MCT Oil, or medium-chain triglycerides, has surged in popularity among athletes, bodybuilders, and fitness enthusiasts in recent years. This specialized healthy fat is primarily recognized for its weight loss benefits. However, MCT oil offers numerous advantages and continues gaining traction in the wellness community. If you’re curious about MCT and wondering how it might benefit you, keep reading—we’ll explore exactly that!
This article covers what MCT (and MCT oil) is, how it functions, the benefits of MCT oil, potential side effects, and recommended brands worth considering. So, let’s dive in!
What Is MCT Oil?
MCT oil is a supplement containing concentrated amounts of MCTs. To understand its function, we must first grasp what MCT is. Medium-chain triglycerides, or MCTs, are fats composed of smaller molecules compared to long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), the type found in most foods.
Because MCTs are smaller than LCTs, they’re easily absorbed into the bloodstream and rapidly converted into energy. This means MCTs won’t accumulate in our bodies as stored fat (unless consumed excessively). While we can obtain MCTs from food and supplements like coconut oil, MCT oils provide concentrated doses of these beneficial fats.
Though both contain MCTs, coconut oil and MCT oil differ significantly. For concentrated MCT intake, MCT oil proves the superior choice.
How Does MCT Oil Work?
Due to their shorter chain length, MCTs are easily metabolized and quickly utilized as energy. This prevents MCTs from being stored as body fat, avoiding weight or fat level increases.
MCTs also convert readily into ketones—fatty substances produced when the liver breaks down substantial fat amounts, typically occurring when carbohydrate intake is low. As ketones, MCTs can travel to your brain and serve as an alternative energy source.
Note: While our brain prefers glucose as fuel, ketones serve as excellent alternatives when carbs are limited—such as during low-carb diets.
Benefits Of MCT Oil
While MCTs and MCT oil are best known for supporting weight loss, they offer several additional benefits. Here are the five main advantages of MCT oil.
1) Aids In Weight Loss
As mentioned, MCT is renowned for promoting weight loss, so let’s examine how it accomplishes this.
MCT supports weight loss through several mechanisms:
- MCTs contain approximately 10% fewer calories than LCTs.
- MCTs trigger release of satiety hormones: leptin and peptide YY.
- On low-carb, high-fat diets (like ketogenic), MCT oil promotes fullness despite minimal carb consumption, helping maintain the fat-burning state of ketosis.
- MCTs are readily used for energy, preventing storage as body fat (unless consumed excessively).
MCTs promote weight loss by creating satiety while consuming minimal carbs. This fullness despite low carb intake activates ketosis and helps sustain this fat-burning process.
2) Helps Reduce Risk Of Heart Disease
Excess weight and unhealthy cholesterol levels rank among the primary heart disease risk factors. Therefore, maintaining healthy weight and cholesterol levels should be priorities for cardiovascular health.
MCTs and supplements like MCT oil benefit heart health by supporting weight loss. Beyond weight management, MCT also helps regulate cholesterol levels.
Several studies demonstrate that MCT oil can reduce LDL or “bad” cholesterol when added to your diet. More importantly, MCT oil can increase HDL or “good” cholesterol, as additional research confirms!
3) Helpful For People With Diabetes
Obesity is a major diabetes risk factor, which explains why most people with type 2 diabetes are obese or overweight. Excess weight complicates diabetes management by impairing insulin response—the hormone that regulates blood sugar and enables energy utilization.
Reducing body fat improves insulin sensitivity, making diabetes more manageable. MCT oils assist people with diabetes by supporting weight and fat loss.
For type 1 diabetics, MCT oil can enhance cognitive function by supplying ketones to the brain (from converted MCTs). Since the body cannot process sugar properly due to insufficient insulin, and glucose is the brain’s preferred fuel, ketones provide an effective alternative energy source.
4) Can Support Brain Health For People With Alzheimer’s Disease
Certain neurological diseases impair the brain’s ability to utilize glucose as fuel. Alzheimer’s disease exemplifies this condition.
