What is MCT Oil?

Fat is freakin’ awesome. Recent developments in science have been showing that fat doesn’t live up to it’s former bad rep, and that in reality a high fat diet actually has a lot of benefits. However, not all fats are created equal, and some are better for you than others. MCT oil is generally one of the good ones, and if you’re interested in learning about it, you came to the right place. In this post we’ll be covering all the bases about MCT oil: what it is, why it’s great, and how you should take it.

What is MCT Oil?

MCT actually stands for medium-chain triglycerides. Medium-chain triglycerides are fat chains that are medium length, having less carbon-chains than long-chain triglycerides. MCTs are found in highest concentration in coconut oil, so mct oil is typically derived from this source through a process called fractionation.

How Should I Take MCT Oil?

As MCTs are a fat product, and as such they are often sold in liquid form. They can be found at most supplement and health food stores, and even some grocers are beginning to carry it as well. There are also some MCT powders sold on the market, known for dissolving better, however keep in mind that these powders are actually sprayed and encapsulated forms of mct oil, so it is not as pure as the oil form.

In liquid or powder form MCT is easily added to hot beverages like coffee and tea, or soups and smoothies. You could also simply add the MCT onto your plate on top of your food as well, although in this case the texture would be much more prevalent.

What are the Benefits of MCT oil?

Energy Source In Ketosis

A lot of people are drawn to using MCT oil to supplement the fat in their high-fat keto diet. What makes MCT oil an especially good energy source for those in ketosis is that MCTs break down faster than their aforementioned long-chain counterparts. Because people in ketosis rely on fat for fuel, MCT essentially provides that quick energy source.

Help You Feel Satiated 

Fat is the slowest digesting macronutrient. When fat is added to any meal, it slows down the digest rate, leading to a feeling of being satiated or full for longer periods of time. If you have a fast metabolism, find yourself constantly hungry, or are prone to snacking then supplementing with MCT might be helpful for you.

Help to Maintain Energy Levels

One study also found that MCT consumption was better at regulating insulin response, compared to LCT consumption. Moderate blood sugar levels typically translates to more sustained energy levels throughout the day. If you find yourself crashing after a meal, MCT might be something helpful to add to help keep you from getting fatigued during the day.

Effective in Working Against Alzheimer’s Disease 

Alzheimer’s is gaining a reputation as “type 3 diabetes”. We now know that Alzheimer’s has a deep connection with brain glucose and the body’s inability to uptake it in the same way it used to. But there’s a catch: you have to be in a ketogenic state. Being in ketosis allows your brain to switch from using glucose as fuel to using ketones, thus providing your brain with an effective and more easily accessible energy source.

More studies are currently being conducted to study the relationship between MCT oil and autism, heart disease, and mood – just to name a few.

As it currently stands, those who would benefit the most from MCT consumption would be those who are fat-fuelled: that is, people on the ketogenic diet. This is because they can take advantage of this fast-digesting fat as a fuel source for both body and brain, as well as gain all of the other benefits it has to offer as well in terms of energy and satiation.

If you’re on the keto diet or struggling with hunger and low energy, MCT might be worth trying. If MCT supplementation is out of your budget, go for regular coconut oil, as it still has a really high concentration (50%!) of MCTs.

As always leave any questions or comments for us below – we’re curious to know what you think about MCT oil!

References

1. https://nutritionreview.org/2013/04/medium-chain-triglycerides-mcts/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2874191/
3. https://ketosource.co.uk/mct-powder/
4. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/mct-oil-101#section3
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4192077/
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4882694/
7. https://nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nyas.12999
8. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1474442217304088