I am a hungry girl. Most of waking hours of my life have been spent eating and/or trying to stave off hunger. But recently, I feel like I’m getting closer to cracking the code of satiety.
I have a few strong, quintessential mom issues standing in my way: sleep deprivation and limited time to exercise and consequently brain fog, hunger, and the challenge of meal prep for palate-awakening pleasures in a house of picky eaters…and me. Eating thoughtfully is a luxury. So when my friends at Bulletproof, the biohacking behemoth, approached me and asked if I wanted to try their Brain Octane, I jumped at the chance.
Experts agree. The key to good nutrition:
I’m not a fan of diets and like my curves, but I can kill it at the gym, try to eat well, and I’ve tried many dietary frameworks: Atkins, South Beach, calorie counting, low fat, high fat, ancestral, you name it. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula – everyone’s constitution and lifestyle is different and you have to figure it out for yourself. For me, after a lot of trial and error, numerous hours spent reading studies, sitting in on medical and nutrition lectures, and listening to podcasts from thought leaders in the nutrition space (mostly because I love this stuff), I’ve synthesized the commonalities. The experts may disagree on animal protein, the detriment of sugars, the optimal balance of macronutrients (fat, protein, carbs), but there are two things that they all agree on: eat good fat and a ton of non-starchy veggies.
Fuel should make you feel good
Already gluten free, I’ve found Paleo (the ancestral diet) and very low carbohydrate/borderline ketogenic suits me best. I need a low glycemic (i.e. low sugar, low carb) diet, nutrient-dense foods, and fat. Yes, fat. I’m a much nicer person when my blood sugar is stable, and a good dose of healthy fat is great for keeping hunger at bay. Plus, it keeps me from feeling deprived. And for those with Lymphedema, this way of eating is being studied for reducing swelling and inflammation, as well.
A while ago, I got turned on to Bulletproof coffee for breakfast (mold-free coffee, grass-fed butter [uh huh] and MCTs – more on that later). When I tell people, they’re like, “You!?! I once knew this guy… Butter coffee? Sounds gross.” Well, it’s amazing, and this intermittent fast keeps me satisfied until lunch. So then I started exploring the Bulletproof brand, and somewhere along the way, I came across the brand’s collagen bars, which are low sugar, good protein, simple quality ingredients, and delicious.
Bulletproof was started with the belief that humans are incredible and the brand focuses on tapping and exploiting our own potential, and “feeling like your best self because you’re giving your body the best stuff.” I worked for years under the integrative medicine principle of facilitating the body’s innate healing response, which I wholly believe, and I’m naturally driven to reach my maximum potential – better, faster, stronger – so I’m willing to test out whatever Bulletproof sends my way.
Buh-bye hangries, hello Brain Octane
Once you shed the indoctrination that fat is bad, and make peace with the idea of pouring oil on your food, you realize the oil makes food taste richer and more satisfying – satiety (suh-tay-eh-tee, it’s a great word). After incorporating Brian Octane in my daily ritual, I can honestly say it makes you feel full, stops cravings, and dramatically decreases brain fog and afternoon slump.
Brain Octane is a pure form of medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil that turns quickly into ketones – a better source of energy for our brains than sugar or carbs. Check out this post if you want to get nerdy with the science. It suppresses hunger hormones (ghrelin), gives you energy for workouts (or toddler chasing), and purportedly helps you burn fat.
Going back to blood sugar, there’s the glycemic index which measures the sugar in your food, and then there’s glycemic load which measures the impact on your blood sugar. Pairing a high glycemic index food (like rice) with fat (like Brain Octane) lessens the load, which leads me to my favorite hack. I’m copacetic with low-carb eating but there are times I really want some poke or sushi, or a cup of yogurt with blueberries. Drizzling a little Brain Octane lessens the load, keeps me on track, and prevents the crash three hours later.
Do what works for you, but do your best to make friends with veggies, cut the sugar, and do your brain a favor and learn to love fat.
