Forget the cream and sugar.

Butter is the new cool kid on the block, especially when it comes to your morning coffee.

Bulletproof coffee, which is coffee with grass-fed butter and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) oil mixed in, was designed by Dave Asprey, owner of Bulletproof Executive, to “supercharge your brain function and create effortless fat loss with no cravings.”

Bulletproof coffee may be a great way to get healthy fats first thing in the morning. Starting the day with healthy fats provides energy, is good for cognitive function and supports your hormones.

Butter from grass-fed cows supplies a ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids that’s far healthier than butter from conventionally raised livestock. MCT oil is like rocket fuel for the brain and metabolism. Research also indicates its anti-aging, helpful for autoimmune conditions and lowering cholesterol (1).

MCT is a concentrated form of fat that is about six times stronger than coconut oil when it comes to feeding your brain. The body makes ketones when breaking down fat which are a very efficient energy source and provide mental clarity.

So here’s the deal.

I am not a big fan of coffee.

Most of the clients I see have tired adrenals and caffeine, particularly from coffee and black tea, creates negative effects with regard to these precious hormones. The adrenals are responsible for energy levels, endurance and vitality. Coffee triggers your pituitary gland to secrete a hormone that tells your adrenal glands to produce adrenalin, thus increasing levels of stress in the body.

Coffee has also been linked to blood sugar issues and when combined with a sugar filled diet and metabolic syndrome may be the end result.

Needless to say, caution must be exercised with regard to caffeine intake.

Below are a few tips to help when selecting your “bulletproofing brew.”

Espresso is healthier than regular coffee because it has less caffeine and is brewed on the spot. Espresso can actually be alkaline forming if drunk it within the first 15 minutes of being brewed.

I recommend drinking Crio Bru, a coffee substitute made of roasted cacao beans. It’s loaded with antioxidants and minerals, with little to no caffeine. The flavor is similar to coffee without the acidity of some other coffee substitutes I’ve tried in the past. Crio Bru was shown to be 5.5 on the litmus scale, consistent with raw cocoa. Coffee is more acidic at 5.0. Crio and coffee are more neutral than beer or any fruit juice and similar to carbonated water (which contains carbonic acid as a result of the dissolved carbon dioxide).

The beauty of bulletproofing is that you can have that coffee shop foam without exposing yourself to low quality ingredients and your wallet to the coffee shop price gauge.

How to make a Real Nutritious Living “Bulletproofed” beverage:

Ingredients:
1-2 cups organic coffee or coffee substitute
2 tablespoon of MCT oil
2 tablespoon of grass-fed butter or ghee
1 teaspoon of maca
1 teaspoon of cacao
¼ teaspoon of cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon of turmeric
1/8 teaspoon cayenne

Option to add: 1 tablespoon of collagen

Directions:
Brew coffee. Add all ingredients (coffee first) into blender. Blend 30 seconds. Enjoy!

Sources:
(1). Babayan, V.K. Medium chain fatty acid esters and their medical and nutritional applications. J Am Oil Chem Soc, 1981, 58: 49A-51A.

 

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Apprentice Editor: Yaisa Nio / Editor: Catherine Monkman

Photo: Flickr / Filter Forge