Exploring the Truth About Bulletproof Coffee

Exploring the Truth About Bulletproof Coffee

ALESSANDRA SIGNORELLI published a story on Vogue saying that if you follow wellness trends, you’ve probably noticed there’s something going on with coffee. No longer is it enough to drink a simple fair trade brew with organic non-dairy milk or sip a single-origin pour-over espresso; these days, it’s all about adding body-benefitting extras. A tablespoon of collagen, for example. Or, adaptogenic mushrooms like lion’s mane or chaga.

In that vein, there’s one coffee concoction that many health enthusiasts (including Shailene Woodley) swear by: “bulletproof coffee,” also known as “butter coffee.” It’s been around for several years and shows no sign of going anywhere soon. For the uninitiated, it’s essentially coffee that’s been mixed with organic, grass-fed butter, ghee, and/or MCT oil instead of your favorite milk. According to devotees—especially followers of ketogenic and paleo diets or intermittent fasting—this intriguing combo boosts energy and concentration. They also say it contributes to maintaining a healthy weight.

What is Bulletproof Coffee?

Bulletproof coffee is coffee enriched with fats such as unsalted, grass-fed butter or ghee and MCT oil (medium chain triglycerides) extracted from coconut oil. These fats are metabolized by the body into ketones, which are said to increase satiety and provide rapid energy to the brain.

Bulletproof coffee is actually a trademarked recipe—it’s the invention of entrepreneur, author, and biohacker Dave Asprey, who is also the creator of the “Bulletproof Diet,” a keto-like diet that is high in protein and fat. Asprey came across this coffee idea during a trip to Tibet, where he tasted a traditional tea enriched with yak butter that locals consume before trekking at high altitudes to experience renewed energy and mental clarity. Asprey’s experience with yak butter-enriched tea inspired him to create his own version. The result? Bulletproof coffee. (Asprey also sells his own brand of toxin-free coffee beans under the brand name Bulletproof; for the purpose of this article, we’ll use the term bulletproof coffee to refer to the general butter-and-MCT-oil concoction Asprey popularized in 2009.)

The Benefits of Bulletproof Coffee

According to fans, fat-infused coffee provides a quick source of energy that does not create glycemic peaks—unlike breakfasts rich in carbohydrates and simple sugars, which can leave us exhausted and longing for a sweet mid-morning snack. It also provides a sense of satiety that makes it easier to skip carb-heavy morning classics (croissants, bagels, granola, etc). While the drink isn’t calorie-free, it is carbohydrate-free and can therefore replace breakfast without taking you out of ketosis (a state in which the body burns fat for energy instead of glucose), so that you can continue intermittent fasting. For these reasons, it’s a go-to for those following a ketogenic or low-carb diet who say it provides plenty of energy to get them through the morning. They also say it increases clarity, focus, and mental performance.

Does Bulletproof Coffee Work?

While it is true that coffee, grass-fed butter, ghee, and MCT oil derived from coconut each have their own health benefits—including vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids—there actually isn’t a ton of research that supports the claims surrounding bulletproof coffee. In fact, most of the health claims are anecdotal and the scientific research that does exist is pretty mixed. One recent study that investigated the effects of high-fat coffee beverages containing MCT oil and ghee on cognitive function and satiety found that “there may be no benefit of bulletproof coffee over black coffee for improving cognitive performance,” but did note that bulletproof coffee “does appear to increase feelings of fullness and result in a reduction in perceived prospective food consumption after three hours.”

A scientific review that looked at multiple studies on bulletproof coffee published between 2021-2023 had similar findings: “Although bulletproof coffee remains a popular choice for many, current scientific evidence does not support the claimed benefits…we found no significant improvements in cognition, alertness, or energy levels in studies when bulletproof coffee was compared with regular coffee,” it stated. “The alleged effects of bulletproof coffee on hunger, satiety, resting energy expenditure, and fat oxidation remain equivocal, primarily due to the additional calorie intake associated with the beverage offsetting any potential benefits.”

Does Drinking Bulletproof Coffee Have Any Risks?

