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Bulletproof Coffee?
Nutrition | February 17, 2015
Some of you may know that I really swear by the concoction commonly referred to as Bulletproof Coffee. It’s marketed as a kind of gimmick, but the methods and ingredients involved are actually quite sound. Still, some of the claims made by Dave Asprey, the man behind Bulletproof Coffee range from suspect to just a marketing ploy.
For starters, I don’t think it’s a magic potion and it’s not for everyone (especially those of you who don’t like coffee or have sensitive stomachs). I personally like it because it combines healthy fats and caffeine in a very quick and manageable drink. I love it in the morning before my workouts. The healthy fats provide fuel and the caffeine helps keep me awake and alert. Again though, everyone may not experience the same results with this concoction. However, I always suggest eating healthy fats in some form or another (see my Nutrition Guide) and consider them crucial for our diets.
Bulletproof Coffee is easily made at home with a few simple ingredients. All that is required to make it is fresh coffee, unsalted grass-fed butter (I take one tbsp), coconut or MCT oil (also one tbsp) and some type of blender.
Unfortunately, one major aspect of Asprey’s Bulletproof Coffee that I consider suspect is that he insists you must purchase his coffee beans to avoid dangerous toxins. Asprey claims that other kinds of coffee purchased at stores or cafes are toxic. More specifically, Asprey insists that they contain aflatoxins due to mold. This is quite misleading. He is implying that you can and will get sick if you purchase coffee other than his own.
According to some studies roasting any coffee actually destroys almost all of the potential aflatoxins. A study done in the academic journal, Mycotoxin Research, states the following: “The percentage of toxin destruction was up to 93% for light roasted and 99% for dark roasted coffee with a slightly higher rate up to 100% for the electrically roasted coffee for light and dark roasting.”
Also, bear in mind that a variety of other foods contain or are at risk of containing aflatoxins. This includes nuts, legumes and seeds. Even if there are small levels of toxins present in our foods the risk is still minimal to none according to Dr. Bryan Chung, founder of Evidence-Based Fitness and a board member of the academic journal, Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine.
Toxins are everywhere. We should only be concerned when they’ve reached levels beyond regulated safety measures. It’s the dose that makes the poison. For example, apples contain cyanide, a potentially lethal poison yet we eat them everyday. Why? Because the amount of cyanide is so small, that it’s not worth considering as a health threat.
As much as I enjoy Asprey’s recipe for Bulletproof Coffee in the morning, some of the results are a bit farfetched. At the very least, they are subjective, meaning there are not any studies or research to fully support some of his statements – something I’m always careful to avoid.
Have you tried Bulletproof Coffee? How do you like it?
Private Member |
curitiba, parana, brazil
Hi Zuzka, I have tried to prepare the bulletproof coffee at home. Well, I should say it not so horrible like I imagined but it is not so good also! 🙂 I didn’t add one full spoon of butter, but half spoon and one full spoon of coconut oil. So I was feeling more the taste of coconut oil. It was not that smooth. I had it and it really made me feel full and I postponed the breakfast for a long time. I had to add little stevia. About energy I think I need to drink it more times to feel some difference. Anyways, I will try once more with more butter. See you, take care.
Private Member |
Do you think Is ok if I use instant coffee instead?
Private Member |
lake tahoe, nv, usa
I Haven’t found any solid research on why instant coffee would be bad for us (other than the fact that it tastes like ass) so I don’t see why not. Some research shows it may reduce absorption of iron, but over all it hasn’t shown to have some bad side effects unless it’s consumed in high doses (duh!).
Private Member |
Haha, “It tastes like ass”. Brilliant.
Private Member |
Coffee and tea can lower your iron levels if drunk with some form dairy. Some people are just more sensitive to becoming anemic due to genetics and environmental factors and not just by drinking too much of coffee or dairy so if one is already iron deficient, they should avoid coffee and tea like the plague.
Private Member |
thanks for your reply Zuzka! u are the best! 🙂
Private Member |
Hi Zuzka – what do you recommend post workout? I plan on drinking the bp coffee first thing in the am, then doing a quick 45 min cardio/strength training workout. Should I have a small snack (hard boiled eggs?) after the workout or should this sustain me until lunch? Thanks!!
