Article at a Glance- Adding butter to coffee or brewed cacao as a morning routine is gaining popularity
- 4 Reasons why adding butter to coffee or brewed cacao is on the rise
- Better Energy
- Better Weight Management
- Better Mental Performance
- Better Taste
Lowering your carb intake is the rage and the morning drink routine is no exception. Coffee is the most popular option with 0g carbs per serving along with its boost of caffeine. Brewed cacao is also becoming a popular low carb morning drink option with its 1.5g per serving. Roasted, ground, and brewed just like coffee, brewed cacao has the flavor of pure dark chocolate and is becoming a popular alternative to coffee for its significantly lower levels of acidity and alternative energy source of theobromine. Learn more about the brewed cacao craze here.
But why are people adding butter to their coffee or brewed cacao in the morning? What’s the fuss all about? Here are the top 4 reasons:
#1 Better Energy
A cup of coffee with butter added to it changes how your body processes caffeine. Coffee has long been hailed as the “go-to” option for a caffeinated energy boost in the morning. But the new trend in adding butter to your coffee offers this same boost with a nice new twist. First, the coffee becomes frothier and more satiating causing you to pace yourself as you drink your coffee. This slower, more even intake of caffeine helps you avoid the “5 hour energy” spike you normally get when you drink your coffee fast.
Second, adding butter to coffee offers a built in “slow release” mechanism for caffeine. When you normally drink coffee, the caffeine is released immediately into you body which causes a spike and can leave you feeling jittery. When add butter to coffee, the fat in the butter breaks down into micelles or small droplets which bind to caffeine molecules. Since fat takes longer for your body to process, the fat allows the caffeine to be released more slowly and evenly into your system. Voila! You get the energy boost from caffeine without the harsh spike and crash. Learn more at Bulletproofcoffee.com here.
A cup of brewed cacao with butter will also slow the intake of caffeine. But because brewed cacao is 99.9% caffeine free and has only 15mg of caffeine (less than decaf) per cup, the “slow release” that you get from butter isn’t needed. However, brewed cacao offers a nice energy alternative for your mornings. Brewed cacao contains theobromine, a naturally occurring stimulant found in cacao that can be more pleasant and longer lasting than caffeine. Unlike caffeine, theobromine is not a central nervous system stimulant and therefore doesn’t typically make you feel as on edge or jittery. Learn more about brewed cacao here.
#2 Better Weight Management
Studies have shown that obese people have high proportion of the bacteria firmicute in their system vs. thin people. Thin people also show to have a larger proportion of bacteroidetes bacteria. Nutrition experts suggest that a wonderful weight management tool is to feed the “thin bacteria” and starve the “obese bacteria” in your body. The polyphenal antioxidants found in butter are a great food source for bacteroidetes or “ thin bacteria” and is one important component help up by paleo and keto advocates as the pathway to a healthy weight.
Brewed cacao is even higher in polyphenal antioxidants than butter and is hailed as a polyphenal super food to help you manage a healthy weight. What’s more is that cacao also acts as a natural appetite suppressant that helps curb your appetite and promotes weight loss.[i] Cacao stimulates serotonin production in the brain which helps suppress your appetite and can result in consuming less calories in the long run. So when you add butter and cacao together, you’re looking at a weight management super drink.
#3 Better Mental performance
Adding butter to your coffee or brewed cacao also increases mental performance. Butter provides amazing fuel for your body on a low carb diet. The fatty acids in butter work to provide better fuel for your brain (mitochondrial biogenesis) as well has better neurotransmitter balance in brain function. Consistently consuming high fat low carb food and drink also increases blood flow to your brain. These factors work to improve mental clarity and can make you feel great.[ii]
As with weight management, cacao by itself contributes to increased mental performance. Theobromine that is found in cacao can help with brain function and helps to improve focus.[iii] In one study, after consuming cacao beverages, participants that were assigned certain tasks showed more interested and demonstrated greater calmness.[iv] By adding a higher fat butter into brewed cacao, you’re complimenting the nutritional content that already exists to contribute to mental performance.
#4 Better Taste
Finally adding butter to your coffee or brewed cacao tastes amazing. If you think you enjoyed your morning drink routine, wait until you add butter. Butter adds a frothy mouth feel and flavor. You’ll look forward to your mornings like never before.
That’s it! So does adding butter to your morning coffee or brewed cacao really make you bulletproof? Pretty much.
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References
[i] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21130529
[ii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5102124/
[iii] Scholey, A. B., French, S. J., Morris, P. J., Kennedy, D. O., Milne, A. L., & Haskell, C. F. (2010).
[iv] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21839757
FAQs
Butter coffee is believed to provide steady, long-lasting energy without a blood sugar crash. In theory, since fat slows digestion, the caffeine in the coffee is absorbed slower and provides longer-lasting energy.