While it’s probably fine for healthy individuals to drink bulletproof coffee occasionally, it’s important to note that the drink is pretty high in calories (about 230 per cup) and saturated fat (about 21 grams). Therefore, it’s not a great option for those who are concerned about their cholesterol levels or have other health concerns. This was also noted in the scientific review mentioned above, which stated that there was “some evidence” of possible elevation in serum cholesterol reported following the consumption of bulletproof coffee” as well as “gastrointestinal intolerance.”

In short, it seems that further research is needed to support most of the health claims for bulletproof coffee and to determine if there are any long-term health risks associated with regular consumption. “Exploring the impact of regular bulletproof coffee consumption on hydration status, kidney stones, reflux, gallstones, blood pressure, sleep quality, gastrointestinal motility, and hyperlipidemia is also required. Such research would significantly contribute to our understanding of the impacts of this beverage, informing public health recommendations and individual dietary choices,” the review found.

Regardless, it is also entirely possible to consume too much caffeine—whether it’s enriched with butter or not—and even a little bit of caffeine can have adverse effects on some people.

How Does Bulletproof Coffee Impact Body Weight?

Because this coffee concoction improves satiety and reduces appetite, it might be helpful for those who are looking to maintain their weight. And, because it could keep your body in ketosis (fat-burning instead of glucose-burning), it is a favorite hack among those who are following an intermittent fasting plan.

But keep in mind that this mix is high in calories; something to consider if you’re looking to reduce your overall daily caloric intake.

Should I Drink Bulletproof Coffee?

If you’re following a ketogenic or paleo diet and/or experimenting with intermittent fasting (all of which have their own risks), you might enjoy drinking bulletproof coffee—just make sure you’re well aware of (and feel okay with) the downsides and the lack of scientific research that supports its claims. If you have high cholesterol, are pregnant, or have other health concerns, you should definitely speak to your doctor to determine what’s best for you.

All that said, it might be better to just eat a nutritious, high-protein breakfast instead. A meal such as Greek yogurt with berries, eggs with vegetables, or unsweetened oats with fruit, almonds, seeds, and nuts—allows you to fill up on a variety of vital nutrients and all-important fiber right at the start of the day.

How to Prepare Bulletproof Coffee

Still want to try bulletproof coffee? Here’s the recipe:

  1. Prepare a cup (about 8 oz) of quality coffee, using whichever method you prefer.
  2. Add 1-2 teaspoons of unsalted grass-fed butter or ghee.
  3. Add 1-2 teaspoons of MCT oil, or possibly organic coconut oil.
  4. Mix everything in a blender until you obtain a creamy consistency, or combine the ingredients in a shaker.

You can also replace the coffee with matcha, decaf coffee, or make it vegan by skipping the butter or ghee and sticking to MCT oil only.

If you want to make your bulletproof drink even creamier, mix it with the electric whisk you’d use to froth the milk to obtain a foam similar to that of a cappuccino.

When to Drink Bulletproof Coffee

Fans of bulletproof coffee recommend consuming it in the morning to replenish energy and prevent breaking an intermittent fast, but it can also be enjoyed mid-afternoon to avoid the classic afternoon slump—that is, if you are not too sensitive to caffeine and don’t mind the potential of a sleepless night.

Regardless of the time of day you drink it, keep in mind the risks listed above and make the choice that is right for you.

Spread the love
Posted in :

