MCT oil is the short for medium-chain triglycerides. It is a specific type of fat that is naturally found in coconut and palm kernel oil. MCTs are converted into ketones, which provide an alternative energy source for your body. MCT oil benefits include being used as a weight loss supplement, improving cardiovascular system and brain function, controlling diabetes, and reducing inflammation.
What is MCT oil?
MCT or Medium Chain Triglycerides are derived from coconut and palm kernel oil. MCTs are a type of fat found in foods that are sent directly to the liver, where they’re metabolized into ketones (an alternative energy source). This means that MCTs can be used as an efficient fuel source by the body during exercise or when you don’t have a lot of carbs readily available, such as when you’re fasting. They may also help with weight loss by keeping you feeling full longer between meals.
MCT Oil is made up of roughly 65% caprylic acid (C8), 25% capric acid (C10), and 8% lauric acid (C12). Each one has its own unique properties; for example, caprylic acid is known for having anti-fungal properties while lauric acid has been shown to help boost metabolism and even fight cancer cells.
How to use it?
MCTs are unique because they can be used directly by the body as an energy source. They are not stored in your fat tissue but instead are quickly converted into energy by the liver. This makes them great for supporting your diet and exercise regimen, or if you want to lose weight.
MCTs also benefit your heart health thanks to their ability to improve blood lipid profiles (good cholesterol vs bad cholesterol). MCTs contain less saturated fat than other types of oils, which means they may reduce the risk of coronary artery disease and cardiovascular disease for people with diabetes or high triglycerides.
Finally, there’s evidence that MCT oil supports brain health. In one study published in The Journal of Nutrition Research on mice with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), those who received a combination of MCT oils along with antioxidants had improved learning and memory over those who did not receive these supplements.
Where do we find MCT oil?
You can find MCT oil in food stores, grocery stores, and drugstores. It’s commonly available in a number of forms:
- Coconut MCT oil is typically extracted from coconuts and has a medium-length chain. This form of MCT is popular because it also contains lauric acid, which has antibacterial properties.
- C8 MCT oil is a shorter-chain version of C8 that has been proven to be more effective than other types of MCT oil at helping you feel full longer. This means it can help you eat less food overall and lose weight if you consume it on a regular basis—and the best part is that there are no side effects.
- C10 MCT oil offers several benefits not seen with other types of fat sources such as fish oil or butter (which don’t offer any real health benefits). The primary advantage here is calorie control since this short carbon chain length doesn’t have many calories per serving size compared to other fats like olive oil (100g).
Benefits of MCT
MCT oil is a healthy fat that can be used in many ways.
MCTs are medium-chain triglycerides (or fats), which are more easily digested than other fats.
They are easy for the body to digest, helping to boost energy levels and aid in weight loss. They also help to improve the cardiovascular system, brain function, and gut health.
Weight loss
The type of fat found in MCT oil is also great at reducing fat.
MCTs are converted into ketones, which can be used as an alternative energy source and provide many health benefits. In fact, scientists have even tested the effects of ketones on weight loss and found that those who received them lost more weight than those who did not. This is because they help lower appetite and cause you to feel fuller longer while also boosting your metabolism so you burn more calories throughout the day.
Improve cardiovascular health
MCTs can help improve the cardiovascular system in several ways. MCTs are an excellent source of energy for your heart, and they can also lower cholesterol levels, which may reduce the risk of heart disease. In addition, MCTs can help lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation in the arteries—both factors that increase your risk for cardiovascular disease.
Improves brain health
MCT oil is one of the best things you can do for your brain. It helps improve memory, mental clarity, focus, and mood. In fact, it’s so good for your brain that some researchers believe it may be an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
MCT oil also promotes better sleep quality and has been shown to help people with depression by reducing fatigue and improving mood in as little as four weeks.
If you want to improve any aspect of your brain health—be it memory, focus or mood—then adding MCT oil into your daily routine is a great place to start.
Control diabetes
MCT oil is a powerful tool for controlling blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that MCT can help reduce the risk of developing diabetes, and for those who already have it, it can help them maintain normal blood sugar levels. MCT oil is also known as a ketogenic supplement because of its ability to help the body use fat for energy rather than glucose. High-fat foods like coconut oil contain MCTs which can be used by the body as an alternative fuel source when carbohydrates are not available. This results in lower insulin levels and fewer cravings while helping you lose weight at the same time.
Reduce inflammation
MCT oil is a great way to reduce inflammation and joint pain. In fact, many people in the keto community have reported experiencing less joint pain when they started using MCT oil.
MCTs are known for their anti-inflammatory properties, which may be due to the short-chain fatty acid properties of these fats. Studies show that MCTs may help prevent arthritis symptoms by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (specialized molecules that communicate with other cells). This means your body will produce fewer inflammatory molecules when you use MCT oils regularly.
Boost energy levels
MCT oil is a good source of energy. It can be used as an energy source by your body, which means that it helps to boost your energy levels. This is because MCTs are converted into ketones in the liver, which the brain uses for fuel instead of glucose.
MCT oil can also be used as a weight loss aid because it suppresses appetite and reduces cravings while also speeding up fat loss and boosting metabolism so you burn more calories even at rest.
Improved gut health
MCTs are a type of fat that can be converted into ketones, which can be used as fuel for the body. MCTs help feed the good bacteria in the gut and prevent leaky gut. They also keep you regular and prevent constipation, diarrhea, and other GI issues.
With all this said, it’s important to note that just because something is good for you doesn’t mean it will taste good (looking at you kale). If you don’t like coconut oil or MCT oil, don’t panic! There are many other great fats out there with similar benefits but different flavors so you have options if one isn’t working for you.
Side effects of MCT oil
While MCT oil is a healthy, natural product, it can cause a few side effects. These include diarrhea and nausea, but they are rare. If you experience these symptoms after using MCT oil for the first time, stop taking it and contact your doctor immediately to find out what’s going on.
Here are some other side effects that may happen with regular use:
- Stomach pain or heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
- Diarrhea or constipation due to changes in normal bowel movements
Conclusion
MCT oil is a very effective supplement that can help you lose weight, improve your cardiovascular system and brain function and reduce inflammation. There are many other benefits of MCT oil as well. If you decide to use this product, make sure that it’s pure (free from GMOs) and doesn’t contain any additives or chemicals.
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