Keto Bombs #1 — Bulletproof Coffee

Getting more out of your coffee while aiding ketogenesis

Keto Bombs are a series of short, concise and informative pieces on various aspects of the Ketogenic diet.

Bulletproof coffee is something that has become popular in the past six years. It is as simple as this — good quality coffee + good quality butter + MCT oil. It is typically recommended as a breakfast replacement.

Yuck, you would think — why would you put butter in your coffee? That sounds disgusting.

As crazy as that sounds, there are multiple benefits. Before we go over them, rest assured that the taste is actually very appealing. It actually tastes a bit like a latte — creamy and delicious but without all the sugar.

So how does bulletproof coffee help us?

• Satiating — the fat makes you feel full while coffee additionally blunts appetite.
• Increased focus and sustained energy —no more mid-afternoon crashes!
• Increases fat burning — more weight loss
• Balances hormones

What causes these benefits?

Crash-free energy

The fat slows down the breakdown of caffeine, giving you more lasting energy. Additionally, due to the bulletproof coffee typically replacing a high-carbohydrate breakfast, you get steady blood sugar levels. Said blood sugar levels help keep your energy levels stable, rather than having a big crash where you feel sleepy in the afternoon.

Caffeine‘s benefits on fat

Caffeine boots lipolysis and fat oxidation in the body.
lipolysis — the process of breaking down body fat into fatty acids
fat oxidation — the process of converting fatty acids into energy for the cell

This means two things:

1. You are breaking down body fat in order to use for energy (lipolysis)
2. You are more efficiently digesting and utilizing the calories in the butter + the fats from your body (fat oxidation)

MCT Oil

MCT stands for medium-chained triglycerides.
Most dietary fats we consume are considered long-chain triglycerides and
have to go through a series of chemical reactions in order to be turned into a usable source of energy.
MCTs are a type of fatty acid that is oxidized more easily than others. They also enhance the production of ketones. Said ketones curb food cravings by affecting the hormones ghrelin and CCK.

Grass-fed Butter

The butter in your bulletproof coffee is recommended to be grass-fed.
When cows are pastured on their natural diet of grass, they produce milk with higher levels of healthy fats and fat-soluble vitamins (A, E, K2), a better omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, and fewer toxins. It is also rich in two important acids — conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which has anti-inflammatory properties and helps to burn unwanted fat, and butyrate, which improves insulin sensitivity, reduces and blood sugar, and also increases fat burning.

In contrast, when dairy cows eat grains, they become sick, malnourished, and weak. This means butter with fewer nutrients, more omega-6, and traces of the added hormones and antibiotics used to keep the sick animals alive.

Fats effect on hormones

Fats are very important for hormonal balance. Hormones themselves are formed from fat and cholesterol.
Certain sex hormones like progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone require cholesterol and one of the ways the body makes cholesterol is by consuming enough fat.
Further, fats help with the absorption of necessary fat-soluble vitamins — A, D, E and K.

History

Bulletproof coffee was invented by Dave Asprey, a successful entrepreneur with a proven track record in Silicon Valley.

He got the bulletproof idea after a trek in Tibet in 2004. At 5486 meters above sea level and -23 degrees Celsius, his energy was low due to the lack of oxygen. It is said he entered a guest house where a local handed him a creamy cup of tea with yak butter. He found himself rejuvenated after the drink.

Coming back home, he started researching the ingredients that made him feel so good and after 7 years of experimentation, he landed on the three core ingredients that hit the spot.

Summary

Bulletproof coffee is a good staple in any solid ketogenic diet plan. It shines the most as an amazing substitute for breakfast.
Apart from deliciousness, bulletproof coffee brings with itself many health benefits — from promoting longer periods of focus to increased fat burning.

Keto Bombs