Does Bulletproof Coffee Break A Fast?
Reading Time: 11 minutes After a poor night’s sleep, there’s no better way to blow away the metaphorical cobwebs and wake up in the morning than with a strong cup of coffee.
Sure, coffee tastes fantastic and is a very versatile beverage, but let’s be real here, the main reason why people love coffee so much is because it’s packed full of caffeine that helps us to wake up in the morning and feel refreshed.
Who would have thought that one little bean would give us so much happiness and joy, and turn out to be such a valuable commodity over the centuries?
Today, coffee is more popular than ever, with coffee shops, cafes, and franchises found in virtually every town and city you can think of.
Because of this, the way we drink coffee is changing, and for more than a decade now, bulletproof coffee has been all the rage.
People put all kinds of things in their coffee, but coconut oil and butter?
Well, if you’re a bulletproof coffee fan, you’ll know exactly why that is.
For people looking to lose weight and improve their health, intermittent fasting (IF) has been found to be ideal.
During IF, black coffee is a godsend, but where do we stand with bulletproof coffee?
Is it really as healthy as people claim, and does bulletproof coffee break a fast?
First off, What Is Intermittent Fasting?
Before we can look at does bulletproof coffee breaks a fast, the first thing we need to do is look at what a fast is.
By far, the most popular form of fasting is what is known as intermittent fasting, or IF for short, so let’s look at that.
Fasting is not a new concept, it has been around for centuries upon centuries and has been practiced by humans for countless reasons over the years.
Many centuries ago, the primary reason people fasted was simply because food was scarce.
During our hunter-gatherer days, we never knew when the next meal would come along so we would alternate between periods of feast and famine.
People would, and still do in fact, fast for religious reasons though nowadays the main reason why they fast is for health and weight loss purposes.
Believe it or not, each and every single one of us fasts every single day.
From our last meal in the evening, until the first meal the next morning, we are in fact fasting.
That first meal is called breakfast because that is what you are doing, you are literally breaking a fast.
IF is a dietary protocol where people alternate between periods of feasting and fasting.
Each day they will fast for a set duration of time, and will then eat during an ‘eating window’ whereby they are permitted to eat.
The most popular form of intermittent fasting is probably 16:8. This means for 16 hours a day you fast, and 8 hours a day you can eat.
This doesn’t mean you have to eat for 8 hours straight, in fact, you shouldn’t. But it means for 8 hours you can eat if you wish.
What Can You Eat And Drink While Intermittent Fasting?
One of the main questions that people ask about IF is what sort of foods and drinks they can consume while fasting.
Technically speaking, when fasting you can consume whatever you like.
If for example, you reach your eating window and are permitted to eat, you could tuck into a cheeseburger and fries, and wash it down with a milkshake.
If you go out for a meal, if you want a slice of cake for dessert you could enjoy it without ruining your progress.
Providing you are sensible and that you do NOT binge eat, you can eat whatever you like and drink whatever you like, and still lose weight.
The idea is that, you eat to sustain yourself and have a higher calorie meal, but that you stay under your daily caloric intake for maintenance.
When people are fasting and are not permitted to eat, they of course must drink for health reasons.
Water is a given, but they are also permitted tea and black coffee, provided both are free from milk and/or sugar.
That’s all well and good, but what does that mean for people who consume bulletproof coffee? After all, bulletproof coffee has many health benefits just as IF does.
What Is Bulletproof Coffee?
First, we need to ensure that everybody knows exactly what bulletproof coffee is.
When bulletproof coffee first started to become popular and began attracting interest online and from mainstream media, people thought it was just going to become yet another fad that would die down in a few months and be forgotten about a year later.
Others were repulsed at the thought of it, yet intrigued at the same time.
Well, months passed, then years, and bulletproof coffee not only withstood the test of time, it also grew in popularity and is now used by athletes, bodybuilders, fitness gurus, and fitness enthusiasts alike.
That’s all well and good, but what the heck is it?
Bulletproof coffee, which is sometimes known as butter coffee, is basically a high-quality coffee that is made with added fat.
