MCT coconut oil is a kind of fat extracted from medium-chain triglycerides and used as a supplement. Medium-chain triglycerides are a kind of fat found in certain oils and dairy products.
This oil is a supplement that contains these fatty acids. The usage of it is frequently recommended in various publications.
They claim that it may assist individuals in reducing weight. It also has a variety of other benefits, according to the publications.
However, this article looks at the health benefits of it, as supported by scientific research.
MCTs
This wonderful oil is also known as medium-chain triglycerides, has been used since ancient times to help with weight reduction and improve exercise performance. It is a dietary supplement derived from coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and dairy products.
MCT oils are most often used to lose weight or enhance muscle endurance during exercise. Supporters also say it can enhance thinking and aid with various dementia-related symptoms.
What exactly are these fatty triglycerides, and how do they differ from other fats?
Fats are molecules composed of chains of carbon atoms, with most fats in a person’s diet made up of 13 to 21 such atoms. These are referred to as long-chain fatty acids.
On the other hand, short-chain fatty acids have less than 6 carbon atoms in their composition. MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides) are a form of fat found in the center of the two other types.
Coconut oil is high in medium-chain triglycerides, distinctly processed by the body to long-chain fatty acids. Unlike other fats, they are quickly transported to the liver via the gastrointestinal tract.
They are burned for energy, converted to ketones, or utilized as a source of energy from there. Ketones are by-products formed when the body metabolizes a large amount of fat, and they can be utilized as a substitute source of energy by the brain instead of glucose or sugar.
They are digested and burned more quickly than other fats, so they are less likely to be deposited as body fat. This concept is at the center of the ketogenic diet, which individuals believe is successful in losing weight.
MCT oil vs coconut oil
Coconut oil combines saturated, monosaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The saturated fatty acids include seven different fatty acids in various proportions: caproic, caprylic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic.
Lauric acid (C12) is coconut oil’s most abundant fatty acid, accounting for 6% of the overall content. However, lauric acid may be a medium-chain or long-chain triglyceride, even though it has only 12 carbon atoms and is similarly absorbed during digestion to long-chain triglycerides.
The majority of the medium-chain triglycerides are absorbed directly into the portal vein during digestion. On the other hand, taking coconut oil cannot be regarded as the same as taking MCT oil.
In actuality, taking medium-chain triglycerides would include a significant amount of long-chain triglycerides in your diet, which may not be the goal of your intended nutrition plan.
The MCT content of each product makes the ultimate difference between MCT oil and coconut oil. MCT oil from nuts is produced from unrefined and nutritious coconut oil.
It contains the medium-chain triglycerides in their purest form instead of other sources.
MCT Coconut oil benefits
When ingested as part of a diet, it has a long list of health advantages and may be utilized in skincare and cosmetics. It has antimicrobial properties, which means it may be used in various settings.
It can also make laundry detergent and hand soap because of its antibacterial properties. It has several applications beyond its appearance.
It’s excellent for use around the home, among other things. It can be used as carrier oil in essential oil diffusers, as a polisher for furniture, and make homemade hand soap or laundry detergent when combined with lye.
Let’s look at a few of the many ways it may help you live a healthy life:
Better brain and memory performance
The Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Discovery Foundation has studied the advantages and drawbacks of MCTs in terms of brain and memory performance, as well as their possible benefits for persons with Alzheimer’s disease.
What, then, is the extent of the evidence supporting MCT’s health benefits? A 2016 study found that the uptake of ketones in people with Alzheimer’s disease was comparable to that seen in healthy individuals.
In individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, the brain’s glucose uptake was slower than in healthy people. The researchers also discovered that ketosis might help with thinking ability in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
When the brain uses ketones rather than glucose as an energy source, it is known as ketosis. However, an initial study is encouraging, and MCTs’ use in this area is gaining popularity.
Lowered blood sugar levels
MCTs may also aid in lowering blood sugar levels and potentially play a role in diabetes management. According to 2007 research, MCT improved diabetes risk factors, such as insulin resistance, in a small group of individuals with type 2 diabetes.
It is not recommended for cooking since it has a high smoke point, making it hazardous when exposed to extreme heat. Instead, you should use solid coconut oil.
MCTs produced from dietary sources, and it might have certain health advantages. However, it is crucial to note that fats are consumed when a person consumes these.
It supplements increase the quantity of fats and calories consumed in the body. As a result, taking too much of it may be ineffective and cause weight gain.
It supplements are made from food oils, and as a result, they aren’t considered a natural product. It’s worth noting that it has a low smoking point, so it’s not suitable for cooking.
Hence, solid coconut oil, high in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), can be used in cooking and substituted for olive oil or other cooking oils.
It could assist with weight loss
It may assist promote the release of hormones that make you feel satisfied, which might aid in weight loss. In a study published in the Journal of Obesity, it may help promote modest weight loss.
However, more study is needed on a larger scale to determine how effective it is and how much is required to maintain a healthy weight.
It could improve athletic performance
According to research, MCT increased the amount of oxygen consumed by the mice while running on a treadmill at normal or high temperatures. Mice that ate a diet with MCT performed better than those who ate a regular diet.
The MCT-fed mice ran for almost twice as long in the higher temperature setting. The findings of this same research agreed with a previous study that found that a combination of MCT improved body weight, right-hand grip strength, walking speed, and more in older people over a three-month trial.
However, because there was no MCT-only group in the study, the researchers could not determine how much of a role MCT plays in muscular strength and function.
Increased endurance and energy boost
The health benefits are wide-ranging, but one claim is that it may help to improve endurance and energy for high-intensity activities. According to researchers, MCT oil is a type of saturated fat shown to improve athletic performance.
According to 2009 research, eating foods high in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) rather than longer-chain fats improved recreational athletes’ endurance capacity. This research is encouraging, but it isn’t enough to say for sure that MCTs can improve exercise endurance, as a 2010 study points out.
Lowered cholesterol
MCTs may also play a role in heart health protection by lowering cholesterol. According to a 2009 study, coconut oil consumption decreased harmful cholesterol and boosted good ones in women at 40.
It was compared to soybean oil and consumed together with a calorie-restricted diet. Their presence is high in MCTs present in coconut oil, which has been shown to lower cholesterol levels.
Smart Cream Coconut Creamer
Smart Cream Coconut Creamer surpasses all expectations about value and quality. Medicinal Foods’ MCT Coconut Creamer is produced from pure cold-pressed organic coconuts, similar to many of the top supplements.
This creamer is one of the best brands available on the market. The product is extremely recommended to increase your energy or fat-burning capacity before or after a workout.
It is also one of the few organic oils products that you can put your trust in. It’s a 100 percent caprylic acid triglyceride supplement derived from coconut oil.
The product improves brain functions and the production of ketones in your body. The product can keep you focused for longer hours, enhance your attention, and aid the digestive system.
Smart Cream Coconut Creamer effectively enhances your brain and body with energy. Try this high-quality MCT oil product today to see how it works.
Conclusion
This kind of oil has a lot of health benefits, both when consumed in food or used as a cosmetic product. However, note that it must be consumed in moderation.
To avoid elevating your risk of heart disease, health experts advise restricting your intake to modest amounts. It’s worth remembering that eating MCT coconut oil from food sources might provide nutritional value, just like taking MCT supplements.
