Food Trend: Why are People Putting Butter in Their Coffee?

Have you heard anything about people adding butter to their morning coffee and that is their breakfast?

What’s the story??? It’s one of the newest food trends and most people know it as Bulletproof Coffee, a term coined by Dave Asprey.

It all began when Dave came in from -10 degree weather in Tibet and was rejuvenated with a cup of yak butter tea. After years of research he formulated his recipe for Bulletproof coffee, which is now touted by musicians, athletes and top executives.

Here’s how it works, you brew 16 oz. of organic coffee, add 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1-2 tablespoons MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) oil or coconut oil, and blend to combine.

The nutrition facts:

Calories: 441

Fat: 51 g (80% saturated)

He emphasizes the use of high quality, organic coffee with lower mtotoxins, grassfed butter with highly desirable fat soluble vitamins and MCT oil to promote high energy, fat loss and brain function.

I interviewed an avid Bulletproof Coffee drinker for a little more first hand insight and here is what they had to say.

How did you first hear about Bulletproof Coffee? 

It was mentioned on a podcast that I listen to.

What made you want to try it?

I was looking for a new, quick breakfast option and I was drinking coffee every morning anyway. I had also just been hearing more about the benefits of adding more healthy fats to your diet.

How long have you been on the Bulletproof Coffee bandwagon?

About 6 months

Do you have it every morning?

Every weekday morning

How do you prepare your Bulletproof coffee?

I add 2 cups brewed coffee to a blender and then add 2 Tbsp MCT oil, 2 TBSP ghee, a dash of creatine, and a dash cinnamon and blend for about 10 seconds. I then pour it into a large Tervis and take it to go.
 
How do you feel after consuming it and for the next several hours?
Honestly, I feel pretty good. I notice it the most if I take like a week off from it (if I’m out of town) and then come back and get back to the routine of having the bulletproof coffee. I feel more alert and a little sharper.
 
When is the next time you eat something after drinking your Bulletproof coffee in the morning?
For me, 2 hours later I will have a snack. This is because I exercise regularly and need more substance. 
 
Do you plan to continue drinking Bulletproof coffee for the foreseeable future?

Yes, I will continue to have it even if I find that I have time to make breakfast in the morning because I enjoy the benefits I am experiencing as well as the taste.

What advice would you give someone wanting to give it a shot? Any tips/tricks?

The actual recipe calls for organic grassfed butter. However, I am lactose intolerant so I use ghee. Also, start off with small doses of the butter or ghee and mct oil as it may upset your stomach at first if you start off with larger doses. Finally, if you want to try it and have any expectation of health benefits such as weight loss you will have to reevaluate your entire diet.

I also calculated the nutrition information for the specific blend of ingredients that my interviewee uses:

Calories: 470

Fat: 58 g (46 g saturated)

Source One Nutrition’s bullet points on Bullet Proof Coffee: 

• As with any food trend, proceed with caution.
• I am a proponent of healthy fats, so the fat content alone does not scare me. Fats will not make you fat.
• If you are only having buttered coffee for breakfast, be sure to consume VERY nutrient dense meals and snacks the rest of the day, as the nutrient content of the coffee concoction is very low.
• Know your lab numbers before and after drastically changing your diet to know how it is affecting YOU.

I personally have never tried this coffee concoction, but I may do so after the birth of my son and will certainly let you know what I think.

Have you tried butter in your coffee?

Food Perceptions: Your relationship with Food

 Do you think about food all of the time? When you see or bring to mind a certain food does it elicit certain feelings or emotions? Our dietary approaches, beliefs and habits affect how we relate to food.

People relate to food in many different ways. For some it encompasses a major portion of their day. Now, we all have to eat, but for the individuals that I am referring to food rules their days. The planning, preparing and consuming of food is almost always on their minds. Along with this they often have strong convictions about food and may feel that there are good foods and bad foods.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are those that are somewhat indifferent towards food. They may be very educated, healthful eaters, but they do not spend their days obsessing over it. They do not see certain foods and think of it as good or bad and they probably won’t feel guilty after consuming certain foods.

A 2012 study in Eating Behaviors looked at how different dietary approaches affect how people relate to food.  There were those that followed a restraint model of eating and others who practiced moderation.  In the study, an individual following the restraint model actively restricted foods while those who practiced moderation self-regulated eating based on responding to their needs and desires in a reasonable manner.

For example, a moderate eater may prepare a plate for themselves with small portions and if they still feel hungry after consuming those portions, they would be comfortable getting more. A restrained eater on the on the other hand has certain rules for eating and will not budge on those. These may include low carb, low sugar, exact portions, etc.

The mindset of moderate eaters is more focused on their diet as a whole rather than an individual meal or food item. Again, this individual may be a very healthful eater and may in fact read food labels, look at macro-nutrients, and be concerned with the quality of the food they consume. The difference however, is that they strike a balance between healthy eating, internal cues from their body and experiencing satisfaction from the foods that they eat versus following a set of inflexible food rules.

In the study, restraint was linked to worry about weight, less perceived ability to manage weight, more emotional and binge eating and lower life satisfaction. On the contrary, those that were categorized as moderate eaters believed they could effectively manage their weight and had lower emotional and binge eating.

How would you describe your relationship with food; are you a moderate eater or do you find that you restrain?