extracted from coconut oil - and butter which contains vitamins A, D and K as well as conjugated fats and butyrate[9]. MCT oil has many benefits that include increased satiety, weight loss, and increased fat burning during exercise [10][11][12][13]. MCT oil is also absorbed quickly by the body and converted to ketones, which makes it a fantastic source of energy [14].
The result of Dave Asprey’s hard work was Bulletproof Coffee, also known as butter-coffee - which is made with added fats and intended as a source of body fuel. Those who take the coffee claim to feel more focused, more alert, and more satiated throughout the day [8].
The key ingredients of BulletproofCoffee are coffee, MCT oil - commonly extracted from coconut oil - and butter which contains vitamins A, D and K as well as conjugated fats and butyrate[9]. MCT oil has many benefits that include increased satiety, weight loss, and increased fat burning during exercise [10][11][12][13]. MCT oil is also absorbed quickly by the body and converted to ketones, which makes it a fantastic source of energy [14].
So, how do you make bulletproof coffee?
The traditional Bulletproof Coffee recipe is as follows:
INGREDIENTS:
· 2 1/2 tablespoons ground Coffee
· 6-8 ounces of filtered water
· 1 teaspoon - 2tablespoons MCT oil
· 1-2 tablespoons Grass-Fed Ghee or unsalted butter
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. It all starts with the beans. Brew 1 cup (8-12 ounces) of coffee using filtered water with 2 ½ heaping tablespoons of freshly ground coffee beans.
2. Add 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons of MCT Oil. We recommend starting small with 1 teaspoon and work your way up to 1-2 tablespoons over several days.
3. Add 1-2 tablespoons of grass-fed, unsalted butter or ghee. You read that right. It says butter. Don’t worry. This mixture also makes the creamiest, most delicious cup of coffee you’ve ever had. Oh, and make sure your butter is unsalted. Salty coffee is gross. As a vegan substitute, many will use coconut milk or a nut milk instead.
4. Mix it all in a blender for 20-30 seconds until it looks like a foamy latte
Our founders, Dr Harry and Trent, are both advocates of Bulletproof-style coffees most days to stabilise their energy throughout the day. On his daily routine, Dr Harry says,
“I get up at 5 o’clock, get changed into my cycling gear and then I ride for anywhere between 1 hour and 1 hour and 45 minutes. I do that fasted unless it’s a very hard session in which case I have cold brew coffee mixed with MCT oil and protein powder. When I get back, I have a shower and then I sit down and have a high-fat smoothie and Bulletproof coffee.”
This is why our product range includes MCT oil, as we love bringing our Truth community products we have tried and tested personally (and love!). How should you consume yours if you're not a coffee drinker? Don't despair - Truth customers love mixing their MCT oil tea, smoothies, and within salad dressings. The tasteless flavour allows for you to really try it with anything!
References
1. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ketogenic-diet-101#what-it-is
2. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ketogenic-diet-101#what-it-is
3. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ketogenic-diet-101#what-it-is
4. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48692763
5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48692763
6. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48692763
7. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/what-bulletproof-coffee
8. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/what-bulletproof-coffe
9. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/what-bulletproof-coff
10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4192077/
11. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12975635/
12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12975635/
13. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20367215/
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