Is Bulletproof Coffee healthy or harmful?

Coffee’s ready! Grab your favorite mug, fill it with that aromatic brew and be sure to leave room for … butter and coconut oil? Sounds crazy, but this unlikely combination has been gaining in popularity for years, and the trend is likely to continue.

Proponents say that replacing breakfast with a beverage historically known as “butter coffee” or “buttered coffee” could suppress the appetite, help with weight loss, increase energy levels and improve athletic performance. However, research has shown that consuming saturated fat may increase your risk for coronary heart disease, high blood pressure (hypertension) and cancer.

To help sort fact from fiction, we asked Kimberly Spatola, registered dietitian at Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute in Elizabeth, whether butter coffee offers any benefits. Here’s what she had to say.

What is butter coffee?

Butter coffee is also known as “Bulletproof Coffee,” named after the company that developed the brew. The beverage is made with hot black coffee blended with 1 to 2 tablespoons of unsalted, grass-fed butter or ghee, and 1 to 2 tablespoons of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil or coconut oil.

The end result: a frothy drink that looks like a cafe latte and has a unique flavor many enjoy. Taste and texture aside, it’s important to know that a 16-ounce serving of butter coffee made with 2 tablespoons each of ghee and MCT oil delivers:

• 489 calories.
• 53.6 grams of fat (including 43.9 grams saturated fat).
• 10 mg sodium.
• 0.6 gram protein.

Adding collagen powder or protein powder, as many people do, may increase calories and added sugars (depending on the powder’s ingredients).

Why is it so trendy?

While it has surged in popularity in the past 10 years, the concept of combining coffee or tea with butter has existed for centuries in various cultures, including those in Tibet, India and Africa.

Communities who have traditionally lived and worked in mountainous regions like the Himalayas have long turned to butter coffee or tea to help offset the additional calorie requirements of living and working in high altitudes.

The recipe is also a favorite among proponents of intermittent fasting, the keto diet and other low-carb/high-fat eating plans. In fact, the coffee-with-added-fats fad has become so mainstream that Starbucks introduced a new line of “Oleato” beverages infused with olive oil.

Is butter coffee healthy?

Some nutritional benefits are associated with butter coffee ingredients, according to Spatola. For example:

• Grass-fed butter and ghee may contain the antioxidant beta carotene and omega-3 fatty acids.
• Coffee itself provides phytonutrients and antioxidants that may help reduce the risk of certain diseases.
• Caffeine has been shown to boost energy, promote concentration and elevate mood.
• MCT oil offers healthy fats that may help fight inflammation and raise HDL (or “good”) cholesterol.

However, many lower-calorie foods offer the same — and many more — benefits.

“Butter — even grass fed — is high in saturated fat and can raise your LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol,” Spatola said. “But foods like walnuts, eggs and salmon deliver a higher dose of omega-3 fats and are rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.”

Who should NOT drink butter coffee?

“People with diabetes need to eat meals regularly throughout the day,” Spatola said. “Drinking butter coffee instead of eating a healthy breakfast could disrupt the eating pattern they need to maintain their blood glucose levels.”

Avoiding butter coffee is also a good idea for:

• People with heart disease, who need to cut back on saturated fats.
• Anyone prone to gastrointestinal issues. “Butter coffee can sometimes cause unpleasant side effects like bloating, diarrhea and upset stomach,” Spatola said.
• People who need to limit or avoid caffeine, including children, adolescents, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and people with certain forms of mental illness.

The bottom line

“For most people, replacing breakfast with butter coffee now and then likely won’t cause any problems, but I would not consider it a true meal replacement” Spatola said. “It’s high in calories, lacks nutrients and there’s little research showing any benefits, so I would recommend giving this trend a pass.”

Instead of skipping your morning meal, Spatola suggests drinking your favorite coffee or tea alongside a well-rounded breakfast that includes lean protein, healthy fats, whole grains and colorful produce.

For example, try the delicious spinach and egg scramble (recipe follows) served with toast and fresh raspberries, which is both more nutritious and more satisfying.

“For about the same —or fewer — calories as butter coffee, you’ll be giving your body the nutrients it needs to thrive,” she said. “And that means you’ll feel better and be healthier in the long run.”