By Let’s Move Quad Cities Nutrition Blogger Jeni Tackett, RD, LD
Nutrition is a science, not a point of view … but deciphering the science from the fads can sometimes be difficult.
A new fad called bulletproof coffee claims that drinking a cup of coffee with butter and coconut oil is the answer for weight loss and satiety throughout the day.
Although I’m all about a cup of coffee in the morning, this fad lacks scientific backing or even common sense.
Bulletproof coffee is meant to replace breakfast and includes 2 tablespoons of butter (from grass fed cows) and 2 tablespoons of coconut oil.
The high fat drink contains 456 calories and 46 grams of fat (42 grams of which are saturated). The drink is so high fat that it will leave your lips oily.
The premise of the fad is that loading your coffee with fat will decrease your desire to eat fat later in the day.
The fat also is supposed to coat your stomach allowing the caffeine buzz to last longer.
But there is no science behind bulletproof coffee.
3 reasons to skip the bullet proof coffee fad:
• Bulletproof coffee is served as a replacement for breakfast but contains no fiber, vitamin C or vitamin A, protein, or other nutrients. Replacing breakfast with a cup of coffee laden with fat but not important nutrients is a nutrition fail.
• Although coconut oil displays are commonplace at grocery stores, the jury is still out on using coconut oil regularly in your diet. Mayo Clinic warns against use of coconut oil and recommends olive oil as a better, highly monounsaturated fat choice.
• Starting the day with 46 grams of fat may increase your cholesterol levels.
When you hear about a nutrition fad that sounds too good to be true, stop and use your common sense. Healthy eating is all about whole foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes) and moderation.
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Meet Jeni Tackett, Let’s Move Quad Cities Nutrition Blogger. Jeni is a registered and licensed dietitian for Unity Point-Trinity. Jeni counsels her clients on weight loss and nutrition. You can read Jeni’s bio and other blog posts by clicking here. |
June 10, 2015 at 1:17 pm
Great article, Jeni! That’s a LOT of fat to start the day off with in a country struggling with prediabetes from high fat diets. #illtakemineblackthanks #skipthebutter
July 4, 2015 at 1:26 pm
If you do like bulletproof coffee, you should check out Bunny’s short video about the best way to make this weird awesome coffee at home http://killingthebreeze.com/2geeky-w-bunny-weird-coffee/
July 24, 2016 at 5:16 pm
High fat diets, not good fats like coconut. Look at cultures who consume large amounts (and it was and is) amounts of coconut fat and cancer and all other diseases and conditions are not even a problem.