Don’t just seize the day, slay it! How? Start with a cup of powerful, nutritious fuel that will keep you burning fat and feeling amazing well beyond the effects of a normal cup of Joe.
Can you guess what I’m talking about?
You’ve heard of bulletproof/butter/fatty coffee right?
I live in LA, so years ago I knew about Dave Asprey’s invention “Bulletproof Coffee” before a lot of the rest of the country did, his Bulletproof cafe was a short drive from my house. I was a big fan before I started eating low carb, high healthy fat, mostly because (in case you haven’t figured this out about me yet) I am a BIG BUTTER fan. I wanted to try this new drink as soon as I heard about it. Coffee with grass-fed butter (instead of half-and-half or milk) with an added dose of MCT Oil, whatever the hell that was.
With my first few sips, I felt a buzz go right to my head – in a good way. It was a smooth, soothing but heady buzz – like a great jazz solo by Charlie Parker. Yes, the coffee flavor came through all the fat, but those two fat sources created a rich, creamy flavor profile that was a revelation. I was an instant fan and tried to get a Bulletproof coffee whenever I was on that side of town.
Dave Asprey would be the first to tell you that he did not invent butter coffee. Both Tibet and Ethiopia have used butter in tea and coffee for its nutritional value for centuries. Asprey has refined the idea of it by adding MCT oil, making sure that the butter was grass-fed and exclusively using organic coffee.
So let’s break this down. What’s in it and how does it work?
First of all, what is MCT oil? MCT stands for medium chain triglyceride, derived in most cases from coconut oil (although can be found in palm oil as well). A medium chain triglyceride is a fatty acid that bypasses the blood stream and is processed directly in the liver, so it can deliver energy to the brain quite rapidly in the form of ketones.
Ketones are a very clean fuel source, as opposed to glucose (sugar), like the difference between a hybrid car and a gas guzzler. The brain uses both glucose and ketones (if available) to rev up and stay running.
Am I losing you?
All you really need to know is that adding MCT oil provides your brain an almost instantaneous fuel source. Grass-fed butter provides a rich source of Omega 3’s and beta carotene. Both of these healthy fat sources lift morning brain fog and supply a good source of long-lasting energy throughout the morning beyond the caffeine.
Coffee itself is loaded with antioxidants and in numerous studies has shown to improve everything from brain function to athletic performance and even to help prevent Alzheimers and Parkinson’s disease.
I honestly don’t know why it took me so long to learn to make it myself. But once I did, I started playing around with spices, proteins and fats to make the best version I could, offering it to guests to “taste test.”
You can add ingredients to sweeten bulletproof coffee or to enhance its nutritional value. Collagen powder, raw cacao, powdered mushroom, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg – and for sweetener, either stevia, monk fruit or powdered erythritol (a natural sugar alcohol).
For the fats, you can use ghee instead of butter (ghee is clarified butter without the milk solids, making it dairy free. Win win for inflammation.)
Some people also prefer to use straight coconut oil instead of refined MCT oil – in this way the MCT effect is more muted, but you also get the benefit of lauric acid found in coconut oil before it is refined, which is antifungal and antibacterial. Can’t really go wrong any way you sip it.
If you want to start your day with an instant brain boost and stay full till lunchtime, try a bulletproof coffee in the morning. Here’s my “Slay The Day” recipe. This cup of coffee with my special added ingredients quite literally keeps me full until early afternoon, sharpens my thinking skills and helps regulate my blood sugar all at the same time.
I love sharing recipes with my clients. Want to work together to achieve full body wellness, all while enjoying delicious food? I can help.