Why you should start putting butter in your coffee.

It sounds crazy right? Butter. In your coffee. I'm not making it up though. It's a thing, and it's a pretty good thing, too.

I was exploring Pinterest, like I do on a day to day basis, and a pin about buttered coffee caught my eye. Maybe it was the word 'butter'. Maybe it was the word 'coffee'. I have a love affair with both, so either way it got my attention.

My initial reaction was one of disgust. I mean, coffee and butter. No. Stop it. But, I was interested. I investigated further and realized there were plenty of people who put butter in their coffee. Plenty of health conscious fitness freaks. There is whole brand behind it actually. The Bulletproof brand, created by Dave Asprey, is centered around a drink he calls Bulletproof Coffee. Most of the people that had chronicled their buttered coffee journeys in blogs were Paleo or on some other form of red meat loving diet. This came as no surprise, you have to have that kind of mindset to chug a cup or two of hot liquid with about two hundred calories of straight fat melted into it. Sounds delish, huh? Stay with me here. It's definitely a little bit difficult to wrap your head around, but it really is good. And surprisingly, it makes you feel good. I've been drinking it every day for the past week, and I'm not stopping anytime soon.

It really needs to be blended. It looks gross if you don't.

There are tons of proposed health benefits from drinking this stuff. I'm not convinced about some of them, but I can attest to the increased energy claim. It really does give you sustained energy and mental sharpness. Think six hour coffee buzz. At first, I was sure it was just the placebo effect, but it proved itself when J decided to wake up at 3:30 a.m. two mornings in a row. I definitely needed a pick-me-up, and that coffee delivered. I felt great all day long, all week long.

It's also supposed to reduce cravings throughout the day. You know how eating a high-fat meal makes you feel full for hours afterward? It's the same concept. I'm not a Biology teacher or a nutritionist, so if you want the science lesson behind it click here. I can, however, confirm that it does nip those cravings in the bud. You really do feel full after drinking it. It is meant to be a meal replacement drink, but I felt so full that I couldn't eat breakfast if I'd wanted to. When break time rolled around, I just stayed in my classroom and kept working. No cravings + extra energy = finished 'to-do' list. I'm a big afternoon snacker, but I didn't even have those cravings when I had my buttered coffee. Miracle coffee? Not in the least, but I'll take these side-effects any day. 

I've read that this coffee is supposed to also teach your body how to burn fat more efficiently, but I can neither confirm or deny this claim. I will say that I have lost five pounds in the past two weeks without any effort on my part. The only thing I have changed is my coffee. But, that means nothing. My weight fluctuates by a few pounds all the time. I'm going to need to see a bigger change to corroborate any weight loss claims.

So now that you know some of the benefits, let's talk about the recipe. This is my recipe. I'm sure I'm not doing this according to anyone else's recipe and it's probably why I am not seeing any weight loss benefits. But, it's how I like it, so yeah. Take that Bulletproof Guy.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups high-quality coffee
• 2 tbsp butter from a grass-fed cow.*
• 1 tbsp MCT oil...I use coconut oil**
• 1 tbsp honey
• A little cinnamon
• A dash of vanilla extract

*The butter must be from a grass-fed cow. This butter has more vitamins and nutrients, and that's part of what causes the sustained energy.

**the MCT/coconut oil is optional. I like it, but G says its gross. To each his own.

*You can buy the actual Bulletproof coffee kit here: Upgradedª Bulletproof Coffee Kit

Waiting on the coffee. Do you see that pink stain on my counter...oops.

Directions:

Brew your coffee normally. I brew mine a little stronger, but do it how you like it. Combine butter, coconut oil, vanilla, honey, and cinnamon in your blender. I use my Magic Bullet for convenience, but I'm sure you could use a blender or stick blender. Pour about two cups of coffee over the other ingredients and blend until it's the color of a latte. Enjoy! 

If you like sugary coffee, this is so not for you. It is only mildly sweet and super-rich, especially if you add in the coconut oil. I suggest that you drink it hot (just because I can't imagine drinking it cold), but I have found a recipe for Iced Buttered Coffee.

Now, go throw some coffee and butter in a blender and try it for yourself. What have you got to lose?

Let me know how you like it!