It's creamy, it's caffeinated, and it's what many keto dieters start out their day with: it's bulletproof coffee, and it's been taking the world of ketogenic dieting by storm. As more and more dieting gurus and news sources begin to take note of the popularity of bulletproof coffee, concerns have been raised over the health implications of consuming the popular breakfast replacement.
What's the deal with bulletproof coffee? Is it really dangerous? Read on to learn the truth about who should and shouldn't be drinking bulletproof coffee.
What is bulletproof coffee?
Bulletproof coffee is not a product, but a recipe for coffee that combines butter, coffee, and medium-chain triglyceride oils. It's intended to replace breakfast, and many dieters claim that it helps stave off hunger and improve focus. People all around the world consume bulletproof coffee in the morning, and it has become wildly popular in ketogenic dieting and paleo circles.
Don't fear the saturated fat
Good news: saturated fat will not kill you. A number of recent studies have found convincing evidence that the previous connections between heart disease and consumption of saturated fat were overstated, as well as those that connected obesity and a diet rich in saturated fats.1 In fact, one study even found that eating moderate amounts of fat can help prevent heart troubles later in life.2
Consuming normal amounts of saturated fats is safe, and won't doom you to a life full of heart problems. If you are a normal keto dieter and you feel like drinking bulletproof coffee helps you stay focused and reduce cravings, you will not necessarily raise your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Who shouldn't be drinking bulletproof coffee
While saturated fat in and of itself will likely not lead to independent heart problems, there are certain populations that should avoid consuming large amounts of it in their coffee. If you are at risk of complications from high cholesterol (either genetically or due to a pre-existing condition), you should probably skip the coffee. Evidence has been found that supports the idea that spiking your coffee with butter or coconut oil causes a sharp spike in LDL cholesterol.3 This hike in lipids, when combined with an already-too-high LDL number, has the potential to cause long-lasting damage to your health.
The bottom line? If you have relatively normal cholesterol levels at baseline and a cup of bulletproof coffee helps you stay focused, drinking it is not necessarily harmful. If you have problems with your cholesterol, the spike of fat that comes along with the coffee can potentially cause damage to your health. No matter who you are, remember to incorporate a variety of fats and food sources into your diet for the healthiest keto-approved lifestyle.
NUTRITIONAL DISCLAIMER
The content on this website should not be taken as medical advice and you should ALWAYS consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. We provide nutritional data for our recipes as a courtesy to our readers. We use Total Keto Diet app software to calculate the nutrition and we remove fiber and sugar alcohols, like erythritol, from the total carbohydrate count to get to the net carb count, as they do not affect your blood glucose levels. You should independently calculate nutritional information on your own and not rely on our data. The website or content herein is not intended to cure, prevent, diagnose or treat any disease. This website shall not be liable for adverse reactions or any other outcome resulting from the use of recipes or recommendations on the Website or actions you take as a result. Any action you take is strictly at your own risk.
Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD is an aesthetic medicine specialist whose work focuses on patients who are treated for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and other weight-related issues through nutritional analysis, keto diet programs, and supporting medications.
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