Latest Posts

We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. View more
Cookies settings
Accept
Privacy & Cookie policy
Privacy & Cookies policy
Cookies list
Cookie name Active
[:ar]Privacy Policy for qahwa world At qahwaworld, accessible from qahwaworld.com, one of our main priorities is the privacy of our visitors. This Privacy Policy document contains types of information that is collected and recorded by qahwaworld and how we use it. If you have additional questions or require more information about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us. This Privacy Policy applies only to our online activities and is valid for visitors to our website with regards to the information that they shared and/or collect in qahwaworld. This policy is not applicable to any information collected offline or via channels other than this website. Our Privacy Policy was created with the help of the Free Privacy Policy Generator. Consent By using our website, you hereby consent to our Privacy Policy and agree to its terms. Information we collect The personal information that you are asked to provide, and the reasons why you are asked to provide it, will be made clear to you at the point we ask you to provide your personal information. If you contact us directly, we may receive additional information about you such as your name, email address, phone number, the contents of the message and/or attachments you may send us, and any other information you may choose to provide. When you register for an Account, we may ask for your contact information, including items such as name, company name, address, email address, and telephone number. How we use your information We use the information we collect in various ways, including to: Provide, operate, and maintain our website Improve, personalize, and expand our website Understand and analyze how you use our website Develop new products, services, features, and functionality Communicate with you, either directly or through one of our partners, including for customer service, to provide you with updates and other information relating to the website, and for marketing and promotional purposes Send you emails Find and prevent fraud Log Files qahwaworld follows a standard procedure of using log files. These files log visitors when they visit websites. All hosting companies do this and a part of hosting services' analytics. The information collected by log files include internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP), date and time stamp, referring/exit pages, and possibly the number of clicks. These are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable. The purpose of the information is for analyzing trends, administering the site, tracking users' movement on the website, and gathering demographic information. Cookies and Web Beacons Like any other website, qahwaworld uses 'cookies'. These cookies are used to store information including visitors' preferences, and the pages on the website that the visitor accessed or visited. The information is used to optimize the users' experience by customizing our web page content based on visitors' browser type and/or other information. For more general information on cookies, please read the Cookies article on Generate Privacy Policy website. Google DoubleClick DART Cookie Google is one of a third-party vendor on our site. It also uses cookies, known as DART cookies, to serve ads to our site visitors based upon their visit to www.website.com and other sites on the internet. However, visitors may choose to decline the use of DART cookies by visiting the Google ad and content network Privacy Policy at the following URL – https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads Our Advertising Partners Some of advertisers on our site may use cookies and web beacons. Our advertising partners are listed below. Each of our advertising partners has their own Privacy Policy for their policies on user data. For easier access, we hyperlinked to their Privacy Policies below. Google https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads Advertising Partners Privacy Policies You may consult this list to find the Privacy Policy for each of the advertising partners of qahwaworld. Third-party ad servers or ad networks uses technologies like cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons that are used in their respective advertisements and links that appear on qahwaworld, which are sent directly to users' browser. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. These technologies are used to measure the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns and/or to personalize the advertising content that you see on websites that you visit. Note that qahwaworld has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers. Third Party Privacy Policies qahwaworld's Privacy Policy does not apply to other advertisers or websites. Thus, we are advising you to consult the respective Privacy Policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information. It may include their practices and instructions about how to opt-out of certain options. You can choose to disable cookies through your individual browser options. To know more detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers, it can be found at the browsers' respective websites. CCPA Privacy Rights (Do Not Sell My Personal Information) Under the CCPA, among other rights, California consumers have the right to: Request that a business that collects a consumer's personal data disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal data that a business has collected about consumers. Request that a business delete any personal data about the consumer that a business has collected. Request that a business that sells a consumer's personal data, not sell the consumer's personal data. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us. GDPR Data Protection Rights We would like to make sure you are fully aware of all of your data protection rights. Every user is entitled to the following: The right to access – You have the right to request copies of your personal data. We may charge you a small fee for this service. The right to rectification – You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate. You also have the right to request that we complete the information you believe is incomplete. The right to erasure – You have the right to request that we erase your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to restrict processing – You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to object to processing – You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to data portability – You have the right to request that we transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us. Children's Information Another part of our priority is adding protection for children while using the internet. We encourage parents and guardians to observe, participate in, and/or monitor and guide their online activity. qahwaworld does not knowingly collect any Personal Identifiable Information from children under the age of 13. If you think that your child provided this kind of information on our website, we strongly encourage you to contact us immediately and we will do our best efforts to promptly remove such information from our records.[:en]

Privacy Policy for Qahwa World

At Qahwa World, accessible from https://qahwaworld.com, one of our main priorities is the privacy of our visitors. This Privacy Policy document contains types of information that is collected and recorded by Qahwa World and how we use it. If you have additional questions or require more information about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us. This Privacy Policy applies only to our online activities and is valid for visitors to our website with regards to the information that they shared and/or collect in Qahwa World. This policy is not applicable to any information collected offline or via channels other than this website. Our Privacy Policy was created with the help of the Free Privacy Policy Generator.

Consent

By using our website, you hereby consent to our Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.

