MCT Oil
What It Is and How to Use It for Max Effectiveness
Have you noticed MCT oil popping up on the labels of many health and beauty items? Once you learn all of the amazing potential benefits you may not be surprised to see this powerful oil added to your coffee creamer or moisturizer.
Come with us as we explore what MCT oil is, how it's made, and the potential health benefits it may provide.
What Is MCT Oil?
MCT Oil is a supplement made up of medium-chain triglycerides. This oil is thought to have many potential health benefits including supporting skin health, maintaining brain function, supporting a healthy metabolism and blood sugar levels, and maintaining energy levels.
MCT oil has been popular among some athletes but has grown in popularity with the rise of certain diets like the keto diet. You can find MCT oil alone or added to different health and wellness products, and it can be mixed into everything from coffee to salad dressings to homemade keto fat bombs.
With MCT oil’s low smoke point, it is best to avoid using it around heat sources, like when cooking. It’s great to add to warm drinks, however.
What Are Medium-Chain Triglycerides?
There are two types of triglycerides, long-chain triglycerides (LCT) and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). Triglyceride is simply a technical name for a type of fat. The difference between the two is that MCTs are easier for the body to break down and absorb because they are made with shorter chains.
MCTs are sent straight to your liver to be used as a source of energy or turned into ketones, which can provide an energy source for the brain. MCTs are also used more quickly than LCTs, so they are less likely to build up and be stored as body fat.
Where Does MCT Oil Come From?
Coconut oil is usually used to extract MCT oil. Coconut oil is used because it is one of the highest natural sources of MCT oil. To make a concentrated MCT oil for a supplement, coconut oil is put through a process called fractionation.
Foods such as avocados, olive oil, and beef tallow all contain MCT oils naturally, but they are not in a concentrated form.
Is MCT Oil the Same as Coconut Oil?
While MCT oil is often made from coconut oil, they are not the same. Coconut oil includes LCTs and unsaturated fats, while MCT oil doesn't. Coconut oil offers its own potential benefits separate from those of concentrated MCT oils.
How Should You Use MCT Oil?
MCT oil is both tasteless and odorless, making it super easy to add to your morning smoothie or nut butter. You can also add it to your morning coffee. With our Superfood Creamer it’s easy to add a boost of nutrition to your cup of joe.
Our Superfood Creamer is made with coconut milk and MCT oil, so it’s full of healthy fats and antioxidants — and none of the dairy or added sugars found in many creamers.
What Are the Potential Health Benefits of MCT Oil?
MCT oil may be an easy way to incorporate added health benefits into your daily routine. Here are some of the amazing potential health benefits you may experience with MCT oil.
Support Brain Function
While the brain gains most of its energy from glucose, ketones are also incredibly helpful for the brain. The brain struggles with extracting energy from fatty acids, but it is better able to get that energy from ketones. Ketones may support mitochondrial function and reduce inflammation in brain cells
Support Skin Health
People have used coconut oil as a moisturizer for thousands of years. Now, more and more companies are including MCT oil in their skincare products for added moisturizing and potential antioxidant benefits. It has also been shown to be non-toxic in tests to date.
Support Healthy Weight
Supporting weight management can be achieved in part by the foods you eat and your activity levels. MCT oil may be a beneficial addition to your diet to support a healthy weight, though it is high in saturated fat.
Some people believe that a benefit of MCT oil may be its ability to increase peptide YY and leptin, the two hormones responsible for satiety or fullness.
Some also believe MCT oil supports weight loss by reducing body weight and fat storage. They believe it helps through its ability to increase energy expenditure and oxidize fat.
Support Keto Diet
The keto diet is a strict diet plan that focuses on counting macros — fat, carbs, and protein. The goal is to reduce your carbohydrates to switch your body into ketosis. Once in ketosis, your body can use ketones as energy, potentially improving fat-burning.
In this diet, it is important to eat high levels of healthy fat and moderate protein. It is thought that MCT oil may help you stay in ketosis.
Maintain Energy Levels
With our busy lives, who wouldn’t welcome an energy boost? Some people believe that MCT oil can help promote feelings of energy.
Because MCT has medium-chain fatty acids, they are easier to break down, moving quickly to the liver. Cells can use this type of fatty acid to support mitochondria energy production.
Support Digestion Health
Not only are MCT oils potentially easier to digest because of their shorter fatty acid chains, but they can also help support the gut microbiome.
Supporting the gut microbiome can help with weight management, metabolic function, gut health, and heart health.
Are There Any Risks to Using MCT Oil?
Like any supplement, it is best to start incorporating it into your diet slowly to eliminate any adverse reactions or catch them early on. Some side effects can include nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting. Although these reactions are possible, they are more common when taking a larger dose of MCT oil. If you want just the right amount of MCT oil to feel the benefits without the side effects, turn to our Superfood Creamer with MCT Oil and Coconut Milk.
If you have any preexisting health conditions, you should always speak to your doctor before you begin any dietary changes or add any new additions to your diet.
The Bottom Line
MCT oil is becoming a popular supplement for its potential health and beauty benefits. Made by extracting the medium-chain triglycerides from coconut oil, it is easy to add high-quality MCT oil to your diet because it is odorless and tasteless. Our Superfood Creamer is an easy and delicious way to incorporate the benefits of MCT oil into your morning cup o’ Joe.
MCT oil has become increasingly more popular to study because of its boost in popularity. Many people add this oil to their diet because of the potential benefits to brain function, skin health, weight management, energy, and digestion health. It may also be a key to a successful low-carb diet like the paleo or keto diet.
Bringing you delicious, health-forward foods in a super convenient way is the goal of Kroma Wellness. We keep our finger on the pulse of all things health and wellness.
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