Does putting butter in your coffee help you lose weight? ›
When you drink butter coffee instead of a breakfast meal, you're fueling your body with healthy fats that encourage your body to burn its own fat for energy. This means that butter coffee can not only help you lose weight but also reduce inflammation, boost your metabolism, and regulate your blood sugar levels.
Why do you put cocoa butter in coffee? ›
By switching out dairy that's traditionally used in the bulletproof coffee and using cacao butter as the base, it gives the coffee a subtle hint of chocolate and makes it super creamy. Perfect for those looking to start the day with a dairy-free drink.
What makes coffee bulletproof? ›
Founder David Asprey created this coffee recipe to promote Bulletproof Coffee in 2011. The theory is that blending grass-fed unsalted butter and MCT oil into your coffee can take the place of breakfast food. The added fats satiate the appetite, leaving you full and energized, ready to take on the day.
What to put in coffee to burn fat? ›
Your cup of black coffee or a straightforward espresso shot may become a fat burning potion with the addition of a pinch of cinnamon to it. By enhancing metabolic rate, the combination of caffeine and antioxidants in cinnamon can aid in accelerating the weight reduction process.
Does butter in bulletproof coffee break a fast? ›
A bulletproof coffee, being high-fat and low-carb, will not move you out of ketosis. That is why it is often used on the ketogenic diet. While it does technically break your fast, you can consume bulletproof coffee during fasting periods on any intermittent fasting method and still remain in ketosis.
Does butter burn belly fat? ›
Butter contains a type of fat called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). It is a fat primarily seen in meat and dairy products. Even though fat might not sound appealing, CLA is good for weight loss. One study showed that consuming at least 3.4 grams of CLA each day decreases body fat mass in overweight people.
Is it okay to drink bulletproof coffee every day? ›
Consuming too much saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and may cause your LDL cholesterol (sometimes called “bad” cholesterol) levels to spike. “Bulletproof coffee is very high in calories and saturated fats, so this drink isn't necessarily safe to be consuming every day,” Kopp states.
Does butter in coffee kick you out of ketosis? ›
Having a high-fat source in your morning coffee is a great way to maintain ketosis all day. This high-fat coffee will keep you satiated for a couple of hours, which is perfect if you are trying to lose some weight. Another benefit of adding butter and coconut oil to your coffee is the boost of energy it provides.
Why drink cacao instead of coffee? ›
By contrast, cacao's active ingredient, theobromine, reduces cortisol, and is a much more gentle stimulant than caffeine. Cacao is also high in magnesium, a mineral chronically deficient in the western diet, which, according to multiple scientific studies, reduces anxiety and helps us relax.
Healthy Benefits of Adding Cocoa Powder to Coffee
Cocoa is packed with antioxidants and minerals like magnesium and iron and is associated with improved cardiovascular health and mood.
What is cacao butter good for? ›
It contains antioxidants that fight inflammation and free radicals, healthy fats that promote heart health and brain function, omega-3 fatty acids for vision, moisturising properties for skin health, and immune system-boosting properties. Cacao butter can also improve skin elasticity, strengthen hair and nourish lips.
Why butter in bulletproof coffee? ›
When add butter to coffee, the fat in the butter breaks down into micelles or small droplets which bind to caffeine molecules. Since fat takes longer for your body to process, the fat allows the caffeine to be released more slowly and evenly into your system.
Is bulletproof coffee real? ›
Bulletproof coffee combines coffee, made from high quality beans with unsalted butter and a medium chain triglyceride (MCT), such as that derived from coconut oil. The ingredients are blended together, served warm and take on the look of a creamy latte.
Does bulletproof coffee burn fat? ›
Bulletproof coffee helps with weight loss: Drinking this first thing in the morning could aid in weight loss and boost metabolism to enhance your morning workouts and burn more calories. Coffee will also boost your metabolism overall, leading to increased weight loss during your morning workout.
Why is everyone putting butter in their coffee? ›
Since fat takes longer for your body to process, the fat allows the caffeine to be released more slowly and evenly into your system. Voila! You get the energy boost from caffeine without the harsh spike and crash. Learn more at Bulletproofcoffee.com here.
What are the side effects of MCT oil in coffee? ›
Even in lower amounts, consuming too much MCT oil can lead to digestive side effects for some people. These include abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and bloating. To reduce side effects, some people may need to start with smaller amounts and slowly increase MCT intake over time (64).
Is bulletproof coffee better with butter or ghee? ›
Ghee contains many of the same nutrients that butter does, but it contains less casein and lactose. Ghee is more useful for cooking because you can heat it to such high temperatures. Grass Fed Ghee tastes amazing and complements everything from roasted vegetables to Bulletproof Coffee.
Does coffee with ghee reduce belly fat? ›
Health Benefits Of Adding Ghee To Coffee
Weight loss- This healthy fat assists in cutting the stubborn fat stored in your body. Ghee helps in losing weight by boosting your digestion. Coffee and ghee together reduce hunger and lessen food intake, resulting in weight loss. Add this combo to your diet and lose inches.