Information we collect

The personal information that you are asked to provide, and the reasons why you are asked to provide it, will be made clear to you at the point we ask you to provide your personal information. If you contact us directly, we may receive additional information about you such as your name, email address, phone number, the contents of the message and/or attachments you may send us, and any other information you may choose to provide. When you register for an Account, we may ask for your contact information, including items such as name, company name, address, email address, and telephone number.

How we use your information

We use the information we collect in various ways, including to:
  • Provide, operate, and maintain our website
  • Improve, personalize, and expand our website
  • Understand and analyze how you use our website
  • Develop new products, services, features, and functionality
  • Communicate with you, either directly or through one of our partners, including for customer service, to provide you with updates and other information relating to the website, and for marketing and promotional purposes
  • Send you emails
  • Find and prevent fraud

Log Files

Qahwa World follows a standard procedure of using log files. These files log visitors when they visit websites. All hosting companies do this and a part of hosting services' analytics. The information collected by log files include internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP), date and time stamp, referring/exit pages, and possibly the number of clicks. These are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable. The purpose of the information is for analyzing trends, administering the site, tracking users' movement on the website, and gathering demographic information.

Cookies and Web Beacons

Like any other website, Qahwa World uses 'cookies'. These cookies are used to store information including visitors' preferences, and the pages on the website that the visitor accessed or visited. The information is used to optimize the users' experience by customizing our web page content based on visitors' browser type and/or other information. For more general information on cookies, please read the Cookies article on Generate Privacy Policy website.

Google DoubleClick DART Cookie

Google is one of a third-party vendor on our site. It also uses cookies, known as DART cookies, to serve ads to our site visitors based upon their visit to www.website.com and other sites on the internet. However, visitors may choose to decline the use of DART cookies by visiting the Google ad and content network Privacy Policy at the following URL – https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads

Our Advertising Partners

Some of advertisers on our site may use cookies and web beacons. Our advertising partners are listed below. Each of our advertising partners has their own Privacy Policy for their policies on user data. For easier access, we hyperlinked to their Privacy Policies below.

Advertising Partners Privacy Policies

You may consult this list to find the Privacy Policy for each of the advertising partners of Qahwa World. Third-party ad servers or ad networks uses technologies like cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons that are used in their respective advertisements and links that appear on Qahwa World, which are sent directly to users' browser. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. These technologies are used to measure the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns and/or to personalize the advertising content that you see on websites that you visit. Note that Qahwa World has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers.

Third Party Privacy Policies

Qahwa World's Privacy Policy does not apply to other advertisers or websites. Thus, we are advising you to consult the respective Privacy Policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information. It may include their practices and instructions about how to opt-out of certain options. You can choose to disable cookies through your individual browser options. To know more detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers, it can be found at the browsers' respective websites.

CCPA Privacy Rights (Do Not Sell My Personal Information)

Under the CCPA, among other rights, California consumers have the right to: Request that a business that collects a consumer's personal data disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal data that a business has collected about consumers. Request that a business delete any personal data about the consumer that a business has collected. Request that a business that sells a consumer's personal data, not sell the consumer's personal data. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us.

GDPR Data Protection Rights

We would like to make sure you are fully aware of all of your data protection rights. Every user is entitled to the following: The right to access – You have the right to request copies of your personal data. We may charge you a small fee for this service. The right to rectification – You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate. You also have the right to request that we complete the information you believe is incomplete. The right to erasure – You have the right to request that we erase your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to restrict processing – You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to object to processing – You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to data portability – You have the right to request that we transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us.

