Coffee or tea mixed with plenty of good fats and collagen is a great way to kick-start your day or indulge in a healthy afternoon pick-me-up that provides fuel that will last. For most people, adopting a nutrient dense, whole food diet means consuming fewer carbohydrates and more fat. One of the best ways to include healthy fats in your diet is to turn your morning/afternoon hot drink into a “bullet drink.”
The bullet drink is our rendition of Bulletproof Coffee, the western adaptation of Tibetan butter tea made popular by Dave Asprey, founder of bulletproof.com. In our version, we add coconut oil, butter, and collagen powder to tea or coffee for a supercharged dose of fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins, and collagen protein.
Coconut oil is one of the best sources of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) – caprylic, capric, caproic, and lauric acid. These fatty acids have been shown to improve blood lipids (like cholesterol and triglyceride levels) [1], promote weight loss [3], prevent unhealthy weight gain [4], and improve cognition in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease [5]. MCT’s have also been shown to have beneficial antimicrobial [6] and anti-inflammatory [7] effects. The research on the health benefits of coconut oil and medium chain fatty acids is quite extensive. Want to dive deeper into the subject? Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D., is a biochemist with a passion for health. Her e-book on coconut oil provides an in-depth review of the research on all things coconut oil.
Butter contains around 400 different types of fatty acids (both medium and short chain), including the anti-inflammatory butyric acid [8] and conjugated linoleic acid which has been shown to inhibit carcinogenesis (cancer formation) and positively influence diabetes, bone health, and immune function [9]. Butter is also a rich source of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for healthy vision, regulating gene expression, producing red blood cells, maintaining a healthy immune system, and pre- and postnatal development [10]. It also acts as a potent antioxidant to protect against damage caused by free radicals [11].
Collagen is one of the primary building blocks of connective tissue and makes up about a third of the total protein in the human body. The amino acids glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline give it a helical shape that functions to help tissues withstand stretching. Its particularly important in joint health as it is abundant in ligaments, cartilage, and tendons, and also plays an integral role in maintaining the integrity of blood vessels, the gut, and the skin [12],[13]. A few promising studies have shown that supplemental hydrolyzed collagen, like in our bullet drink recipe, is not only well absorbed, but some of the collagen makes it intact into cartilage [14],[15].
Bullet Drink Fixings
Start by brewing coffee or tea as your normally would. Many varieties of tea taste great when prepared this way. I encourage you to try naturally decaffeinated options like rooibos, but black tea (like english breakfast or chai) and green tea are delicious if caffeine is well tolerated. I often opt for a low-caf or decaf chai with my breakfast bullet drink and switch to rooibos for the afternoon.
Once your coffee or tea is ready, pour into a mason jar, thermos, or blender. Whatever you use, be cautious with the hot liquid! Add 2 tablespoons of grass-fed collagen powder, 1 tablespoon of unrefined cold-pressed coconut oil, and 1 tablespoon of grass-fed butter. Shake or blend until combined, pour into your favorite mug, and enjoy!
Bullet Drink
Ingredients
- 8 oz tea or coffee hot, freshly brewed (black, green, or rooibos)
- 2 tbsp Great Lakes Hydrolyzed Collagen
- 1 tbsp coconut oil unrefined & cold pressed
- 1 tbsp butter grass-fed (like unsalted Kerrygold ) or ghee (for a dairy free version)
Instructions
- Brew coffee or tea as your normally would. Pour hot beverage into a mason jar, thermos, or blender. Be cautious with the hot liquid!
- Add collagen powder and stir to combine. Next add coconut oil and butter. Shake or blend until the oils have melted, pour into your favorite mug, and enjoy!
