Coffee is the world’s favorite caffeinated beverage and an effective way to start your day, providing energy boosts, lowering risk for heart disease, and aiding weight loss. But have you tried adding butter to your morning cup of joe? Butter coffee has recently become trendy due to the low carb diet movement; many are wondering whether it is indeed safe.

This beverage consists of plain brewed coffee mixed with unsalted grass-fed butter. According to Dave Asprey, an innovative tech entrepreneur and self-declared “biohacker,” its formulation provides sustained energy without leading to the typical caffeine crash. Asprey believes butter coffee increases physical and mental performance while decreasing inflammation levels and aiding weight loss.

Healthline reports that the idea behind the drink is that fat helps your body absorb caffeine more slowly, preventing a caffeine crash from occurring. Unfortunately, however, there’s no confirmation whether butter actually does this and even if it did have any impactful results it would only have minimal impacts.

Butter coffee contains high levels of saturated fats that can elevate cholesterol levels and raise your risk for heart disease. One serving is more saturated fat than recommended by the American Heart Association for healthy adults – especially when combined with other sources of saturated fat like eggs or meat for breakfast.

Butter coffee is made by mixing together two cups of Bulletproof “upgraded” coffee, one to two tablespoons of Brain Octane coconut oil (which contains easily digested “brain-boosting” MCT oils), and at least two tablespoons of unsalted grass-fed butter from melting until they become frothy; you then sip this tasty drink as your morning breakfast! Some have even described its taste as similar to creamy cappuccinos.

Butter coffee may be okay if your cholesterol levels are normal or below, but if they’re higher it may be wiser to consult your physician first before becoming a regular consumer of such drinks.

Keep in mind that by choosing butter coffee over a balanced breakfast, you could be missing out on important nutrients like protein and fiber. Therefore, it’s essential to balance out your fat consumption with meals including lean proteins, vegetables, and fruit if possible. If you do decide to continue enjoying butter coffee as part of a nutritious lifestyle plan, aim to consume less saturated animal fats while prioritizing monounsaturates and polyunsaturates instead.