Photos by Zach Le
Forget the usual milk and sugar added to a morning cup of coffee — there is now a new coffee trend: bulletproof coffee. Bulletproof coffee has gained popularity on the coffee scene and is being incorporated into a number of people’s diets. Bulletproof coffee is a mix of French press hot coffee, MCT (medium-chain triglycerides) oil and butter from grass-fed cows. Yes, SunLife is now serving fresh coffee with butter in it. Although some students may be skeptical about the idea, the benefits of drinking bulletproof coffee may surprise you.
It is important to note that bulletproof coffee is made specifically with butter from grass-fed cows. As a cost-saving measure, cows are most commonly fed corn or soy, which their bodies cannot properly process. This type of diet gives butter its widely accepted, unhealthy reputation.
However, butter from grass-fed cows actually contains many key nutrients. The George Mateljan Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation whose goal is to create a healthier society, reports that dairy from grass-fed cows is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, beta-carotene and conjugated linoleic acid — all of which bolster the health argument of grass-fed products.
Butter in its most raw and organic form is a “forgotten superfood.” Dr. Frank Lipman explains that grass-fed butter contains health-supporting vitamins and minerals that protect against cancer, encourage muscle growth, support bone density, and maintain thyroid, adrenal and cardiovascular health.
But why has bulletproof coffee become such a growing trend? Its energy-boosting qualities are the main reasons. We all know that coffee and other caffeinated beverages provide us with added energy, but bulletproof coffee is said to boost energy levels more than an average cup of coffee. SunLife Organics informed us that, “bulletproof coffee uses the fat and collagen in butter to speed up your metabolism and assist[s] in digestion, ultimately aiding in weight loss.”
The drink produces ketones, a chemical that appears in the bloodstream when fats, rather than glucose, are broken down for energy. Mixed with MCT oil, another healthy fat, bulletproof coffee not only boosts your energy, but it also speeds up your metabolism. Leaving you with more energy than that regular morning cup of coffee, bulletproof coffee gives both your body and your brain energy that could definitely come in handy during finals week.
Additionally, bulletproof coffee possesses the right fats to regulate cholesterol. Grass-fed butter contains vitamin K and the perfect ratio of omega-6 to omega-3. A 1993 National Center for Biotechnology Information study discovered that these key ingredients in grass-fed dairy reduce the risk of heart disease.
SunLife employee and Pepperdine freshman Nutrition major Blair Bonifield agrees that the “coffee does give you energy, and butter is a great source for fat.” However, she does not believe in turning to bulletproof coffee for energy.
Rather, she suggests that “The keys to healthy living are eating whole foods that provide all seven major nutrients and being active.” Bonifield said she is fascinated by the idea of bulletproof coffee, yet she views the drink as “another supplement” and “a quick-fix solution.”
Overall, because of butter’s high fat and calorie content, bulletproof coffee has become a growing controversy. As with any high-calorie drink, bulletproof coffee may be considered more of a meal replacement than a breakfast accompaniment. However, the bottom line is that bulletproof coffee does offer many health benefits and is a better alternative to sugary, whipped-cream-topped blended drink. The choice to try the drink is up to you. So, if you are feeling adventurous, go to SunLife and purchase yourself a hot cup of bulletproof joe.
Nutrition Information (1 Cup): Calories: 468 kcal Fat (Saturated): 52 g Carbs: 0 g Protein: 0 g (Gathered from PrecisionNutrition.com)
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