5 Things You Need to Know About MCT Oil

If you keep up with health and wellness trends, you've likely noticed the hype around MCT oil. As with a lot of vitamins and supplements, it can be difficult to look past the trendiness of a product and understand what it really does. However, if you spend a little time researching MCT oil, you'll quickly be able to see all the benefits the oil offers.

First off, you need to know what exactly MCT oil is. MCT refers to a medium-chain triglyceride, a type of fat that digests much easier than common fats known as long-chain triglycerides. What else do you need to know if you're considering using MCT oil? The following list can help you determine whether or not MCT oil is worth trying.

1. What Are the Types of MCTs?

MCTs are essentially small molecules of saturated fat. The average saturated fat, found in common cooking ingredients like butter and oil, are known as long-chain triglycerides (LCTs). Because MCTs are smaller than LCTs, the body breaks down and metabolizes these fat molecules at a faster rate.

Most MCT oil sold as a supplement is derived from coconut oil and palm oil. When the oil is refined, only pure MCT particles are extracted, ensuring that you get pure MCTs without any LCTs. Within the umbrella of MCTs, there are different categories of MCTs based on the length of the fatty acid chain. These classifications include: caproic acid (six carbon atoms), caprylic acid (8), capric acid (10), and lauric acid (12).

2. How Does MCT Oil Work?

The smaller size of MCTs allows the body to break down and absorb the molecules faster than LCTs. Unlike LCTs, MCTs quickly move to the liver, which metabolizes the molecules and turns them into ketones that are rapidly used for fuel rather than being stored in the body. In other words, how MCT oil works is by helping the body burn fat fast.

3. Can MCT Oils Affect Workouts?

If used before or after a workout, MCT oil has numerous benefits. When taken before exercise, MCT oil has been known to help reduce lactate buildup in the body, increasing your performance. MCTs increase the body's ability to burn fat and convert it into energy, which can help with weight loss. Plus, when it comes to your workout routine, you can easily replace carb-loading with using MCT oil.

4. What Are the Long-Term Benefits of MCT Oil?

In addition to helping you burn fat quickly, using MCT oils can have positive long-term effects. Studies show that MCT oil may:

Help Manage Epilepsy– Fasting and ketone production can help reduce the risk of epileptic seizures.
Help Improve Brain Function and Prevent Alzheimer's Disease– MCT oil has been known to help improve mental function and block receptors that induce the loss of memory.
Promote a Healthy Heart and Lower Cholesterol– MCTs help to lower "bad" cholesterol and have also been linked to reducing C-reactive proteins. This helps prevent inflammation and protect the heart from heart disease.
Helps Maintain Blood Sugar Levels– Because MCTs help break down sugars in the body, they have been linked to helping maintain a healthy blood sugar level.

5. Where to Find MCT Oil

You can find MCT oil in a variety of locations. As MCT oil has become increasingly popular, many grocery stores and health stores carry MCT oils and powders. You can also find MCT oil through numerous online retailers.

MCT For Better Health

If you want to start focusing on your health and well being, incorporating MCT oil use into your routine is a great place to start. The oil has both short-term and long-term benefits that can help you radically transform your life. Now that you understand MCT oil better, you can talk to your doctor about implementing the oils and changing your diet. It may be just the change you need.