MCT Oil for Added Health Benefits

When I first went Keto, I did it without any supplements or powders. I felt like if I went through all the trouble of changing my diet and eating right I wasn’t going to take the easy way out adding supplements to my diet.

After losing tons of weight and feeling great, I wanted to know the scientific reason why it works. The scientist in me kills all the fun. While I did learn it’s not good to do Keto for long periods of time, I also learned some supplements are really beneficial. MCT oil is one of them. I compiled a list of some of the benefits...
The product I chose because I love the protein powder this company makes. Plus I need as much Turmeric I can get!

MCT Oil Promotes Weight Loss in Several Important Ways. MCT oil may support weight loss by increasing fullness, fat loss, energy burning, ketone production and by improving your gut environment. MCT oil has been shown to increase the release of two hormones that promote the feeling of fullness in the body: peptide YY and leptin. MCT oil has about 10% fewer calories than long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), which are found in foods such as olive oil, nuts and avocados. MCTs can be converted into ketones, which are produced from the breakdown of fat when carb intake is low. If you’re following a ketogenic diet, which is very low in carbs yet high in fat, then taking MCT oil can help you stay in the fat-burning state known as ketosis.

MCT oil is easily absorbed and transported throughout the body. It can be used as an instant source of energy or can be converted into ketones to fuel your brain. MCT oil has been dubbed a super fuel since your body absorbs MCTs more rapidly than long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), which contain more carbons in their fatty acid chains. Due to their shorter chain length, MCTs travel straight from the gut to the liver and do not require bile to break down like longer-chain fats do.In the liver, the fats are broken down to be either used as fuel or stored as body fat. Since MCTs easily enter your cells without being broken down, they can be used as an immediate source of energy. When you’re on a ketogenic diet, MCTs can also be converted into ketones in the liver. These ketones can pass through your blood-brain barrier, making them a convenient source of energy for your brain cells.

Reduce Lactate Buildup in Athletes and Help Use Fat for Energy. MCT oil can increase fat burning and reduce the need for carbs during exercise. During exercise, rising lactate levels can negatively impact exercise performance. MCTs may help reduce lactate buildup.  Taking the MCT oil before exercise may help you use more fat instead of carbs for energy.  

MCT oil improves brain function, which could have benefits for people with epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and autism. Scientists found that fasting increases ketone production and that this may reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures. Since MTCs can be converted into ketones, they may be beneficial in managing epilepsy. Alzheimer’s disease impairs your brain's ability to use sugar. An MCT ketogenic diet offers an alternative energy source: ketones. This allows brain cells to survive better. It also blocks a receptor in the brain that causes memory loss . Because autism is a spectrum condition, it can affect people in different ways. This means that adding MCT oil to your child’s diet may help to varying degrees. 

MCT oil contains fatty acids that have been shown to reduce the growth of yeast and bacteria. Overall, MCTs have a variety of antimicrobial and antifungal effects. Coconut oil, which contains a large amount of MCTs, has been shown to reduce the growth of Candida albicans by 25%. This is a common yeast that can cause thrush and various skin infections. Coconut oil’s ability to reduce yeast and bacterial growth may be due to the caprylic, capric and lauric acid in MCTs. MCTs themselves have also been shown to suppress the growth of a widespread infectious fungus in hospitals by up to 50%.

Reduce Risk Factors for Heart Disease, Such as Weight and Cholesterol and inflammation. Adding it to your diet could help lower your risk of heart disease. Some factors that increase your risk include high cholesterol, blood pressure, inflammation, being overweight and smoking. MCT oil can also increase the production of heart-protective HDL or “good” cholesterol. It can even significantly reduce C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker that increases the risk of heart disease. 

MCT oil helps manage diabetes by reducing fat storage and increasing fat burning. It also helps you control your blood sugar. Most people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese, which makes diabetes harder to manage. However, MCTs have been shown to reduce fat storage and increase fat burning. One small Chinese study of 40 people with diabetes found that those who consumed MCT oil daily had significant reductions in body weight, waist circumference and insulin resistance, compared to those taking corn oil containing LCTs.

Taking MCT oil has many benefits and very few risks. At the end of the day, MCT oil is a convenient way to take advantage of all the health benefits MCTs have to offer.

High Doses Could Lead to Fat Buildup in the Liver

High doses of MCT oil may increase the amount of fat in your liver in the long term. However, keep in mind that high doses of MCT oil, such as those in the study above, are not recommended. MCTs are high in calories and usually only make up about 5–10% of your total calorie intake. If you are trying to maintain or lose weight, you should consume MCT oil as part of your total amount of fat intake and not as an additional amount of fat.