Bulletproof coffee: have your caff and be fit, too

August 25, 2016 Ashley 0 Comments

Ever reach for that mid-morning second cup of coffee…

Only to find that it lacks the luster issued by the initial cup?

Which is tragically around that same time the tendency toward pre-lunch dietary sabotage begins?


(“Make sure not to get the cheesecake Danish I just bought in the frame…”)

If you answered with a resounding affirmative grunt (because that’s all you have the energy to do after the espresso wears off), don’t feel ashamed, darling. You’re in good, grumpy, hungry company. Because you’re one among a large percentage of other aspiring functional adults who just want a nice cup of upper in the morning that won’t bring them down in a few hours while their adrenaline and hunger hormones rise. Unfortunately, thus far, you may’ve found it doesn’t quite last long enough before frying you. But what you may not’ve known was that it could also be the culprit behind our expanding behinds – and waistlines.

But I’m not willing to give up my caffeine, you say.

(And by you, I mean me.)

Ah, yes. Green tea. Yerba mate. Good ol’ fashioned soy lattes. This wonderful substance of sorcery makes mornings somewhat livable. It’s what gets me (and many of my brethren and brethrenettes on this planet) up and moving and able to make magic when our brains’ defaults are instead set to a great big sack of flatline. The only problem? Sometimes that flatline returns far too soon. Why? Because that massive manic attack we get’s thanks to that adrenaline surge we get. What’s more, this also means that our blood sugar spikes before plummeting, and ultimately, so does our weight. Why? Because when blood sugar rises, that leads to both more fat storage happening within the body and ravenous snacking on detrimental delights.

So what’s the answer?

Well, lucky for us, this doesn’t need to mean quitting our quick A.M. fix.

(As if we were going to anyway.)


“Try prying this away from me, and you’ll learn how a dull spoon stab wound feels… *wink*”

It just means that, if we seek to yield an optimal outcome for both our daily energy and long term leanness, we need only tweak our morning habits in a couple’ve ways. And those ways comprise A.) changing what’s in our cup o’ caffeine, and B.) changing what’s in what we eat before our caffeine.

But let’s start with that last thing first. If you’re not indulging in a bit of pre-coffee nosh, then it’s high time you gave it a try. Why? Well, actually it’s a tip I picked up from someone smarter than I am some time ago. After trying it out, I learned that, by eating a protein and fiber infused breakfast, it slowed the release of sugar into my system, kept me full well into lunch o’ clock, and kept my carpals outta the break room’s Duck Donuts box. Why? ’cause that’s what protein and fiber do. I myself opt for a concoction of fruit and tofu chia coupled up with a dose’ve either chia seeds or flax. It keeps me full for hours.


(If you’re not a fan of my personal breakfast fave, try this chocolate quinoa dish that’s high in fiber and protein.)

And, likewise, something dubbed the Bulletproof Coffee technique keeps me awake for hours.

Now, granted, I use “Bulletproof Coffee” as a catch-all term. But, really, you can use these add-ons to any of your adrenalizing beverages to get mental clarity for longer into the day. All you do is add a bit of coconut oil to slow the effects of a potential adrenal spike (and subsequent drop). And what’s the effect of a dab of fat fraternizing with your caffeine? Epic alertness for the day’s length. Why? Because this healthy form of fat makes the caffeine act like an extended release medication. Try comparing this to espresso (which is more akin to intravenous ingenstion; hence the term “shot”) that hits intensely and instantly – but diminishes just as quickly as it gifted you with an hour long power up. Thus, the extended effect is better.

And while that’s nice for your productivity, it also has an effect on a fat blasting level.

Why? Because fats like coconut oil or palm kernel oil are very high in their percentage of what are called MCT’s (or medium chain triglycerides). See, these are fats that – when absorbed into your blood – are said to circumvent digestion for a longer period of time than those longer chain fats do. The idea’s that they impart quick energy and have less potential to get packed up in your fat cells. In fact, some studies have even observed that consumption of MCT’s (versus longer chain fats), sometimes result in smaller fat cells overall. What’s more, according to other research performed, upping your MCTs could even make your body burn more calories.

Okay. Now, time for reality and facts – if you think you can handle it.


(Unattractive fact soapbox trumps lovely lyebox every time.)

Because, I can cite studies all day long – but without honesty and field application, it means nada.

So, as someone who does this diligently every day (green tea soy latte lover here), I can attest to the both the effectiveness and shortcomings of this. Adding a smidge of my go-to coco oil does indeed impart a far more lasting effect. I don’t suffer that same crash that comes after my potent potion leaves me not-so-high and dry. Also, I can attest to pre-caffeination satiation being of utmost importance. When I fail to do this, I’m starving by noon. (Then again at noon thirty. Then again at noon thirty-one. Then again at-…) So, definitely eat your fiber and protein prior to chugging Starbucks. What I can also say, though, are the two bulletproof caffeine caveats. First? Go easy on the fat. Days I get a li’l overzealous with the coco oil, I’m half asleep in half an hour. Fat – even the healthy kind – can make you kinda tired. So, that’s my forewarning on that one. And, as for the second sliver of wisdom? It shouldn’t be news, but here it is: if your overall diet’s shizzy, this isn’t the way you’re going to lose weight. Sorry to say it, but it’s true. This isn’t a some mystical solution that lets you maintain your other crap habits. (Aside from already being addicted to caffeine.) Protip: nothing is. This just fixes the problem that our collective java junkiedom creates in the first place. But there’s no magic wand (‘cept for the lipo sucking one) that can fix unwanted thickness.

So, no need to nix your morning fix to nix those belly inches and afternoon crashes alike.

Simply save the sumatra for after breakfast, add a dash of coco oil fat to that vat of caffeine you just brewed…

…and enjoy your unanimously accepted legal addiction with zero negative consequences.

Well, nearly zero…

#bulletproof coffee#cmt#coconut oil#healthy breakfast

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