Private Member |
lake tahoe, nv, usa
Hi Linda, I earn carbs with my workouts, so my post workout meals contain protein with any healthy carbs (quinoa, whole grains, starches) or you can just have veggies/fruit and protein.
Private Member |
Dear Zuzka, I appologize for this question in the case it has been already discussed. But what kind of grass-fed butter do you use? Respectively what kind of butter should I buy in the Czech Republic?
Thanks and have a nice day! 🙂
Private Member |
Hi Gia, I have read elsewhere that Kerrygold is a good option. (I am Irish and it’s an Irish butter so I’m glad it’s being promoted 🙂 It seems to be available all around the world, and our cows in Ireland are always grass fed.
Private Member |
I love your honesty about this. I first heard of bulletproof coffee through you. Then more recently I did more research and saw the website you pointed out, where he insists you use just his $20 coffee. That turned me off entirely. So I love reading this and seeing you have the same balanced viewpoint which a lot of other objective articles I’ve read have: try the recipe, see how you feel, but don’t believe the hype about mold. It’s terrible that this man can just blatantly lie and earn money off of a scam. It goes to show that you should always do your research before buying anything online, but a lot of people don’t do that unfortunately. Anyway, I haven’t tried this recipe yet, but my friend and I plan on having ourselves a bulletproof coffee party soon to try it out. x
Private Member |
Do you eat breakfast after you workout? or does the coffee hold your stomach over even after a workout?
Private Member |
I have been drinking Bullet Proof for two and a half months. I use Crio Bru which is made from cocoa beans instead of coffee. They have an amazing product and I prepare it with a french press. I cannot drink coffee, as the oil in the bean gives me aura migraines. Crazy, but since I quit drinking coffee 12 years ago I have had 6 migraines vs one a month.
Drinking my bullet proof cocoa with 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 table spoon of MCT oil I’m full until lunch. I was a big caffeine drinker using black tea and yerba matte and have not touched a drop since I started drinking Bullet Proof cocoa.
I won’t bore the readers with my diet practices from the past but Dave Asprey and his bullet Proof Diet have improved my mind, body and fitness. I have lost 21lbs. I went from 196lbs to 175 to 2.5 months, working out 2-3 times per week. I’ve worked out less and I’m stronger and leaner. It’s what works for you and Dave is a marketing genius but he has also sacrificed his body and money to find the best regiment. The food triangle is a lie, do some research on how it was established.
I’m what we call in my business an industrial athlete, a firefighter.
My wife love your workouts zuzka and she looks amazing at 40. She is also doing the bullet proof diet. Grass fed meats, non farm raised fish, fresh organic vegetables, good carbs and fruit here and there.
My blood work before I began this new eating routine was LDL 206(BAD) HDL 50(OK) Triclycerides 240(BAD)
I’m planning on new blood work panel including hormones and thyroid check very soon. If they are better, I’m Bullet Proof for life.
Private Member |
A little more about MCT. It can be a little rough of the stomach in the beginning. There are different parts and types. The best MCT is from C8, then C8 and C10, then a blend including lauric acid and C12. The C8 MCT is the least evasive on the stomach. When I first started using it I would do a 1/4 table spoon and I worked up to a full tablespoon. I was using NOW with C8 and C10.
Dave Asprey has a great article on this. I know he has some marketing info about his product in the article but you don’t have to buy his.
Private Member |
Hi Zuzka! I have a question about bulletproof coffee. It seems like you stick to only drinking one per day, is that a health thing or personal choice? The reason I am asking is because I’m curious if it’s unhealthy to drink more than one cup of bulletproof coffee a day? I have one in the morning before my first workout, like you do; however, sometimes I need a little boost before my second workout and don’t always have time for food or want to eat and then wait to digest, so I’ll occasionally have a second cup of bulletproof coffee before my second workout. I don’t do this everyday, but I’m wondering if it’s bad or unhealthy to even have that second cup sometimes? Thanks for the help!