Fatty Coffee

Why in the world would I load my coffee up with fat? Does that sound weird and backwards to you?

Well, I’ve been doing it for almost two years now and it has changed my health in many ways. Here are some benefits I’ve noticed:

• Less “hanger,” more blood sugar control
• Decreased sugar cravings
• More alert mentally
• Able to practice intermittent fasting, which increases my BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor)
• It gives my brain the right kind of healthy fat it NEEDS for optimal function

Also, it tastes really really good. Like my own homemade foamy latte.

When I start my day with a processed refined grain like cereal or a bagel or English muffin, which I did for many years, I would be hungry within a couple hours and my brain would be mush.

Starting my day with fat-fueled coffee (also known as “bulletproof coffee”) fills me up so I can prolong my brain-boosting fast, it provides butyrate and MCT oil for brain health, and it keeps my blood sugar from going crazy because I don’t need to sweeten it! I have energy throughout the day and I have a clear head to make more brain-nourishing nutritional choices.

Here’s the thing that throws people off – this IS intended to replace a meal. But listen to your body. If you are hungry right after, EAT! Fuel yourself with high quality animal protein, a healthy fat, and colorful fruits and veggies. Sometimes I prolong my fast by drinking my coffee this way, sometimes I’m ready to eat not long after. Every day is different, depending on the activity level.

This coffee is not intended to be a starvation/weight loss tool. It is just another option for those who are already drinking coffee and loading up on artificial flavors with creamers and sweeteners. Those will fail your blood sugar, every time.

This is an alternative that will make you feel good and provide health benefits. For so many, coffee provides the highest amount of polyphenols they will consume in a day. So let’s make it even better!

Here’s how I do mine:

• 8 oz organic coffee made from a French press (it’s stronger and fresher that way)
• 1 tablespoon MCT oil
• 1 tablespoon Kerrygold grass fed butter
• 1 dash of cinnamon
• 1 scoop unflavored collagen protein (optional, usually on days where I have more activities planned)
• Sometimes I add a drop or two of vanilla stevia extract

I blend all in my blender for a few seconds to mix and make foamy.

Alternatives for butter (for people who are dairy-sensitive or prefer not to use dairy)

• Ghee and MCT oil
• Canned coconut milk/coconut cream and MCT oil
• Coconut/MCT oil and collagen protein (it still becomes foamy when blended) or protein powder of your choosing

For those of you who are thinking – you’re gross! Why would you put BUTTER in your coffee? Well, your great grandparents probably did the same thing! I know my great grandma Julie did. How is it any different from heavy whipping cream? We HAVE to get past the faulty line of thinking that butter clogs our arteries! It simply isn’t true, and various studies over the years have debunked this way of thinking. Look at your Coffeemate label and compare it to the label on butter. Which one has the most artificial, processed, hard-to-pronounce ingredients? It’s the Coffeemate, the one we have commonly accepted to be used in our coffee – every day.

Butter contains butyrate, a short chain fatty acid crucial for brain health that a healthy gut will produce when it is being fed with prebiotics. Unfortunately, there aren’t many healthy guts these days and we definitely don’t get enough prebiotic fiber through our food. It also is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids, which most of us are deficient in – especially us mental illness sufferers. Then of course there is the conjugated linoleic acid, which is 5 times more present in grass-fed butter than grain-fed, and is hugely beneficial for brain function. So my brain is very grateful for Kerrygold!

Because most of us consume coffee at least once a day, why not try amping it up a notch and using it as just another tool for optimal brain function?

Reminder: coffee is not for everyone, and some will be more sensitive to caffeine than others, but I highly recommend fattening up your coffee and seeing what happens. Be sure to tell me what you think!