Typically, grass-fed butter is melted into the coffee, along with MCT (Medium Chain Triglycerides) oil, like that found in coconut oil.
It sounds, shall we say, unique, but there are many health benefits associated with drinking bulletproof coffee, and yes, weight management is indeed one of the said benefits.
Created by American Dave Asprey, Bulletproof Coffee is all about fuelling your mind and your body in preparation for the day ahead.
It is particularly popular with followers of low-carb diets such as Keto, along with Paleo and other similar raw food diets.
Needless to say, you cannot add milk, cream, or sugar to your coffee, but is it still permitted on an intermittent fasting diet?
Does Bulletproof Coffee Break A Fast?
So, we know what bulletproof coffee is, and we know what fasting is.
What we don’t yet know, however, is whether or not bulletproof coffee actually breaks a fast.
With fasting, your body focuses on health by diverting attention away from natural biological processes relating to digestion.
Rather than worrying about digesting your food extracting nutrients from it, and other similar physiological processes, it instead focuses on running more efficiently.
It instead focuses on repair and detoxification processes which of course promote better health and wellness.
Fasting while on a low-carb diet can also put you into a state of ketosis, whereby your body uses ketones as a source of energy, rather than carbs.
These enzymes are produced when the body first metabolizes fat.
This process, which is technically known as ‘autophagy’ promotes general health and wellness, but does that mean that fasting is only the way to go, or can you still enjoy some of these many health benefits if you consume many calories from beverages such as bulletproof coffee?
Studies have found that consuming fats, such as the fats found in bulletproof coffee, will have less of an adverse effect on the autophagy process, than if you were to consume protein and/or carbohydrates.
Furthermore, consuming healthy fats will not knock you out of ketosis so if fat loss is your goal through a low-carb diet, bulletproof coffee is fine.
So, as long as you use proper ingredients for your bulletproof coffee, I.E grass-fed butter, and premium MCT oils, you will not be knocked out of keto, and technically you won’t have broken your fast.
Just be aware that the more fat you consume, the more calories you will consume, which could then break your fast.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Bulletproof Coffee?
Okay, so technically a cup of bulletproof coffee in the morning is okay if you are intermittent fasting, as long as it is just one and as long as you don’t consume too much fat.
We know that bulletproof coffee is perfectly acceptable when following an intermittent fasting dietary protocol, but what is the point of bulletproof coffee in the first place?
We know that healthy fats are added to the coffee, but why are they added?
Here’s a look at several of the potential health benefits you can enjoy if you consume bulletproof coffee while intermittent fasting.
Weight Loss
You may think it’s ridiculous to claim that a beverage made with melted butter, and another oil as well, can help you to burn fat and lose weight, but that is exactly what can happen if you are sensible when consuming bulletproof coffee while fasting.
Caffeine is a stimulant that speeds up the metabolism and promotes weight loss. As you know, caffeine is found in coffee in large doses.
Add to that, the fact that butter and MCT oils can also help promote weight loss, and you can see why IF followers are not scared to enjoy a cup in the morning.
MCTs for example, are metabolized differently by the body.
Rather than the body breaking them down slowly, it instead uses the fats quickly because of their molecular structure.
This instant source of energy fuels the body and ramps up the metabolism so that you can burn more calories, become more active, and shed more pounds in the process.
If you are following intermittent fasting in the hopes of losing weight, a cup of bulletproof coffee now and then could work wonders and could really help you lose those stubborn pounds a little quicker.
Feel More Alert
Let’s face it, waking up in the morning is bad enough as it is, never mind waking up hungry, knowing that you can’t eat for several more hours.
If you struggle to wake up in the morning and find yourself feeling like a zombie until you’ve enjoyed a caffeine hit, bulletproof coffee is perfect.
Not only does the caffeine give you a temporary boost of mental and physical energy, but the fats also play a part as well.
The fats found in bulletproof coffee, such as the MCTs, are metabolized quickly by the body so you are essentially fuelling up your body by enjoying a cup in the morning.
