Can This Coffee Help HACK Your Weight Loss Goals?
You know, I heard about bulletproof coffee a few years back on a podcast, but the speakers quickly said it was pointless and won’t help you with losing weight. My thought was, “Sounds like just another fad that’ll disappear soon!” But, looks like I was wrong. Today, it seems like bullet proof coffee is popping up everywhere and even some of your favorite celebrities drink it. So, was the podcast wrong? Can Bulletproof coffee actually help you burn fat and lose weight?
So, let’s look at the ingredients: 1 cup of freshly brewed coffee 1-2 tablespoons of unsalted, grass-fed, butter And 1-2 tablespoons of MCT oil, a more concentrated version of coconut oil. Blend these three ingredients together and, BAM, you have bulletproof coffee. Dave Asprey says that you need HIS special blend of MCT oil and magical toxin-free coffee beans to make it work, but no research has ever proven that to be true. Now let’s dissect the reasoning for these ingredients. Unsalted, grass-fed butter is added because it contains higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid, aka CLA, which has been touted for being a fat-burning fatty acid.
The studies, unfortunately, saw little to no effect in weight or fat loss with CLA. And the study with the greatest effect only saw subjects lose on average 2.5 pounds in a span of… 4 months. MCT oil, on the other hand, is a bit trickier. MCT actually stands for medium-chain triglycerides. And because of its medium size, it can be quickly metabolized in the liver to provide energy and circulate ketone bodies, perfect for those needing an extra energy boost or seeking Ketosis. When it comes to studies, there is a trend for increased weight and fat loss with MCT oil. However, the only studies that saw results were done with overweight to obese subjects.
Average-sized populations failed to achieve any significant change. Even with the current evidence, there are plenty of people that claim bulletproof coffee indeed works, but not the way the initial research observed. The magic is actually all about making you feel full. If we look at satiety studies, there is definitely more supporting evidence for MCT oil and butter. In fact, that’s really the case for any fats, especially when you compare it to sugar, which does little in terms of fullness. By adding globs of butter and MCT oil to your morning coffee, you can hold off eating lunch well into the late afternoon. But, there is a catch… With the recommended 2 tablespoons of butter and MCT oil, you’re looking aaat… 435 calories for a single cup of coffee! That’s not only a lot of calories, but it’s also a lot of calories with little to no nutrients other than fat.
Even though a traditional small breakfast might not keep you full as long, it does offer a greater variety of vitamins, minerals, and protein. But if you ask me, I would personally suggest that, for those wanting to lose weight but tend to scoff down too much food in the morning, have an early lunch, or trying to stay in ketosis, then you should consider bulletproof coffee. You just have to plan the rest of your diet accordingly.
If you don’t think you’ll benefit from the added satiety, then skip it altogether. You’re better with a more nutritious meal. And, it’s probably time to change the name of it, too, as we now know, this coffee is anything but bulletproof. Maybe paleo coffee, or butter coffee, or MCTCLA coffee, or cocospresso?
Image source:Pixabay under Creative Commons License
First, what is bulletproof coffee?
The name is actually a trademarked under Dave Asprey, a marketer, self-titled “biohacker,” and owner of Bulletproof Executive. With Bulletproof Coffee, along with his Bulletproof Diet, he promises to help “upgrade” your life if you follow his plans and use his products. He’s kind of caught some heat recently about the… efficacy of his products, but the bulletproof coffee concept is still perceived positively by many.
So, let’s look at the ingredients: 1 cup of freshly brewed coffee 1-2 tablespoons of unsalted, grass-fed, butter And 1-2 tablespoons of MCT oil, a more concentrated version of coconut oil. Blend these three ingredients together and, BAM, you have bulletproof coffee. Dave Asprey says that you need HIS special blend of MCT oil and magical toxin-free coffee beans to make it work, but no research has ever proven that to be true. Now let’s dissect the reasoning for these ingredients. Unsalted, grass-fed butter is added because it contains higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid, aka CLA, which has been touted for being a fat-burning fatty acid.The studies, unfortunately, saw little to no effect in weight or fat loss with CLA. And the study with the greatest effect only saw subjects lose on average 2.5 pounds in a span of… 4 months. MCT oil, on the other hand, is a bit trickier. MCT actually stands for medium-chain triglycerides. And because of its medium size, it can be quickly metabolized in the liver to provide energy and circulate ketone bodies, perfect for those needing an extra energy boost or seeking Ketosis. When it comes to studies, there is a trend for increased weight and fat loss with MCT oil. However, the only studies that saw results were done with overweight to obese subjects.
Average-sized populations failed to achieve any significant change. Even with the current evidence, there are plenty of people that claim bulletproof coffee indeed works, but not the way the initial research observed. The magic is actually all about making you feel full. If we look at satiety studies, there is definitely more supporting evidence for MCT oil and butter. In fact, that’s really the case for any fats, especially when you compare it to sugar, which does little in terms of fullness. By adding globs of butter and MCT oil to your morning coffee, you can hold off eating lunch well into the late afternoon. But, there is a catch… With the recommended 2 tablespoons of butter and MCT oil, you’re looking aaat… 435 calories for a single cup of coffee! That’s not only a lot of calories, but it’s also a lot of calories with little to no nutrients other than fat.Even though a traditional small breakfast might not keep you full as long, it does offer a greater variety of vitamins, minerals, and protein. But if you ask me, I would personally suggest that, for those wanting to lose weight but tend to scoff down too much food in the morning, have an early lunch, or trying to stay in ketosis, then you should consider bulletproof coffee. You just have to plan the rest of your diet accordingly.
If you don’t think you’ll benefit from the added satiety, then skip it altogether. You’re better with a more nutritious meal. And, it’s probably time to change the name of it, too, as we now know, this coffee is anything but bulletproof. Maybe paleo coffee, or butter coffee, or MCTCLA coffee, or cocospresso?
Image source:Pixabay under Creative Commons License
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