When the brain cannot properly use glucose, it lacks adequate fuel to function optimally.
MCT oil supports brain health by helping produce ketones that serve as alternative brain fuel. For example, one study found that a single MCT dose improved short-term cognition in Alzheimer’s patients. However, this study focused on people with a specific gene type: APOE Ã4-negative.
While MCT oil shows promise for Alzheimer’s support, more research is needed to confirm and establish the full scope of its effects.
Many individuals without Alzheimer’s also use MCT oil to boost focus and mental energy.
5) Can Help Ease Seizures
Adding MCT to your system boosts ketone production because they convert more readily to ketones than other fatty acids. Research demonstrates that increased ketone production can reduce epileptic seizure frequency.
However, the specific MCT type matters for this application. According to one study, capric acid MCT provided better seizure control than anti-epileptic medication.
For children with seizure disorders, MCTs can prove beneficial when they don’t respond well to high-fat content such as LCTs.
Is MCT Oil Safe?
MCT oil works well for most people. However, avoid excessive consumption. Overconsumption may cause these side effects:
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
- Gas
- Stomach pain
- Cramps
- Vomiting
If you experience any of these symptoms, reduce your intake or discontinue use entirely.
Recommended MCT Oil Brands
If you want to try MCT oil supplements but don’t know which brand to choose, we’ve got you covered! Here are our recommended brands:
1. Bulletproof Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil
Bulletproof Brain Octane Oil tops our list with an impressive 4.4/5 Amazon star rating from over 12,000 reviewers! This sugar-free MCT oil supplement promotes sustained fullness and focus while supporting digestive health. It’s both keto and paleo friendly.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON BULLETPROOF BRAIN OCTANE C8 MCT OIL2. Nature’s Way Organic MCT Oil
Need to stay budget-conscious? Nature’s Way organic MCT Oil delivers excellent results without breaking the bank! Priced at $13.19, this affordable option provides 14 grams of medium chain triglycerides per serving. It mixes easily into smoothies, coffee, or other beverages.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON NATURE’S WAY ORGANIC MCT OIL3. Kiss My Keto MCT Oil Capsules
From the makers of Kiss My Keto Exogenous Ketones comes Kiss My Keto MCT Oil Capsules. These naturally sourced capsules use unrefined coconut from non-GMO coconuts. They support energy levels and mental clarity while promoting ketosis for the ketogenic diet. If you prefer consuming MCT oil in pill form, this could be your ideal choice.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON KISS MY KETO MCT OIL CAPSULES4. Perfect Keto MCT Oil C8 Powder
Want to add MCT to your smoothie or coffee? Consider this powdered MCT oil supplement! Perfect Keto MCT Oil Powder contains 10,000mg of medium chain triglycerides, 7g of fat, and 3g of carbohydrates per serving. It’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and keto/paleo friendly.
USE CODE “FITNESSCLONE” FOR 15% OFF PERFECT KETO MCT OIL C8 POWDER5. Nutiva Organic MCT Oil
If organic is your top priority, consider Nutiva Organic MCT Oil! This unflavored MCT oil boasts the highest available potency at 93% medium chain triglycerides. Made from 100% organic coconuts, it provides 13g MCTs per serving.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON NUTIVA ORGANIC MCT OIL6. Natural Force Best Value Premium MCT Oil
If you prefer no taste or aftertaste, consider Natural Force Best Value Premium MCT Oil! This supplement targets brain health and weight loss. Sourced directly from organic, non-GMO coconuts, it’s paleo, vegan, and kosher friendly. Each serving contains 14g MCTs and 130 calories.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON NATURAL FORCE BEST VALUE PREMIUM MCT OILFinal Verdict: It’s Time To Give MCT Oil A Try
While popular among bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts, MCT Oil can benefit anyone, regardless of fitness level. These medium-chain triglycerides enhance various bodily functions and improve overall health status.