If your get up and go has got up and gone, bulletproof coffee during your intermittent fast could be the solution to your lack of energy.
Great Texture
Okay, this isn’t really a health benefit of drinking bulletproof coffee, but even so, it’s still a great benefit to have, so we’re including it anyway.
Another of the main reasons why bulletproof coffee has suddenly become so much more popular over the last several years is due to the fact that the beverage has such a wonderful texture and consistency.
People think that putting butter in your coffee is gross, yet they happily put milk and/or cream in theirs. Butter is basically cream in its next stage, so it’s no different really, especially once it’s melted in there.
The butter and the MCTs give the coffee a rich, thick, and luxurious mouthfeel and texture that is not too dissimilar from a latte, or even a Frappuccino.
While this won’t offer any health benefits, other than the psychological boost you get from enjoying something nice tasting, it makes drinking the coffee that little bit more enjoyable, which is certainly a good thing.
Great For Ketosis
Many people who follow an intermittent fasting protocol also follow a low-carb diet such as keto. The idea here is to remain in a state of ketosis in order for you to lose more weight, along with the countless other health benefits that come with keto.
When your body enters a ketogenic state, it no longer uses glucose from carbohydrates as its main energy source.
Instead, it uses ketones, which are enzymes secreted by the liver.
These ketones fuel the metabolism and the brain and are produced when the body breaks down lipid (fat) molecules and uses them to make the ketones.
This means that you are essentially fuelling your body by burning off your own body fat reserves.
Keto diets are low-carb, moderate protein, high-fat diets that promote weight loss and improved cognitive health.
Many people following IF also try to remain in ketosis, which is where bulletproof coffee proves to be so useful.
The grass-fed butter and the MCT oils found in bulletproof coffee assist with the production of ketones, without running the risk of knocking you out of ketosis.
May Help Keep Hunger At Bay
As far as intermittent fasting goes, one of the worst parts of intermittent fasting, or any form of fasting, is hunger.
Hunger can leave us feeling unwell, dizzy, nauseous, and lethargic.
It also means that we’re more likely to cheat on our diets and break a fast if we’re hungry. This is why bulletproof coffee is so beneficial.
We’ve looked at the question of does bulletproof coffee break a fast, and we know that the answer is generally no.
That means that it is acceptable to have one in the morning if we feel as if we really have to.
If you do enjoy a bulletproof coffee, however, the good news is that you needn’t worry about hunger.
Not only does the butter and MCT oil help keep hunger at bay, but ketones also help to suppress hunger as well.
Ketones suppress the production of ghrelin, which is a hormone responsible for hunger. The more ghrelin we produce, the hungrier we feel. The less we produce, however, the less hungry we feel.
As if that wasn’t all, studies have found that ketones can also increase the production of CCK (Cholecystokinin) which is a compound that promotes feelings of satiety and fullness.
Improved Cognitive Function
Perhaps one of the most impressive benefits associated with bulletproof coffee is the fact that it has been found to improve cognitive function.
Not only are MCTs and healthy fats beneficial for the brain, but so too is caffeine, which is of course found in coffee.
Drinking bulletproof coffee helps you to think clearer, boosts brainpower, it speeds up your reaction times, and can even help to fight off degenerative brain issues such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s.
More Energy
If you have no choice but to exercise early in the morning, on an empty stomach as part of your intermittent fasting routine, bulletproof coffee is ideal.
Not only does the caffeine give you the energy needed to exercise, but so too do the MCTs and the healthy fats found in the butter. This means that you will not only be able to focus more easily, but you’ll also have more energy for training.
Final Thoughts
So, does bulletproof coffee break a fast?
Well, as we’ve looked at, the answer is both yes, and no.
Bulletproof coffee in moderation is okay if you are intermittent fasting, as long as you limit it to one a day at the most, and you avoid adding milk, cream, and/or sugar to your coffee.
Bulletproof coffee is very healthy and when combined with intermittent fasting it can be highly beneficial.
