MCT oil is a huge topic in some circles. It has been used in treating various medical conditions, such as food absorption disorders, liver disease, celiac disease, and gallbladder disease. But we’ve been talking about it at Fit & Psyched (as well as athletes and others interested in fitness and health) as a way to lose weight and/or gain energy. How can a fat help you lose weight? The answer lies in what MCTs (medium chain triglycerides) are and how our body digests them.
Most fats we consume in our daily diet are long chain triglycerides (LCT) require rather complex digestion (lengthy process) and are ultimately stored as body fat.
MCTs, on the other hand, do not require that long digestive process but quickly convert into ketone bodies. Your muscles use those ketone bodies for energy, so the MCT does not add to your body fat store. This process also happens quickly, which means that your body can soon have that energy to work with.
Your muscles aren’t the only beneficiary of that energy. Your brain likewise will get an energy boost and people report thinking more quickly and being more focused. MCT oil also boosts your metabolism – that means you burn more calories when taking MCT oil compared to taking other fats. MCTs also have a beneficial effect on hormones, including those that control appetite.
So are you now psyched up and ready to get a bottle of MCT oil? Here’s what you need to know so you get what’s best for you. There are 4 medium chain triglycerides and they have different virtues:
- Caproic acid (C6) – converts quickly to ketone bodies but can cause gastric distress
- Caprylic acid (C8) – of the MCTs metabolizes the most quickly to the brain (key for that brain boost effect) and has antimicrobial properties good for the gut
- Capric acid (C10) – doesn’t convert to ketone bodies as quickly as C6 or C8 but can be less expensive
- Lauric acid (C12) – chemists and biochemists disagree on whether lauric is actually an MCT. It takes longer to convert to energy because it has to go through the liver.
A word about coconut oil: You will find much written about coconut oil as MCT. The “problem” with coconut oil, though, is that the MCTs account for only 60% of the oil’s content; the rest is long chain triglycerides. Moreover, the lauric acid, which does not create energy the way the other MCTs do, makes up more than half of the MCT content in coconut oil. While coconut oil is healthy, it is not going to provide you the energy you want the way the isolated MCT oils can.
So to get the most out of an MCT oil, you will want to find one that has mostly caprylic (C8) or capric (C10) acid. You will find on the market MCT oils with varying percentages of each acid. Some manufacturers provide formulations containing only caprylic acid.
In addition to considering the percentage of the various MCTs in the oil, you should also pay close attention to how the MCT oil is derived. Both coconut and palm oil are used for extracting MCT oils. Palm oil production is linked to numerous environmental issues so you should look for an MCT oil derived from coconut oil. Also, look for a brand that does not use solvents, specifically Hexane, for isolating the MCTs.
A few other things to know before you rush out to get MCT oil. Various people have reported unpleasant side effects, such as a racing heart, diarrhea, and light headedness. Some attribute the side effects to dosage or the formulation of the oil (which MCTs are in it and how was it produced – ones produced without solvents are believed to have fewer side effects). People with diabetes or liver problems should talk to their doctor before starting to use an MCT oil.
One last note, human breast milk has MCTs as does infant formula. Think of all the energy (physical and brain) that babies need! That says something!
Here at Fit and Psyched located at 1177 Clare Ave. Unit 2, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401, we offer nutritional advice as well as small group training and one on one training. So if you’re considering personal training in West Palm Beach and prefer a private, clean, unintimidating atmosphere then call 561-223-1112 and speak with Dave or Amy Melnicoff to set up your free, no pressure consultation. You can also go to our site and fill out your consultation request there.
