MCT oil has been gaining popularity, being touted as a great supplement that can help with weight loss and boost overall health. It is especially popular among those on the keto diet.
If you are new to the keto diet or even have been on the keto diet for some time, you might be wondering what is MCT oil? How can MCT oil help you when you are on the keto diet? Or you might even be wondering just how to use MCT oil. This article will answer all of those questions about MCT oil.
What is MCT Oil?
MCT stands for “medium chain triglyceride”.
We won’t go into the super duper scientific details here but more of a general overview of what MCT oil is.
MCTs are found in coconut oil and palm kernel oil. They are separated from these oils by using fractation, which is a separation process.[1] This allows the MCTs to be isolated from the other triglycerides in the oil.
The molecules in MCT oil are smaller than the majority of fats that you regularly eat.
There are four different types of fats that are MCTs:
- C6 (Caproic Acid)
- C8 (Caprylic Acid)
- C10 (Capric Acid)
- C12 (Lauric Acid)
C6 has not been studied as much as the others types of MCTs.
C8 and C10 are the ones most commonly found in MCT supplements.
C8 has been shown in a study to be the most effective at increasing ketone production, with C10 being the second best.
Coconut Oil Vs MCT Oil
Coconut oil is often confused with MCT oil.
They are not the same. MCT is an isolated triglyceride that can be derived from coconut oil.
However coconut oil can have many benefits for those on the keto diet.
But many find that MCT oil have more benefits than using coconut oil by itself.
The study mentioned above showing that C8 had the best ketogenic effect also showed that coconut oil alone did not have much of a ketogenic effect when compared to another type of oil.
So if you are trying to help your body with ketosis then MCT oil might be the right tool for you.
How MCT Oil Can Help You With The Keto Diet
MCT oil is assimilated into the body fast. Much faster than regular fatty acids that you normally eat. And even faster than coconut oil alone.
With it being absorbed so rapidly by your digestive system, it can travel through your blood stream and liver fast. This allows you body to access it for fuel and get you the energy you need right away.
MCT Oil Helps You Loose Weight
A study done in 2008 showed that replacing regular oils used with MCT oil resulted in better weight loss results when using MCT oil.
One way to substitute a fat or oil with MCT oil is to use MCT oil in your coffee. Many keto dieters do this with BulletProof Coffee. I like to use my MCT Oil and heavy whipping cream for my BulletProof Coffee each morning.
It has also been shown to help increase satiety and reduce people’s intake of food when used in place of other oils like coconut oil.
MCT Oil Helps Your Brain
It’s been shown in a study by the American Diabetes Association that using MCT oil can help boost cognition and help preserve brain function.
It can also help alleviate brain fog.
MCT Oil Can Give You An Energy Boost
Since it’s absorbed so easily by the body, using MCT oil can give you a quick energy boost making it a great pre-workout supplement.
MCT Oil Helps You Stay In Ketosis
Since it’s a fast absorbed and easily used fat, when you stay low on carbs it can help you stay in ketosis on the keto diet.
Where to Buy MCT Oil
You have to make sure that you buy your MCT oil from a reputable company.
Many companies will try to pass off diluted lauric acid as MCT oil, so keep a close eye on any reviews to make sure you are getting the real thing.
I use and recommend MCT oil from KissMyKeto. They specialize in products for the keto diet and do not use perservatives or harmful additives. And they have a variety of products that contain MCT oil:
Pure MCT Oil
This MCT oil from KissMyKeto is made from coconuts. You can choose from two different types of mct oil, C8 or C8+C10.
C8 is Caprylic Acid, and this is the type of MCT oil that is considered to be the most ketogenic as it is able to produce more ketones than C10.
C10 is another type of MCT oil that is known to have anti-inflammatory properties.
MCT Oil Capsules
If you would prefer to have you MCT oil in pill form instead of having to take oil by itself, then these MCT oil capsules are a great solution.
These capsules are made of C8 and C10 MCTs and all from coconut oil.
The MCT oil capsules can also be a great way for those who travel to keep up with their MCT oil supplements.
Keto Creamer with MCTs
If you are worried about stomach upset as a side effect of MCT oil supplementation, then Keto Creamer from KissMyKeto is a good alternative to just using the MCT oil.
The Keto MCT Coffee Creamer comes unflavored or 3 other flavors: Birthday Cake, Chocolate, and Vanilla.
The MCT Creamer is easier on your digestive system that MCT oil alone. It is easier to digest and less likely to cause any stomach upset. This is one of the yummiest ways to have MCT oil help you with the keto diet.
