Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) are certainly a hot topic in the health and wellness space these days. Perhaps you’ve heard of people putting MCT into coffee, smoothies, or just using it by itself, with the goal of enhancing energy, cognition, and performance.
Of course, just because people are using MCT, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily effective. And there certainly are differences in overall quality and effectiveness among the different MCT products out there.
So, in this review, we’ll go over a supplement called Performance Lab MCT to see what benefits it may have, what ingredients it includes, and if it is a superior MCT supplement.
Ready to find out if this supplement is worth adding to your routine? Let’s dive into this Performance lab MCT Oil review!
About Performance Lab MCT Oil
According to Performance Lab, not all MCT products are created equal. And they say that their Performance Lab MCT supplement is the ultimate MCT Oil product thanks to the inclusion of only C8 and C10 MCTs, sourced from 100% organic and non-GMO coconuts.
Plus, they use a cold-extraction, hexane-free technology and distillation process to give you the purest product possible.
As a result, Performance Lab MCT Oil is designed to be the cleanest, fastest-acting performance MCT fuel out there, giving users quick and effective energy to tackle whatever the day brings.
Performance Lab MCT Oil Benefits
There are a number of proposed benefits of Performance Lab MCT Oil, some related to health benefits and others related to product design in general.
The main listed benefits of Performance Lab MCT Oil are:
- Enhanced Brain and Cognitive Function
- Increased Energy
- Better Exercise Performance
- Fat Loss Support
- High Potency and Digestibility
Enhanced Brain and Cognitive Function
The specific combo of C8/10 MCTs in Performance Lab MCT is designed to be rapidly absorbed and cross the blood-brain barrier, leading to fast-acting fuel for cognitive function. Plus, it is designed to optimize mitochondrial function in the brain for higher energy while also offering neuroprotective effects.
Increased Energy
Performance Lab MCT is also advertised to increase overall energy levels by acting as a quick-release energy source that gets delivered to all areas of the body, leading to better physical and mental performance.
Better Exercise Performance
Performance Lab MCT is also promoted to improve exercise performance, particularly high-intensity exercise or when exercising in a fasted state. The MCTs in here are designed to give the brain and body valuable fuel when it needs it most, decreasing the risk of becoming depleted.
Fat Loss Support
The MCTs in here are also designed to aid fat loss by increasing satiety and energy expenditure. Plus, they say that Performance Lab MCT Oil is useful when on a ketogenic diet or when fasting to provide energy when you need it most, while still keeping the pounds off.
High Potency and Digestibility
Lastly, Performance Lab claims that the specific combo of C8 and C10 MCTs are more potent and easier to digest compared to traditional coconut oil or different forms of MCTs (e.g., C6, C12). This leads to less digestive distress and better results.
At first glance, Performance Lab MCT Oil seems like it may be one of the top MCT products out there.
But is it actually superior for energy, brain health, performance, and more? Read on to find out.
Performance Lab MCT Oil Ingredients
Technically, the only ingredient in Performance Lab MCT Oil is organic MCT Oil derived from non-GMO organic coconuts. In each serving (1 tablespoon), there are 130 calories and 14g of fat, all of which is saturated fat.
C8/C10 MCT
As you can see, what makes Performance Lab MCT Oil different than some other products is that they only include C8 (caprylic acid) and C10 (capric acid) MCTs. And these are sources from 100% organic, non-GMO coconuts.
C8 and C10 have been shown to be more readily absorbed compared to other forms of MCT, such as C6 and C12.
In general, MCT act as an energy source for the brain and body, and they are pretty rapidly absorbed compared to other fats.
There are also a few researched benefits of MCT.
For example, some evidence shows that MCT is more satiating than other fats and can reduce energy intake, which may help with weight loss. Plus, MCT can enhance ketogenesis and may increase the benefits of fasting and keto diets for weight loss.
Also, some studies show that MCT can enhance exercise performance, particularly when on low-carb diets because MCT acts as a readily available fuel source. But it really isn’t conclusive.
