No products in the cart.
What is MCT Oil and its Benefits?
Have you ever wondered if there is some kind of substance that would act as a fuel for our body and our mind? And at the same time, it will help us with burning more calories? I know, it sounds too good to be true. But, what if I told you that there is something really close to this? It is called MCT oil. What does the term MCT mean? MCT stands for Medium Chained Triglycerides. All triglycerides are made of a glycerol molecule and 3 fatty acids. The fatty acids of these triglycerides have an aliphatic tail of 6-12 Carbon atoms. These fatty acids that are found in these MCTs are called Medium Chained Fatty Acids (MCFAs).
Which are the Medium Chained Fatty Acids found in MCTs?
The Medium Chained Fatty Acids in MCT have 6-12 Carbon atoms. The main MCFA included in MCT are:
Caproic acid or hexanoic acid (C6) – It is colorless liquid with bad, cheesy smell. This acid converts very fast into ketones.
Caprylic acid or octanoic acid (C8) – It is a saturated fatty acid. You can find C8 MCT in coconut, butter, and palm. Caprylic acid ingestion increases the production of ketone bodies. This acid is converted to ketone bodies, no matter if you are following a ketogenic diet or no. According to the newest researchers, Caprylic acid has antibacterial and antiviral activities, and also in betters the blood lipid profile.
Capric acid or decanoic acid (C10) – It is more affordable than C8, but it is slower to turn into energy.
Lauric acid od dodecanoic acid (C12) – It is sorted as MCT, but because of his little bit stop at the liver (because of the longer Carbon chain), it can be described as LCT. One of the characteristics of the Lauric acid is that raises the cholesterol level more than any other fatty acid. Also, it has an antimicrobial effect.
Why are these MCT so special and different than the others?
Beside the Medium Chained Triglycerides – MCT, there are SCT – Short Chained Triglycerides which have SCFAs – Short Chained Fatty Acids that have less than 6 Carbon atoms and LCT – Long Chained Triglycerides whose LCFAs – Long Chained Fatty Acids have more than 12 Carbons.
But MCT is special because they are metabolized differently. Because of their shorter chain (compared to the long chain of LCT), they are more easily broken down. Thus, they are absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the portal vein and then they go straight into the liver. They are not packed into lipoproteins and they don’t circulate in the bloodstream. From the liver, they can be used for two purposes:
-As a fast energy source
-As ketones (water-soluble molecules that are produced by the liver in periods of fasting, starvation, intense exercises…)
Which are the main sources of MCTs?
There are two main sources of MCT. One is through the whole food and the other is via supplements such as MCT oil.
Foods that are rich in Medium Chained Triglycerides are Coconut Oil (it has more than 60% MCTs), Palm oil (more than 50%) and Dairy Products (10-12%).
But also, the percentage of the different Medium Chained Fatty Acids found in these foods varies. For example, the coconut oil has almost 50% lauric acid (C12), and the rest 10% is the sum of the Capra fatty acids (C6, C8, and C10). On the other hand, the daily sources are having more Capra fatty acids than lauric acid.
MCT Oil
MCT Oil is oil made up of one or more of these Medium Chained Triglycerides. It is a highly concentrated source of MCTs. MCT is made with the process of fermentation, where 100% Medium Chained Triglycerides are extracted and isolated from coconut or palm kernel oil.
When should you choose to use MCT Oil and in what dosage?
Mostly, the amount of Medium Chained Triglycerides that you will consume it depends on your goals. If your desire is to have regular good health overall, then the daily amount that you will take from the coconut oil in cooking and use the other food sources is enough. But, if you want higher dosages, then you will have to consider MCT Oil. The daily dosage varies from 5 – 50 grams, or 1-3 tablespoons daily. It is recommended to take in the beginning half a spoon. When you will feel that you are not as hungry as you used to be before, you may increase the dosage. For a situation like an Alzheimer’s disease, the scientists recommend a daily dose of 20 grams. MCT Oil is not having any smell or taste, so it is not hard for using. You may put it in coffee or tea, or you can even eat it directly from the package.
