What's in my coffee today?

MCTs, Maca, and Mushrooms...Oh my!

If you’ve been following me, you know how much I love my fatty coffee! I drink a fatty coffee on busy mornings as a meal replacement, or as a pre-workout energy enhancer.

Recently, I’ve been experimenting with a few extra ingredients with some success!

I’ll start with my old staples:

MCT Oil. MCT stands for medium chain triglyceride and is basically a concentrated form of coconut oil. MCT’s are known to be safe and effective for weight loss, metabolic syndrome, obesity, improving inflammatory markers, decreasing appetite, and improving energy.

I use MCT oil to boost energy and mental focus, and it has been especially effective for me as a pre-workout supplement. Notes of caution: only get cold-pressed MCT oil and start with small doses. In some people, MCT oil can cause gastrointestinal distress.

Grass Fed Butter. Butter that comes from grass fed cows is far superior to regular butter. Grass fed butter contains more Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin K2, and a special fatty acid called butyrate. Butyrate fights inflammation and may be good for gut health. Bonus: grass fed butter makes my coffee taste AMAZING!

Coconut Oil. I add a little extra virgin coconut oil simply because I like the flavor of coconut. It contains the same medium chain triglycerides in a less concentrated dose than MCT oil. If MCT oil causes intestinal distress, you can replace it with coconut oil. Tip: make sure you use cold-pressed extra virgin coconut oil.

Now onto the newer (and freakier) ingredients in my coffee:

Maca. Maca is related to the cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, kale), and comes from South America. The medicinal part of the plant is the root, which is harvested and ground into a fine powder. Maca is shown to help balance hormones, increase energy, has a higher calcium content than milk, and may be an aphrodisiac. In addition, maca is considered an “adaptogen”, or a substance that helps the body adapt to stress.

Medicinal Mushrooms. Mushrooms are interesting forms of life. Neither plant nor animal, they are somewhere in between. Certain types of mushrooms have potent medicinal properties, and are shown to be very effective at enhancing athletic performance, reducing fatigue, may possess anti-cancer properties. Many are also considered adaptogens.  Chaga, Reishi, and Cordyceps are three powerful varieties to try.

Before I divulge my recipe, I want to make a few important points:

1. I use fatty coffee as a meal replacement, and never pair it with carbohydrates. Pairing this drink with excess carbs will elevate your insulin which will shut down your body’s ability to use the fats for energy…and you’ll end up storing more fat on your body!

2. I treat my body like a grand experiment, and I encourage you to do the same. I am NOT telling you to go out and try these weird medicinal plants and herbs! You need to make the decision to experiment with these things on your own. What works for me may not necessarily work for you, and vice versa. It’s possible you could have a negative reaction to any new food or supplement!

3. Do your research and be cautious about trying ANY new supplement. Not all supplements are created equal, and some can have negative side effects. Read up before trying something new, find a trusted and highly rated source, and start out with small doses to see how you react. Remember that you are an individual, and the only way to individualize your supplement program is to cautiously try things and figure out what works for you.

4. Lastly, but maybe most importantly: this may be called “Bulletproof” coffee in some circles, but it’s not THE silver bullet for weight loss or health that everyone is seeking. If you are not consistently eating clean and exercising regularly, a fatty coffee drink (or any drink for that matter) won’t help you!

Focus FIRST on good overall nutrition and regular exercise…and THEN start experimenting with some freaky foods.

Freaky Fitness Babe’s Fatty Coffee

1 large cup of hot black coffee (you can also use hot tea if you don’t like coffee)

1 to 2 T of grass fed butter

1 to 2 tsp MCT oil

1 to 2 tsp extra virgin coconut oil

1 tsp ground maca

1 to 4 tsp ground cordyceps mushroom

Vanilla extract, vanilla bean, cinnamon, or almond extract to taste

Liquid stevia to taste (if you need a little sweetness)

Add all ingredients to a large cup and use a hand-held immersion blender to mix. Mix until a nice foam forms on top!

Enjoy!