Does Bulletproof Coffee Break a Fast?

No, bulletproof coffee doesn’t break your fast. In fact, it may promote ketosis and speed up fat burning!

Bulletproof coffee, or keto coffee, combines black coffee with medium-chain triglyceride oil and unsalted butter to support ketone production without disrupting fasting. 

Learn how to make bulletproof coffee and discover why too much keto coffee may interfere with your weight loss goals.

What is bulletproof coffee?

Bulletproof coffee is a delicious beverage that combines black coffee, unsalted butter, and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). It’s essentially a more nutritious version of butter coffee, a traditional Asian high-fat coffee drink. 

Bulletproof coffee is carb-free and has no impact on blood sugar and insulin levels, which makes it a popular choice for people on a ketogenic diet and those practicing intermittent fasting.  

Watch the video below to learn why bulletproof coffee won’t interfere with your intermittent fasting plan. 

Why bulletproof coffee is safe while fasting

Bulletproof coffee is a rich source of high-quality saturated fat and antioxidants. Regularly consuming keto coffee can help maintain energy levels, curb cravings, and extend your fasting period. 

Bulletproof coffee is safe during fasting. It doesn’t contain carbs and won’t raise your blood sugar or insulin levels, keeping your metabolism in a natural fasting state.    

MCTs are saturated fatty acids that the liver rapidly converts into ketones, a group of organic acids that serve as a readily available energy source. Because MCTs are converted to ketones, bulletproof coffee promotes ketosis and may boost your energy levels while fasting.

Saturated fats in butter and ghee trigger the release of digestive enzymes and appetite-regulating hormones, which help you feel satiated and achieve more extended fasting periods. 

Research published in Frontiers in Neuroscience suggests that MCTs are the most satiating fatty acids, which explains why drinking bulletproof coffee can help extend your intermittent fasting window.¹

Seven health benefits of bulletproof coffee

Bulletproof coffee is a rich source of healthy fats and antioxidants, and may help enhance physical performance, support mental clarity, and promote metabolic health and hormonal balance. 

Here are seven reasons why you should drink bulletproof coffee regularly!

1. Increased energy 

Bulletproof coffee contains caffeine, which increases alertness. 

In addition, keto coffee is a rich source of MCTs, which are rapidly digested and metabolized into large amounts of ketones, a highly efficient alternative fuel source to energize your cells during fasting periods.   

2. Cognitive health  

A study published in BMC Geriatrics found that medium-chain triglycerides have shown the potential to support mental clarity, promote cognitive function, and enhance memory.²

Ketones can serve as an alternative energy source for the brain, especially during fasting periods. They’re also associated with beneficial changes in blood flow and may play a role in supporting brain adaptability and function.

3. Anti-inflammatory  

Coffee beans contain naturally occurring antioxidants that can support the body’s natural processes involved in maintaining immune balance and inflammation regulation.

Coffee also contains chlorogenic acid, an anti-inflammatory phytochemical that may help neutralize free radicals, which are harmful metabolic by-products linked to cellular damage and inflammation.

4. Gallbladder health

Bulletproof coffee can help stimulate bile flow and support gallbladder health, which is essential for digestive processes and overall well-being. 

Both coffee and saturated fats trigger the secretion of cholecystokinin, a digestive hormone that stimulates gallbladder contraction and the release of bile into the small intestine. This supports normal gallbladder function, helps enhance nutrient absorption, and promotes overall gut health. 

5. Keto-adaptation  

Drinking bulletproof coffee promotes ketosis and can help you adapt to the metabolic changes of a ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting. 

Because bulletproof coffee is carb-free, it won’t impact your blood sugar or insulin levels, keeping your metabolism in a fat-burning state.

In addition, MCTs are rapidly converted into ketones, which helps you reach ketosis faster and may speed up your cellular adaptation to using ketones as your primary fuel source.   

6. Liver health

Incorporating Bulletproof coffee into your routine can be a flavorful way to complement a diet and lifestyle that supports the body’s natural detoxification processes.

Research published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences highlights the potential effects of MCTs on liver function, including how they may influence fat metabolism and cellular responses linked to overall liver health.³

7. Autophagy 

Bulletproof coffee contains high-quality fats that can support natural digestive responses and help you feel satiated, making it easier to achieve extended fasting periods.

Prolonged fasting and reduced calorie intake can trigger the body’s natural process of autophagy, a cellular renewal mechanism that breaks down and recycles old or damaged components.

Joshua Rabinowitz and Eileen While, research scientists and authors of Autophagy and Metabolism, explain, “Autophagy preserves the health of cells and tissues by replacing outdated and damaged cellular components with fresh ones.”⁴

Can bulletproof coffee slow down weight loss?

“Bulletproof coffee won’t break your fast,” says Dr. Berg, “However, drinking too much can slow down your weight loss.”

Depending on the recipe and serving size, a single cup of bulletproof coffee can contain almost 60 percent of your daily fat requirements. 

The liver prioritizes the breakdown of dietary fats before tapping into stored body fat. Drinking bulletproof coffee may shift your metabolism away from burning body fat as an energy source and hinder weight loss. 

If you suspect bulletproof coffee may interfere with your weight loss goals, adjust the serving size and recipe to reduce your fat intake and promote the breakdown of stored fat.  

Easy bulletproof coffee recipe

Making bulletproof coffee is simple and takes just a few minutes! Here’s how. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup freshly brewed coffee 
• 1 to 2 tablespoons grass-fed, unsalted butter or grass-fed ghee 
• 1 to 2 tablespoons MCT oil 

Directions:

1. Use a blender to combine all ingredients for 20 to 30 seconds or until mixture has the consistency of a creamy latte.
2. Bulletproof coffee can be served warm or iced and topped with cinnamon, nutmeg, or Himalayan salt.   

FAQ

Sources

1. “Fats and Satiety – Fat Detection – NCBI Bookshelf.” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK53550 ?
2. Giannos P, Prokopidis K, Lidoriki I, et al. Medium-chain triglycerides may improve memory in non-demented older adults: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. BMC Geriatrics. 2022;22(1). doi:10.1186/s12877-022-03521-6. https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-022-03521-6 ?
3. Zhang L, Wang X, Chen S, et al. Medium-Chain Triglycerides Attenuate Liver Injury in Lipopolysaccharide-Challenged Pigs by Inhibiting Necroptotic and Inflammatory Signaling Pathways. International journal of molecular sciences. 2018;19(11). doi:10.3390/ijms19113697. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6274951 ?
4. Rabinowitz JD, White E. Autophagy and Metabolism. Science. 2010;330(6009):1344-1348. doi:10.1126/science.1193497 https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.1193497 ?