Odd products: Should you try them? Are they safe?

Nothing odd about coffee or peanut butter, but when butter is added to coffee and caffeine is added to peanut butter--well, I consider that odd. Let's learn more about these stimulants and decide whether you should indulge in or steer clear of them.

Butter/Bulletproof coffee:

You can find it described online by searching under either name, butter coffee or bulletproof coffee. Internet articles will also tell you where to buy it and about the health claims and disadvantages of drinking this beverage for your breakfast.

It sounded disgusting to me, but I can't resist trying a food I've never had before, so I bought some butter coffee from a coffee/hot chocolate dispensing machine.  It came out sweet, foamy, and orange-colored.  It tasted delicious, a bit oily but very rich and satisfying. However, I had long ago pretty much eliminated butter from my diet, so, to avoid contributing to food waste, I forced my husband to drink most of my buttered coffee sample. The rest, I took home to create the accompanying photo.

Are you wondering if you can make butter coffee at home? The answer is yes, but  not as easily as throwing a pat of butter, instead of milk, into a cup of coffee. To do it right, you need grass-fed, cultured, unsalted butter. Some people make the drink with coconut oil instead of, or in addition to, butter.  Some add egg yolk. And some use other ingredients, such as Brain Octane oil or XCT oil (whatever those are), which can be ordered online. We're not suggesting that oiling your brain or your intestines with these products is  healthful.  We're just relating what has become trendy.

Why? Prevention magazine says  that the rationale for this drink is "better focus, fewer cravings, and improved metabolism." In other words, it's supposed to make those who drink it think better, feel better, and look better  (except for those rare folk who are already too thin).

Jeffrey Gladd, M.D. told  Prevention that he lost 13 lbs. after starting to drink butter coffee regularly. He's not concerned about the saturated fat in it, just the sugar and refined carbs.  The article concludes with this advice: "Those with acid reflux and high blood pressure should probably steer clear."  Perhaps the magazine meant "or" instead of "and."  At any rate, I have both medical conditions, so I think I've had my first and last butter coffee.

If you want to try this beverage once, it certainly won't kill you.  But before you make it a regular habit, you might want to read "Bulletproof Coffee: Debunking the Hot Buttered Hype."  Also, we want our readers to know that the University of California, Berkeley Wellness  Letter gave this product thumbs down.  It said that butter coffee is recommended for "weight loss and overall health" and "is supposed to be consumed for breakfast as part of a Paleo-style high-fat diet."  But, the newsletter warns, there is "no clinical evidence that this butter bomb has any health benefits." Moreover, the recommended 2-cup serving contains 450 calories and far more than the daily limit of saturated fat recommended for most people."  The likely result of making this your breakfast beverage: much higher bad cholesterol (LDL) and an increased risk of heart disease.  The Wellness Letter's conclusion: "We advise you to dodge this bullet."

Caffeinated Peanut Butter:

I kid you not (as Jack Paar used to say-- There is such a product on the market; it's sold under the name "Steem."  It launched in October 2015 and can be purchased online for $5.99 plus shipping. 

Why would you want such an item? Here's what its promoters say about it: "STEEM delivers protein, electrolytes, and caffeine, granting you hours of endurance and focus, and freeing you from distractions like hunger and fatigue."  According to the Steem website, "the naturally slow digestion of peanut butter" is the key to the consistent sustained energy it supplies. Therefore, it's recommended for athletes and any other active folks who just  want to be energetic enough to finish what they start, for example, pass an exam after an all-night study session. 

Launched in October, Steem contains peanuts, salt, organic agave nectar, peanut oil, and caffeine taken from green coffee bean extract.  One serving (150 mg or 2 tablespoons) has as much caffeine as two 6 oz. cups of coffee. A full jar contains 1,200 mg of caffeine.  Note: if caffeine is added to a product, that must be listed on the packaging. However, the container is not required to tell consumers how much caffeine is in the product.

The benefits touted for Steem sound very much like the ones touted for butter coffee, and  that's part of the reason why there is opposition to Steem  The Steem website warns buyers not to allow any pets to consume this product because eating it can give your dog, cat, etc. serious health issues.  However, there is no mention of what this product might do to children, although most youngsters consider peanut butter one of their favorite foods.

Be wary of eating caffeinated peanut butter while drinking 2 cups of  butter coffee. Even more important, don't let  children devour as much Steem as they want. 

An anti-Steem campaign was initiated by New York Senator Charles Schumer, who pointed out that one serving contains 5 times as much caffeine as a can of Coca-Cola Classic, and  the latter had been cited as a potential health risk, especially for young children and adolescents.  Senator Schumer requested that the FDA investigate Steem. 

On December 15, the FDA wrote to STEEM Peanut Butter Inc. (located in Greenfield, MA) asking for additional information about the product and expressing the agency's concern about adding caffeine to a food popular with children. The website Food Safety News  says the FDA wants to determine whether this product "meets applicable scientific and legal standards for lawful sale in the U.S."  The FDA expressed concern about an increasing number of products on the market that contain added caffeine and that appeal to children. The FDA plans to continue  monitoring these products to determine the  possibility of harmful effects upon children. The risks are worrisome, especially if a large quantity of one of these foods is eaten in a short time or if two foods doctored with caffeine are consumed in one snack period. 

Source(s):

prevention.com "Why People Are Putting Butter In Their Coffee"

http://www.prevention.com/author/stephanie-eckelkamp

bulletproofexec.com  "How to Make Bulletproof Coffee: Butter Your Coffee Like A Boss"

https://www.bulletproofexec.com/how-to-make-butter-coffee-bulletproof/

University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter, "Wellness Made Easy," October, 2015.

foodsafetynews.com "FDA Wants More Information on Caffeinated Peanut Butter Safety," December 18, 2015.

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2015/12/fda-wants-more-safety-information-about-caffeinated-peanut-butter/ - .VrDqoceyTkE 

steempb.com "Steem Caffeinated Peanut Butter"

steempb.com