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Typically made by adding one to two tablespoons of butter that’s unsalted and one tablespoon of coconut oil. One of the worst beverages our there is butter coffee especially for people who are concerned about having high cholesterol because of the high levels of fat it contains.
What is butter coffee and why is it so bad for cholesterol?
“If you look at a normal butter coffee recipe, which calls for one cup of coffee with one tablespoon of butter and one tablespoon of coconut oil in it, you are getting 19 grams of saturated fat each serving and 25 grams of total fat per serving, which is a lot more than what is recommended,” said Bowerman.
The American Heart Association suggests that only 5% to 6% of your daily calories derive from saturated fat; that is roughly around 13 grams of saturated fat if you are consuming about 2,000 calories each day.
“When we counsel individuals on lowering their total cholesterol levels, the thing we focus on the most is saturated fat,” said Bowerman, who suggests people receive their fats from other healthier sources such as olive oil, fish, avocado and nuts. “I know coconut oil is very popular because it is plant-based, but it is still high in saturated fats and tends to increase blood cholesterol.”
But I don’t drink butter coffee…
You do not have to add coconut oil and butter to your coffee to do your heart a disservice. The worst drink you can consume for your cholesterol might also be coffee with heavy cream, whole milk or half-and-half added to it, because those have saturated fat, as well, although it does contain much lower levels than coconut oil or butter. And if you are a fan of those flavored, blended “coffee drinks,” like frappuccinos or lattes that are popular drinks at cafes, you might be consuming as much, if not more, saturated fat than what’s in butter coffee.
For example, the frozen chai lattes that Dunkin Donuts makes or The Grande White Chocolate Mocha with added whipped cream that Starbucks make just might put you over the recommended saturated fat limit for the day, said Bowerman.
Dunkin Donut’s large frozen chai latte contains 12 grams of fat and seven grams of saturated fat while The Grande White Chocolate Mocha contains 12 grams of saturated and 18 grams of total fat.
Bowerman also notes that a lot of people usually worry about how many calories and sugar are in flavored coffee drinks and tend to overlook the overall amount of fat these morning drinks contain. “When you begin getting into (additives) like some of the flavorings and syrups, like these mochas and chocolates, those themselves are extra sources of saturated fat, as well,” she said.
