Bulletproof Coffee: Fitness Friend or Foe?

You may or may not have heard of the term “bulletproof coffee”. A caffeinated, black-coffee drink, accompanied by a tablespoon of thick lard or butter. The principle behind which is to help you lose weight and keep you feeling full in the morning but is it really that healthy when we break down the facts? Let’s find out in Bulletproof Coffee: Fitness Friend or Foe?

What is Bulletproof Coffee?

Like most popular fitness trends typically reinvented from some ancient practice, Bulletproof Coffee was pioneered by David Asprey in accordance with ancient Tibetan traditions which involve drinking herbal teas mixed with local cattle produce namely, yak butter. Now the principle behind this drink is to consume it on an empty stomach as a replacement for a meal. Yes, the additional 300-plus calories consumed from adding oil and fat to your morning fix sets the basis for a modern breakfast meal. The recipe for which includes caffeinated-black coffee accompanied specifically by a tablespoon of grass-fed, unsalted butter or medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil which can be found in coconut and palm oils.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Now, let us break this down further. If, for example you were to follow a Ketogenic diet – this drink would scream success. High-fat, low-carb so in this sense the meal is approved. It provides energy from caffeine and high-powered fats in replacement of carbohydrates and aids ketogenic weight loss from linoleic acids and medium-chain triglycerides found in either fat product which are also known to support muscle growth.

If you were a Tibetan mountain herder with very limited food supplies this makes for quick, easy, calorie-boosting energy for daily tasks. However, if we were to look at this from the viewpoint of the average person, someone that eats a mixture of meals and typically enjoys a takeaway pizza or glass of wine in the week, this is only going to hinder health and overall fitness progress since the requirements for the drink to work effectively require a strict or limited diet and a highly active, vigorous lifestyle.

May be Useful When Coping with Extreme Environments 

While there are proven health benefits of the individual ingredients of bulletproof coffee, combining them all to produce grotesquely high-fat liquid calories is not the best practice in the daily life of most people reading this, living in controlled, modern urban environments. Not to mention the drink is incredibly low in nutrients and high in saturated fats which typically outweigh the pros of the more beneficial fat strains.

Looking at this breakdown I think it’s safe to say it may be better to keep your coconut oil and butter for the frying pan and look for these fatty sources through more whole foods such as coconut milk and salmon fillets. Where do you stand in the Bulletproof Coffee debate? Tell us by commenting below and join in the conversation on FacebookTwitter & Instagram!

Krista Emilia

Krista is currently in training for the British stunt register with an extensive training background in snowsports, gymnastics and mixed martial arts. She is passionate about the changes sweeping the health and fitness industry having been a part of the process for 4 years working as a full-time food photographer and writer. Creative training and nutrition goes hand in hand for her so is her mission to share information with others about an active lifestyle in the pursuit of a happy and healthy future!

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