|August 15, 2024

Does Bulletproof Coffee Break Your Fast? Understanding the Impact on Intermittent Fasting

By Courtney Sperlazza, MPH
Reviewed by Theresa Greenwell for Scientific Accuracy on 08/13/2024

Does Bulletproof Coffee Break Your Fast? Understanding the Impact on Intermittent Fasting

  • Bulletproof Coffee doesn’t significantly spike insulin levels. That means you stay fat-burning and continue experiencing the benefits of intermittent fasting.
  • The fats in Bulletproof Coffee, particularly from MCT oil, promote ketone production, which helps suppress appetite and helps provide sustained energy, making it easier to fast.
  • Drinking Bulletproof Coffee while fasting allows your body to focus on cleaning out old, damaged cells through autophagy.

Intermittent fasting is a popular eating pattern where you alternate between periods of eating and fasting. Some benefits of intermittent fasting include supporting memory, healthy weight management, longevity and improved insulin sensitivity.[1] The Bulletproof Diet integrates intermittent fasting with its unique approach to food and nutrition. One key component is Bulletproof Coffee, our signature “butter coffee” that can help keep you energized and focused throughout the day.

But can you drink coffee while fasting? Does MCT oil break a fast? And what’s the best coffee creamer for intermittent fasting? Read on for the answers and learn how Bulletproof Coffee and intermittent fasting can complement your healthy living routine.

Blue plate, fork, knife and clock

Does Bulletproof Coffee Break an Intermittent Fast?

First things first, why is fasting good for you? “Fasting” means not consuming any calories. When your body can divert energy and attention away from metabolic processes related to digestion for some time, it can focus on natural detoxification and repair processes.[2] This cleanup and repair process is called autophagy.

Autophagy is a process your body undergoes during fasting, during which it cleans out damaged cells and regenerates new, healthy ones.[3] The term comes from Greek words meaning “self-eating.” During periods of fasting, when your body isn’t busy digesting food, it keeps busy with repair and maintenance tasks.

Here’s how it works: When you fast, your cells experience a decrease in nutrient availability. This scarcity triggers autophagy, as cells break down and remove dysfunctional components. The process helps to recycle these components into new, useful ones, improving cellular health and function.[4]

Autophagy is essential because it can help protect against diseases, improve longevity, and enhance overall health. Fasting stimulates this process by creating a state of stress on the cells, which encourages them to clean up and renew.[5] This is one reason intermittent fasting supports weight management and potentially benefits cellular health.

Bulletproof Keto Creamer tub next to a hand frothing a cup of coffee

Breaking Your Fast with Bulletproof Coffee

The good news is you can experience some of the health benefits of intermittent fasting even if you’re not completely abstaining from food and caloric beverages. Consuming dietary fat during fasting interrupts autophagy less than other macronutrients like protein or carbohydrates.[6]

So, can you have Bulletproof Coffee while intermittent fasting? The short answer is yes. Bulletproof Coffee contains quality fats from grass-fed ghee and Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil. Drinking Bulletproof Coffee also keeps you in the fat-burning state of ketosis.[7] One way fasting works is because insulin levels remain low enough to keep your body in a fat-burning state, as they are during ketosis. As for the best coffee creamer for intermittent fasting, choose one made with high-quality fats, without artificial flavors or colors added.

But will butter in your coffee break your fast? Typically, it won’t. The fats in the coffee don’t spike your insulin levels significantly. Carbohydrates and proteins require insulin to metabolize.[8] However, fats like butter, coconut oil and MCT oil don’t cause insulin levels to rise because they don’t require metabolizing. Ketosis, supported by MCTs, may also influence autophagy in different tissues.[9]

The bottom line is that Bulletproof Coffee keeps you satisfied and full without triggering digestion. As we’ll explore in the next section, that’s helpful when managing your hunger during intermittent fasting.

Bulletproof Coffee Makes Managing Your Hunger Easier

Does Bulletproof Coffee help with weight loss? It can, as it may keep you full and reduce cravings, making it easier to stick to your fasting routine. So, if you’re fasting, Bulletproof Coffee can be a valuable tool in your diet plan.

Bulletproof Coffee is like an upgrade from a regular morning coffee. This satisfying, creamy coffee (that drinks like a latte) contains high-quality fats that keep you in the fat-burning state of ketosis and boost ketone production.

The fats in Bulletproof Coffee, specifically from MCT oil and butter, help maintain a state of ketosis. Ketosis is a metabolic state where the body burns fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates, leading to sustained energy levels and reduced hunger.[10]

Ketones produced during ketosis have appetite-suppressing effects. They provide a steady energy source for the brain and body, which helps prevent the energy crashes that often trigger hunger.[11]

In essence, the combination of high-quality fats and increased ketone production helps stabilize energy levels and reduce the sensation of hunger. Next, explore even more benefits of Bulletproof Coffee and how it can support your mind and body in your wellness journey.

Benefits of Bulletproof Coffee

Besides helping fill you up and maintain ketosis, Bulletproof Coffee offers a host of other benefits:

  • Hunger Support: When you’re in ketosis, your body burns fat for fuel and produces ketones. Ketones suppress ghrelin, your hunger hormone, and increase cholecystokinin (CCK), which can promote satiety.[12]
  • Blood Sugar: When you drink coffee with milk and sweeteners first thing in the morning, your insulin spikes due to the carbohydrates (and, to a lesser extent, the protein). After the spike, your blood sugar will drop, impacting energy levels. Eating mostly fats, like those you get in Bulletproof Coffee, helps maintain low, stable insulin levels.[13]
  • Ketone Production: Bulletproof Coffee contains Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil. This high-quality MCT oil helps control cravings and improves cognitive performance to keep you sharp. It also helps your body produce four times more ketones than coconut oil alone.[14]
  • Workout Results: When you suppress your mTOR (Mammalian Target of Rapamycin), they rebound, which triggers muscle-building activity.[15] Intermittent fasting, exercise and coffee all suppress mTOR. Combining all three may promote the process of building muscle.[16]
  • Increases your metabolism: The caffeine in coffee creates a thermogenic effect or more heat in your body.[17]?Coffee speeds up your metabolism, and a faster metabolism helps you burn more calories and sustain more energy throughout the day.

Incorporating Bulletproof Coffee into your intermittent fasting routine is more than a dietary choice. It’s a commitment to a lifestyle prioritizing mental and physical well-being. The ritual of enjoying a creamy, satisfying cup of Bulletproof Coffee each morning can set the tone for a day fueled by focus, energy, and a sense of control over your health goals.

As you explore the benefits of fasting and nutrition, remember that the small, intentional habits you build—like sipping on a cup of Bulletproof Coffee—can impact how you feel and function daily. Embrace the journey, and let each cup be a step toward a healthier, more balanced life.

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