Perhaps the best potential benefit of MCT is on brain function and cognitive performance. Many studies have shown the benefits of MCT on cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients and elderly people, likely due to its ability to be used efficiently by the brain and to protect against oxidative stress.
And a recent study in healthy people found that a mixture of C8/C10 MCT significantly improved cognitive function compared to placebo.
Lastly, MCT can benefit the gut by positively altering the gut microbiota content, which may lead to improved digestion, immunity, and other health benefits.
Does Performance Lab MCT Oil Work?
Altogether, Performance Lab MCT Oil is likely a solid MCT supplement.
It includes a solid dosage backed by research and includes C8 and C10, which are proven to be more readily absorbed and have more health benefits compared to other MCT forms.
While there ideally needs to be more research, there still is a decent amount of evidence showing that MCT can aid weight loss, improve cognitive function, enhance gut health, and possibly increase exercise performance. But most of the time, this is when people are on low-carb diets or during fasting. The benefits aren’t as great when people use MCT along traditional diets.
Claims vs. Reality
It’s important to know that Performance Lab MCT Oil likely won’t produce any drastic changes in your energy levels, physical and mental performance, or anything else.
But for people on low-carb diets and/or fasting protocols, you could very well see some pretty decent benefits from Performance Lab MCT.
It is likely that you’ll see a boost in brain power and cognitive function, an increase in ketosis, and possible greater energy levels, especially if you take it while fasted.
It also may improve exercise performance if you’re on a low-carb diet or are going into a workout fasted.
But for people who consume enough calories and aren’t on a low-carb diet, the benefits of Performance Lab MCT are much less impressive.
Who is Performance Lab MCT Oil Best For?
With all of this considered, Performance Lab MCT Oil is best for people who are on low-carb, keto, and/or fasting-based diets, and who want increased energy, performance, brain power, etc. MCT simply just works better in these situations compared to other diets/lifestyles.
Is Performance Lab MCT Oil Safe?
In general, MCT are safe to consume. But here are some possible side effects from taking Performance Lab MCT Oil:
- Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach discomfort, and other digestive symptoms
- Irritability
- Essential fatty acid deficiency (if MCT are the only or predominant fat source used)
Also, Performance Lab MCT is USDA-certified organic, non-GMO project verified, vegan approved by the Vegetarian Society.
Plus, it is caffeine-free, soy-free, gluten-free, non-irradiated, free of synthetic additives, and made in a GMP-certified facility.
How to Take Performance Lab MCT Oil
The serving size of Performance Lab MCT Oil is 1 tablespoon. You can take it directly, or mix it into coffee, shakes, smoothies, drinks, dressings, soups, or sauces.
If looking to enhance exercise performance, take it 30 minutes beforehand.
For use during a ketogenic diet, take one serving with meals and at bedtime.
And if using during intermittent fasting, take 1 serving every 3 hours, up to 3 times per day.
Where to Buy Performance Lab MCT Oil
You can buy Performance Lab MCT right on the Performance Lab website at this product link.
Each bottle has 31 servings (31 tablespoons). You can buy 1, 2, or 3 bottles at a time, although if you buy 3 bottles, you get a fourth bottle for free.
Performance Lab MCT Oil Pricing:
- 1 Bottle – $39.00 ($1.26/serving)
- 2 Bottles – $78.00 ($1.26/serving)
- 3 Bottles + 1 Free Bottle – $117.00 ($0.94/serving)
Overall, the pricing is pretty fair and right in line with most MCT oil products (generally around a buck per serving).
There also is a 30-Day Performance Promise, in which you can return the product for a full refund after 30 days if you’re not satisfied with the results.
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Out of all of the MCT supplements out there, Performance Lab MCT Oil is likely at the top due to its effective dosage and optimal C8/C10 MCT formula. That’s why we recommend buying this MCT product, especially if you’re anyone who wants to enhance the effects of ketosis, low-carb diets, fasting, and/or fasted exercise.
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