WHAT IS MCT?
MCT oil is a supplement made from a type of fat called medium-chain triglycerides. MCT molecules are smaller than those in most of the fats you eat. You can absorb MCT in your bloodstream quickly, and it turns it into energy you can use.
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
MCT oil is typically derived from coconut or palm kernel oil. It is obtained from coconut or palm kernel oil via a process known as fractionation. This separates and concentrates the MCT from the original oil.
WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
Generally, people use MCT to help with:
- Fat or nutrient uptake issues
- Weight loss
- Appetite control
- Extra energy for exercise
- Inflammation
HOW DOES IT WORK?
If you replace LCT with MCT, you may store less fat and feel fuller for longer. Hence, you may consume fewer calories. If you are elderly and weak, MCT oil may help you gain strength. It can also assist your body in producing ketones, a carb-free energy source for your brain.
Preterm infants can benefit from adding MCT oil to their infant formula. It can reduce the growth of a fungus called Candida, which can cause infection. MCT contains lauric acid, which acts as an antimicrobial, breaking down bacteria and virus walls, which helps in treating and soothing skin infections.
MCT and the KETOGENIC DIET: –
MCT helps you make more ketones than LCT, lowering your insulin levels and helping you burn fat. You may find it easier to stay on a low-carb diet that uses MCT because you can eat more fruits and vegetables.
HOW WOULD MCT HELP?
MCT may help with some conditions.
DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS: If you have trouble digesting other types of fat or obtaining the nutrients you require, your doctor may have advised you to take more MCT. This can happen if you take certain medications or have:
- Problems with the Pancreas.
- Had part of your stomach removed.
- Small bowel resection.
- Small bowel disease.
- Short bowel syndrome
SEIZURES: A high-fat, ketogenic diet eases seizures. It can help some children with epilepsy who don’t react to drug treatment as they would with a traditional diet to a high amount of fat.
DIABETES: If you have type 1 diabetes, fatty acids derived from MCT may help you when your blood sugar is extremely low (hypoglycemia). It may reduce body fat and improve insulin resistance in people with type 2 diabetes.
AUTISM: A study found that adding MCT to a ketogenic, gluten-free diet improved symptoms in children with autism.
NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS: MCT oil may help with cognitive, memory, and judgement issues. Your brain may not use glucose well if you have Alzheimer’s disease. Some experts believe that using ketones as an energy source instead may help your brain work more efficiently.
HEART DISEASE: A keto diet with MCT oil can help you lose extra weight, which can reduce your risk of heart disease. It can also help lower LDL, the “bad” cholesterol, while also increasing your HDL, the “good” cholesterol.
HOW TO USE IT?
- Mix it into your coffee.
- Make a smoothie with it.
- Salad dressing.
It’s not a good idea to fry with most MCT oil as it has a low burning point.
The amount you should take is determined by how well you tolerate it and the benefit you seek. The maximum amount you should consume in a day is 4 to 7 tablespoons. Ideally, you should spread those tablespoons out over the course of the day. Prior to that, consult a dietitian to determine the best dose for you.
MCT RISKS
It’s generally safe to use MCT oil moderately, but you should be careful when using it long-term. Some of the negatives include:
- It has a lot of calories and may cause you to gain weight.
- Large amounts of saturated fat may raise your cholesterol.
- MCT may stimulate the release of hunger hormones, making you overeat.
- High doses could lead to fat build-up in the liver.
FAQs
MCT Oil is man-made through a process called fractionation, which involves extracting and isolating the MCTs (medium chain triglycerides) from palm kernel oil, or in most cases, coconut oil. As a highly concentrated source of medium chain fatty acids, MCT oil also contains 100% capric acid (C10), 100% caprylic acid (C8), or a combination of the two.
No matter what kind of diet you follow, MCT oil may aid in weight loss through reduced intake of calories, improved calorie burning, increased fullness, and less fat storage. But lets be clear, that while MCT Oil may help you lose weight, it like any other weight loss aid, should be taken alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise routine. A diet high in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), particularly the fat burning C8 & C10 should help with weight loss, but the effects will generally be quite modest.
MCTs are processed by the cells in our bodies where they are promptly burned for energy or momentarily stored as body fat. Unlike other fats, MCTs move directly from the gut to the liver, and as the calories in them are used straight away, they are less likely to be stored as fat for long periods of time (This is the basis of a ketogenic diet).
There is no, ‘one size fits all’ dosage, when it comes MCT consumption. The amount of MCT Oil your body will require is solely dependent upon your goals, diet, and other individual factors. If you’re new to MCT Oil you should start off with relatively small amounts.
A typical dose of MCT Oil is 1-2 tablespoons per day. Once your body adapts to the increase in MCT Oil, you may then consider increasing your dosage daily, teaspoon by teaspoon to a maximum of 4
While research continues in connecting the dots between MCT Oil and levels of cholesterol, it’s important to remember that fats do raise cholesterol whereas others simply lower them. MCT Oil has been shown to do exactly that, increasing the production of heart-protective HDL, or “good” cholesterol, whilst lowering triglycerides and small particles of LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol by reducing bile acid absorption in the small intestine.
There’s no bad time to take MCT oil. It’s always good to have some in the kitchen for sleepy mornings or days when an afternoon slump hits. We, of course, recommend our 100% pure coconut MCT oil.
MCT helps to maintain these insulin spikes and blood sugar levels which is highly beneficial when trying to settle down before going to sleep, giving you a better quality of sleep. Compared to other fats, MCT’s have shown to increase fat oxidation while you sleep.
Incredibly, MCT oil possesses anti-inflammatory properties that may lower your risk of chronic disease. The ingestion of medium-chain triglycerides reduces pro-inflammatory immune cells’ production and increases anti-inflammatory immune cells’ production.
