What Is Bulletproof Coffee And Should You Drink It While On The Keto Diet?

author avatar Dr. Eric Berg 08/31/2023

What is bulletproof coffee? Let me tell you what it really is and how it can affect your keto diet so you know if it’s a good or bad thing. 

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In this article:

  1. Bulletproof Coffee Definition
  2. How to Make Bulletproof Coffee
  3. Bulletproof Coffee Benefits
  4. Drinking Bulletproof Coffee Is a Good Thing for the Keto Diet
  5. How Bulletproof Coffee Affects Fat Storing Hormone Levels
  6. You Can Drink Bulletproof Coffee as You Begin Your Keto Diet
  7. You Can Remove Butter and Coconut Oil to Maximize Weight Loss

What Is Bulletproof Coffee?: What to Know When on Keto

Bulletproof Coffee Definition

I received this question related to bulletproof coffee. This keeps coming up, so I am going to give you my opinion on this topic. So, what is bulletproof coffee? It is a type of drink that combines coffee with butter and coconut oil. It has a creamy texture, similar to a latte.

People usually drink it in the morning like a replacement for their regular cup of coffee. It can help improve mental clarity and focus, prevent hunger, and maintain energy levels throughout the day. The healthy fats in it allow you to make it to your next meal without being hungry for a long period. 

How to Make Bulletproof Coffee

Coffee bean on white ceramic | What Is Bulletproof Coffee And Should You Drink It While On The Keto Diet? | bulletproof coffee weight loss

If you are a coffee drinker, you can also make this at home. You need to secure freshly ground coffee beans first and brew enough for a cup. Add 1 tablespoon of bulletproof coffee coconut oil and 1-2 tablespoons of butter in the brewed coffee and blend them evenly. The mixture should look creamy before you drink it.  

Bulletproof Coffee Benefits

Aside from the fact that butter and coconut oil are great sources of fat, which are good for your ketogenic diet, there are other health benefits of the two ingredients worth highlighting, too. First off, butter is a potent antioxidant as it is rich in carotene that your body can convert to Vitamin A or turn into an antioxidant. Your body uses about 60% of carotene to change into compounds that fight diseases. When your body converts carotene to Vitamin A, it can greatly benefit your eyes, throat, mouth, and skin.

Vitamin A has positive effects on your thyroid health as well. When your body converts carotene into Vitamin A, it helps the proper functioning of the gland that can aid in regulating hormones to be distributed in the body. So, for people who have thyroid problems, adding butter to your diet helps.   

Coconut oil is rich in saturated fat that helps increase good cholesterol levels, lowering your risk of heart disease. It can also help hydrate your skin because it has Vitamin E and antioxidant properties stopping tissue damage from oxidation. The oil also contains lauric acid that has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, great for fighting different types of infections. 

Drinking Bulletproof Coffee Is a Good Thing for the Keto Diet

Smiling young woman drinking coffee  | What Is Bulletproof Coffee And Should You Drink It While On The Keto Diet? | bulletproof coffee recipe

I think it's a good thing to start off with this coffee when you are on a keto diet because the fat in it allows you to go through the whole morning without being hungry, which is the case for most people. That makes the bulletproof coffee diet a good first step. The other option is to push your first meal later in the day until you can only make two meals per day. For most people, they do well on cutting back on their meals into two a day only.

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How Bulletproof Coffee Affects Fat Storing Hormone Levels

You may want to eat less as much as possible because every time you eat, you spike Fat Storing Hormone levels. It is true the bulletproof coffee can trigger Fat Storing Hormone a little bit. It does do this, even though fat doesn't trigger Fat Storing Hormone. The reason for this is because it triggers the stomach, and the stomach then releases hormones that trigger Fat Storing Hormone. It's not the actual material in the coffee that affects Fat Storing Hormone because the concern involves more on the stomach action. 

You Can Drink Bulletproof Coffee as You Begin Your Keto Diet

I suggest you start off with this as one option for your low-carb diet. What I recommend is, when you become keto-adapted where things become more comfortable, you can go long periods without being hungry. You have no more cravings for sweets, you have a lot of energy, and you are not getting tired after you eat, then you may want to replace butter and coconut oil in it with half-and-half or cream. That way, it lowers Fat Storing Hormone even more and prevents an Fat Storing Hormone spike. This also means you can go from one meal to the next without the Fat Storing Hormone spike. 

You Can Remove Butter and Coconut Oil to Maximize Weight Loss

Coffee cafe cup and saucer | What Is Bulletproof Coffee And Should You Drink It While On The Keto Diet? | bulletproof coffee keto

As you transition to the later stages of ketosis, you might want to mix butter and coconut oil. Some people find butter and coconut oil can prevent them from maximizing their weight loss because of the extra fat. What we want to do is get you keto-adapted to the point where you're basically burning your own fat. That's the goal.

Since drinking bulletproof coffee adds more fat into your high-fat diet because of the butter or coconut oil, you might find there is too much fat in your diet already. You might not need this “extra fat” to help you get through the next meal. When you consume enough fat that won’t let you feel hungry in between meals, you are successfully burning your own fat during this period. This is a great situation because you slim down, and you have a much better fuel source. 

If you want to try to gain some weight, you can keep butter and coconut oil. Just make sure to monitor your weight, though, so you won’t gain too much fat. My point is bulletproof coffee could potentially slow down your weight loss a little bit, but it’s not a bad idea to try it.

Now you know the answer to the question, “What is bulletproof coffee?” and how it affects your keto diet, you have a better idea of whether you should try it or not. It’s not a bad thing if you are still a beginner on keto, but just remember to make adjustments as you reach the later stages of the diet. So, try it and see how it goes!

Have you tried drinking bulletproof coffee? How does it help you with your weight loss program? Share your experience in the comments section below!

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Disclaimer: Our educational content is not meant or intended for medical advice or treatment.     

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