Children's Information

Another part of our priority is adding protection for children while using the internet. We encourage parents and guardians to observe, participate in, and/or monitor and guide their online activity. Qahwa World does not knowingly collect any Personal Identifiable Information from children under the age of 13. If you think that your child provided this kind of information on our website, we strongly encourage you to contact us immediately and we will do our best efforts to promptly remove such information from our records.[:ru]Privacy Policy for qahwa world At qahwaworld, accessible from qahwaworld.com, one of our main priorities is the privacy of our visitors. This Privacy Policy document contains types of information that is collected and recorded by qahwaworld and how we use it. If you have additional questions or require more information about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us. This Privacy Policy applies only to our online activities and is valid for visitors to our website with regards to the information that they shared and/or collect in qahwaworld. This policy is not applicable to any information collected offline or via channels other than this website. Our Privacy Policy was created with the help of the Free Privacy Policy Generator. Consent By using our website, you hereby consent to our Privacy Policy and agree to its terms. Information we collect The personal information that you are asked to provide, and the reasons why you are asked to provide it, will be made clear to you at the point we ask you to provide your personal information. If you contact us directly, we may receive additional information about you such as your name, email address, phone number, the contents of the message and/or attachments you may send us, and any other information you may choose to provide. When you register for an Account, we may ask for your contact information, including items such as name, company name, address, email address, and telephone number. How we use your information We use the information we collect in various ways, including to: Provide, operate, and maintain our website Improve, personalize, and expand our website Understand and analyze how you use our website Develop new products, services, features, and functionality Communicate with you, either directly or through one of our partners, including for customer service, to provide you with updates and other information relating to the website, and for marketing and promotional purposes Send you emails Find and prevent fraud Log Files qahwaworld follows a standard procedure of using log files. These files log visitors when they visit websites. All hosting companies do this and a part of hosting services' analytics. The information collected by log files include internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP), date and time stamp, referring/exit pages, and possibly the number of clicks. These are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable. The purpose of the information is for analyzing trends, administering the site, tracking users' movement on the website, and gathering demographic information. Cookies and Web Beacons Like any other website, qahwaworld uses 'cookies'. These cookies are used to store information including visitors' preferences, and the pages on the website that the visitor accessed or visited. The information is used to optimize the users' experience by customizing our web page content based on visitors' browser type and/or other information. For more general information on cookies, please read the Cookies article on Generate Privacy Policy website. Google DoubleClick DART Cookie Google is one of a third-party vendor on our site. It also uses cookies, known as DART cookies, to serve ads to our site visitors based upon their visit to www.website.com and other sites on the internet. However, visitors may choose to decline the use of DART cookies by visiting the Google ad and content network Privacy Policy at the following URL – https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads Our Advertising Partners Some of advertisers on our site may use cookies and web beacons. Our advertising partners are listed below. Each of our advertising partners has their own Privacy Policy for their policies on user data. For easier access, we hyperlinked to their Privacy Policies below. Google https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads Advertising Partners Privacy Policies You may consult this list to find the Privacy Policy for each of the advertising partners of qahwaworld. Third-party ad servers or ad networks uses technologies like cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons that are used in their respective advertisements and links that appear on qahwaworld, which are sent directly to users' browser. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. These technologies are used to measure the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns and/or to personalize the advertising content that you see on websites that you visit. Note that qahwaworld has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers. Third Party Privacy Policies qahwaworld's Privacy Policy does not apply to other advertisers or websites. Thus, we are advising you to consult the respective Privacy Policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information. It may include their practices and instructions about how to opt-out of certain options. You can choose to disable cookies through your individual browser options. To know more detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers, it can be found at the browsers' respective websites. CCPA Privacy Rights (Do Not Sell My Personal Information) Under the CCPA, among other rights, California consumers have the right to: Request that a business that collects a consumer's personal data disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal data that a business has collected about consumers. Request that a business delete any personal data about the consumer that a business has collected. Request that a business that sells a consumer's personal data, not sell the consumer's personal data. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us. GDPR Data Protection Rights We would like to make sure you are fully aware of all of your data protection rights. Every user is entitled to the following: The right to access – You have the right to request copies of your personal data. We may charge you a small fee for this service. The right to rectification – You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate. You also have the right to request that we complete the information you believe is incomplete. The right to erasure – You have the right to request that we erase your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to restrict processing – You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to object to processing – You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to data portability – You have the right to request that we transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us. Children's Information Another part of our priority is adding protection for children while using the internet. We encourage parents and guardians to observe, participate in, and/or monitor and guide their online activity. qahwaworld does not knowingly collect any Personal Identifiable Information from children under the age of 13. If you think that your child provided this kind of information on our website, we strongly encourage you to contact us immediately and we will do our best efforts to promptly remove such information from our records.[:]
Save settings
Cookies settings