In which ways does MCT Oil help us with weight loss?
- It lowers the energy density because has fewer calories.
- Increases the feelings of fullness by increasing the peptide YY and Leptin which are two hormones in our body responsible for reducing our appetite.
- Increases our body’s ability to burn fat and calories
- They are less likely to be stored as fat mass because they are rapidly absorbed and used
- Ketogenic diets. As said before, Medium Chained Triglycerides are producing ketones. Adding ketones to our diet increases the number of carbs we can eat while we are staying in ketosis.
What are the other ways in which Medium Chained Triglycerides are helping us?
- Makes us more energetic
- Helps us thinking more clearly
- Improves our mood. It is believed that Medium Chained Triglycerides are one of the most protective fatty acids that exist. We need them in order to think clearly and stay well at the older ages. According to a recent study, MCTs helped to improve memory even in people that have memory problems, like Alzheimer’s disease. Think of it as a fuel which when it is given to our body, absorbs more vitamins and minerals which are essential for our brain in order to function perfectly.
- Antibacterial and antiviral effects. Do you know what this means in these times when we have huge antibiotic resistance, which is growing every day? Imagine having one simple method to kill all the “bad” bacteria and viruses. Medium Chained Triglycerides are known to be most effective for Streptococcus (the cause of pneumonia, sinus infections), Staphylococcus (the main cause of food poisoning), Neisseria (which causes meningitis, gonorrhea). Another fact about this role of the medium Chained Triglycerides is that they kill the bad bacteria, without touching the good ones.
- Helps us with balancing the hormone levels
- Absorbs fat
- Improves our digestion, especially for people who have difficulty with digesting other forms of fats
- Protects our heart – prevents the development of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a disorder that comes with an abdominal obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. MCTs are reducing obesity, so they are capable of decreasing cardiovascular disease. Medium Chained Triglycerides are easy to digest and they are inflammatory.
- Lowers cholesterol
- Increases insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes
Remember- This is not a miracle. It is just one part you can add in order to have a healthier life. You can’t expect miracles to happen if you don’t work for it. Without MCTs, we would have to cut Carbs from our diet in order to maintain ketosis.
Are there any side effects from using MCT Oil?
Mostly MCT Oil is safe, especially when it is taken by mouth. But, sometimes it may cause certain side effects like:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Intestinal gas
- Stomach ache
- Liver problems (in people who have liver disease)
Ways to use MCT Oil in cooking
Many people tend to take Medium Chained Triglycerides Oil directly from a spoon, like a supplement. But the MCT Oil doesn’t have a taste or smell, so it can be used in many ways and included in our everyday diet. If you make a homemade mayo, then you may also add MCT Oil and put everything in a blender. You like eating smoothies or shakes in the morning? Don’t doubt to put one spoon of the MCT Oil. You can use It as oil for your salad
MCT Oil vs. Coconut Oil
MCT Oil is extracted from Coconut Oil, which is also considered as a huge natural reservoir for Medium Chained Triglycerides. But, how to choose what to use MCT Oil or Coconut Oil. The real answer is that it depends on the exact type of MCT that you are willing to consume. Coconut Oil is higher in certain types of Medium Chained Triglycerides, while MCT Oil is rich in others. Coconut Oil is rich in Lauric acid (C12). Some researchers consider it like Medium Chained Fatty Acid; some consider it like Long Chained Fatty Acid. But, in both ways, it has great benefits for our body and health. Lauric acid is great for the skin and it is a good antimicrobial substance, so it has excellent immune benefits. The Medium Chained Triglyceride Oil is rich in the other three acids C6, C8 and C10. This is great if you need fast and lasting energy.
Have you ever wondered if there is some kind of substance that would act as a fuel for our body and our mind? And at the same time, it will help us with burning more calories? I know, it sounds too good to be true. But, what if I told you that there is something really close to this? It is called MCT oil. What does the term MCT mean? MCT stands forWhat is MCT Oil, Its Benefits and Ways to Use it? Learn all about the pros and cons of MCT oil in this article and infographic on MCT Medium Chained Triglycerides. All triglycerides are made of a glycerol molecule and 3 fatty acids. The fatty acids of these triglycerides have an aliphatic tail of 6-12 Carbon atoms. These fatty acids that are found in these MCTs are called Medium Chained Fatty Acids (MCFAs).
