Coffee. Butter. Oil. Separately those ingredients don’t exactly sound like they could make a balanced breakfast. But if you've been around the paleo world, then you will have undoubtedly heard of the so-called bulletproof coffee, the ultimate upgrade to your normal cup of joe.I know it's already somewhat old news, but I have never tried a BP coffee, until now.

I was out and about and wanted to grab a normal coffee, when I saw the bulletproof coffee on the menu for the first time. I hadn't had breakfast yet and was pretty hungry, so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to give this much-touted drink a try. My first thought? Frothy, smooth, and incredibly filling. Besides the unique taste, I had heard of it's many health benefits, so I decided to take a closer look at what this drink is all about.

Bulletproof coffee was designed by Dave Asprey, owner of BulletProofExec. Asprey claims: ”It can promote brain function, memory, and energy levels. It can serve as a massive source of antioxidants and is associated with all sorts of positive health outcomes … you never feel hungry, get low energy …”

Individually, the ingredients indeed possess some well-documented health benefits:

Even though there's many pro's and con's to caffeine, it's a fact that it is a performance enhancer and can boost metabolism and alertness.
Grass-fed butter contains antioxidants, vitamin A and E, traces of iodine and vitamin D. It also contains more omega 3 compared to regular butter.
Brain Octane or MCT oil are unique new supplements ( from BulletProofExec...) that claim to be 18x more potent than coconut oil at delivering brain-boosting caprylic fatty acids into your body. The oil is made from a highly concentrated version of coconut oil and palm kernels.

Alternatively, I found many bulletproof coffee-inspired recipes using coconut oil instead of brain octane/XCT oil.

Coconut oil has, as mentioned, similar health benefits as Brain Octane and MCT oil. MCT oil is just more concentrated than coconut oil, but they both have been shown to aid in fat loss. It is a healthy, satiating saturated fat that has antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral prosperities to boost the immune system. It can even help reduce appetite, convert the LDL “bad” cholesterol into good cholesterols, it can lower the risk of heart disease and the list goes on.

After doing a bit of research, I think I like making my BP coffee with coconut oil simply because it seems more natural and has more immune-boosting properties.

My overall verdict? I definitely did feel like I had increased energy levels and the caffeine sustained me for longer. I also think it's great for intermittent fasting days (if that's down your alley), as the coffee will give you a great satiated feeling throughout the morning fasting hours.

On the flipside, if you are using bulletproof coffees as a breakfast replacement, then you are displacing a highly nutritious meal with something that is low in essential nutrients. Also, if you are not used to digesting that much fat in one go, it can be a little rough on the stomach so I suggest starting slowly and seeing how your digestive system reacts.

In the end, like with anything, it comes down to what works for you. One man's miracle food might be another man's poison. That being said, why not give it a try and see how you go with it?

That being said, why not give it a try and see how you go with it?

Here's what you will need:

P.S.: I'm using my beloved Spiced Vanilla Almond Milk from Inside Out, but if you're not around Australia then you can simply use some other almond milk and add some organic vanilla essence yourself. Just make sure that it's sugar-free, which can sometimes be quite tricky to find...Even more reason to love Inside Out!

Bulletproof Coffee with Coconut Oil (Serves 1)

Ingredients

1 cup black coffee

1 tbsp. grass-fed unsalted butter (full fat!)

1 tbsp. organic coconut oil (or MCT oil)

1/2 cup Spiced Vanilla Almond Milk from Inside Out (alternatively use normal almond milk)

Organic cinnamon

Organic vanilla essence (if you don't have the spiced vanilla almond milk)

Instructions

1. Pre-heat blender: Boil extra water and pour it into a blender while your coffee brews to pre-heat the blender.

2. Froth: Dump out the hot water from the now pre-heated blender and add the brewed coffee and other ingredients. Blend until there is a thick layer of foam on top like a latte.