Bulletproof coffees have been a hot topic in the health community, but you might be wondering: what the hell is it??
A simple Google search will give you various versions and recipes, but it's basically a coffee with healthy fats in it. People use grass-fed butter, coconut oil, MCT oil (this link will give a more in-depth explanation of what MCT oil is https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/mct-oil-benefits ,)or a combination of those fats.
Bulletproof coffee is a popular recipe in the keto world, which is how I discovered it when I was eating keto. However, I've carried on making the coffee every morning, even though I've stopped keto.
Here are some of the benefits:
-weight loss promotion; despite these oils technically being higher in calorie, these types of healthy fats boost metabolism from linoleic acids.
-boosts brainpower from triglycerides.
-promotes strength building by helping to increase lean muscle mass.
-increased energy in addition to the caffeine from coffee
-improved mood
These are some of the basic benefits, but every body is different and will experience different effects. My personal recipe is as follows:
-coffee of choice
-1 scoop of collagen powder. Collagen has an endless amount of benefits including improved hair/skin/nails, joint health, gut health, and so much more! Here's a link that offers more information on collagen: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen-benefits
-dairy free creamer or almond milk
-I then use a handheld frother to whisk it all up until it's nice and fluffy. Here's a link to the one I use: https://www.target.com/p/bodum-schiuma-milk-frother/-/A-50561233?preselect=21561851#lnk=sametab
So here's my takeaway from drinking one bulletproof coffee every day for over a year.
*Disclaimer: certain benefits may have stemmed from simply shifting my eating habits to a clean, whole-foods approach. But I did not introduce this coffee into my life right away; I began changing my food choices before.
Improved digestion. So most of us know that a normal coffee will definitely help move things along if we're feeling blocked up. Unfortunately I've been consistently drinking coffee so it doesn't do anything for me besides a good hit of caffeine. But because I've started every day with a hit of coconut oil (my preferred healthy fat), I can also usually start my day with a "clear out." TMI? Oh well!
Better skin quality. It's no secret that I'm obsessed with skincare; I've spent years trying to make my skin happy and combat my cystic breakouts. I definitely contribute my clean eating and skincare routine commitment to clearer skin, but my coffee has added bonus benefits! Because it helps me get in adequate healthy fats, over time my skin is naturally not dry anymore and seems to glow! I also notice my skin elasticity has massively improved from the collagen.
Energy. Obviously coffee has caffeine, but I used to typically chug 2-3 cups in the morning to wake up. Now one cup of bulletproof coffee perks me up, gives me mental clarity (fats feed the brain!), and wakes up my internal organs for the day.
Satisfying. I have a huge appetite and while it's important to fuel your body with enough nutrients, I can be known to eat and snack until I'm sick. Thankfully my coffee is filling, helps with my sweet tooth, and slows down the drinking process so I can genuinely enjoy sipping on my coffee while reading a book or writing in my planner.
Better gym performance. Ideally I like to have some kind of snack before working out so I have enough energy to push hard. But the issue for me is I feel so heavy and bloated when working out after a meal. Bulletproof coffee has been helping me feel full and give me tons of energy before hitting the trails or going to the gym.
My takeaway? I'm hooked on this shit. It's a part of my every-day morning routine and I don't see myself stopping anytime soon. Even if I wasn't experiencing all of the positives, simply having coconut oil on hand for my drinks and meals is an effective way for me to reach my needed calories every day. With working out regularly and having hectic days, sometimes it's hard to take food breaks at work or in between class; starting off my days with a big breakfast and bulletproof coffee keeps me on track to have plenty of nutrients and calories to function properly. Remember that food and calories are NOT the enemy!
I can also say that it's quite delicious; on days that I'm lucky enough to have a free morning with my boyfriend, he never fails to ask me to make him one!
Let me know if you've ever had bulletproof coffee at home or out in the world (many restaurants and markets are picking up on the "trend") and share your thoughts. Or if you have something else that you can't live without in the morning, I'd love to know!
As always, thank you so much for reading.
*picture used is my own*