Which are the Medium Chained Fatty Acids found in MCTs?
The Medium Chained Fatty Acids in MCT have 6-12 Carbon atoms. The main MCFA included in MCT are:
Caproic acid or hexanoic acid (C6) – It is colorless liquid with bad, cheesy smell. This acid converts very fast into ketones.
Caprylic acid or octanoic acid (C8) – It is a saturated fatty acid. You can find C8 MCT in coconut, butter, and palm. Caprylic acid ingestion increases the production of ketone bodies. This acid is converted to ketone bodies, no matter if you are following a ketogenic diet or no. According to the newest researchers, Caprylic acid has antibacterial and antiviral activities, and also in betters the blood lipid profile.
Capric acid or decanoic acid (C10) – It is more affordable than C8, but it is slower to turn into energy.
Lauric acid od dodecanoic acid (C12) – It is sorted as MCT, but because of his little bit stop at the liver (because of the longer Carbon chain), it can be described as LCT. One of the characteristics of the Lauric acid is that raises the cholesterol level more than any other fatty acid. Also, it has an antimicrobial effect.
Caprylic acid or octanoic acid (C8) – It is a saturated fatty acid. You can find C8 MCT in coconut, butter, and palm. Caprylic acid ingestion increases the production of ketone bodies. This acid is converted to ketone bodies, no matter if you are following a ketogenic diet or no. According to the newest researchers, Caprylic acid has antibacterial and antiviral activities, and also in betters the blood lipid profile.
Capric acid or decanoic acid (C10) – It is more affordable than C8, but it is slower to turn into energy.
Lauric acid od dodecanoic acid (C12) – It is sorted as MCT, but because of his little bit stop at the liver (because of the longer Carbon chain), it can be described as LCT. One of the characteristics of the Lauric acid is that raises the cholesterol level more than any other fatty acid. Also, it has an antimicrobial effect.
Why are these MCT so special and different than the others?
Beside the Medium Chained Triglycerides – MCT, there are SCT – Short Chained Triglycerides which have SCFAs – Short Chained Fatty Acids that have less than 6 Carbon atoms and LCT – Long Chained Triglycerides whose LCFAs – Long Chained Fatty Acids have more than 12 Carbons.
But MCT is special because they are metabolized differently. Because of their shorter chain (compared to the long chain of LCT), they are more easily broken down. Thus, they are absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the portal vein and then they go straight into the liver. They are not packed into lipoproteins and they don’t circulate in the bloodstream. From the liver, they can be used for two purposes:
-As a fast energy source
-As ketones (water-soluble molecules that are produced by the liver in periods of fasting, starvation, intense exercises…)
Which are the main sources of MCTs?
There are two main sources of MCT. One is through the whole food and the other is via supplements such as MCT oil.
Foods that are rich in Medium Chained Triglycerides are Coconut Oil (it has more than 60% MCTs), Palm oil (more than 50%) and Dairy Products (10-12%).
But also, the percentage of the different Medium Chained Fatty Acids found in these foods varies. For example, the coconut oil has almost 50% lauric acid (C12), and the rest 10% is the sum of the Capra fatty acids (C6, C8, and C10). On the other hand, the daily sources are having more Capra fatty acids than lauric acid.
MCT Oil
MCT Oil is oil made up of one or more of these Medium Chained Triglycerides. It is a highly concentrated source of MCTs. MCT is made with the process of fermentation, where 100% Medium Chained Triglycerides are extracted and isolated from coconut or palm kernel oil.
When should you choose to use MCT Oil and in what dosage?
Mostly, the amount of Medium Chained Triglycerides that you will consume it depends on your goals. If your desire is to have regular good health overall, then the daily amount that you will take from the coconut oil in cooking and use the other food sources is enough. But, if you want higher dosages, then you will have to consider MCT Oil. The daily dosage varies from 5 – 50 grams, or 1-3 tablespoons daily. It is recommended to take in the beginning half a spoon. When you will feel that you are not as hungry as you used to be before, you may increase the dosage. For a situation like an Alzheimer’s disease, the scientists recommend a daily dose of 20 grams. MCT Oil is not having any smell or taste, so it is not hard for using. You may put it in coffee or tea, or you can even eat it directly from the package.
In which ways does MCT Oil help us with weight loss?
- It lowers the energy density because has fewer calories.
- Increases the feelings of fullness by increasing the peptide YY and Leptin which are two hormones in our body responsible for reducing our appetite.
- Increases our body’s ability to burn fat and calories
- They are less likely to be stored as fat mass because they are rapidly absorbed and used
- Ketogenic diets. As said before, Medium Chained Triglycerides are producing ketones. Adding ketones to our diet increases the number of carbs we can eat while we are staying in ketosis.
What are the other ways in which Medium Chained Triglycerides are helping us?
- Makes us more energetic
- Helps us thinking more clearly
- Improves our mood. It is believed that Medium Chained Triglycerides are one of the most protective fatty acids that exist. We need them in order to think clearly and stay well at the older ages. According to a recent study, MCTs helped to improve memory even in people that have memory problems, like Alzheimer’s disease. Think of it as a fuel which when it is given to our body, absorbs more vitamins and minerals which are essential for our brain in order to function perfectly.
- Antibacterial and antiviral effects. Do you know what this means in these times when we have huge antibiotic resistance, which is growing every day? Imagine having one simple method to kill all the “bad” bacteria and viruses. Medium Chained Triglycerides are known to be most effective for Streptococcus (the cause of pneumonia, sinus infections), Staphylococcus (the main cause of food poisoning), Neisseria (which causes meningitis, gonorrhea). Another fact about this role of the medium Chained Triglycerides is that they kill the bad bacteria, without touching the good ones.
- Helps us with balancing the hormone levels
- Absorbs fat
- Improves our digestion, especially for people who have difficulty with digesting other forms of fats
- Protects our heart – prevents the development of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a disorder that comes with an abdominal obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. MCTs are reducing obesity, so they are capable of decreasing cardiovascular disease. Medium Chained Triglycerides are easy to digest and they are inflammatory.
- Lowers cholesterol
- Increases insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes
Remember- This is not a miracle. It is just one part you can add in order to have a healthier life. You can’t expect miracles to happen if you don’t work for it. Without MCTs, we would have to cut Carbs from our diet in order to maintain ketosis.
Are there any side effects from using MCT Oil?
Mostly MCT Oil is safe, especially when it is taken by mouth. But, sometimes it may cause certain side effects like:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Intestinal gas
- Stomach ache
- Liver problems (in people who have liver disease)
Ways to use MCT Oil in cooking
Many people tend to take Medium Chained Triglycerides Oil directly from a spoon, like a supplement. But the MCT Oil doesn’t have a taste or smell, so it can be used in many ways and included in our everyday diet. If you make a homemade mayo, then you may also add MCT Oil and put everything in a blender. You like eating smoothies or shakes in the morning? Don’t doubt to put one spoon of the MCT Oil. You can use It as oil for your salad
MCT Oil vs. Coconut Oil
MCT Oil is extracted from Coconut Oil, which is also considered as a huge natural reservoir for Medium Chained Triglycerides. But, how to choose what to use MCT Oil or Coconut Oil. The real answer is that it depends on the exact type of MCT that you are willing to consume. Coconut Oil is higher in certain types of Medium Chained Triglycerides, while MCT Oil is rich in others. Coconut Oil is rich in Lauric acid (C12). Some researchers consider it like Medium Chained Fatty Acid; some consider it like Long Chained Fatty Acid. But, in both ways, it has great benefits for our body and health. Lauric acid is great for the skin and it is a good antimicrobial substance, so it has excellent immune benefits. The Medium Chained Triglyceride Oil is rich in the other three acids C6, C8 and C10. This is great if you need fast and lasting energy.
