MCT Oil - Properties and Uses

MCT Oil - Properties and Uses

What is MCT oil? What is its use? What effect does it have on our body?

The abbreviation MCT (medium chain triglycerides) stands for medium chain fatty acids. In recent years, it has become very popular, especially among athletes and bodybuilders. Interestingly, many people associate MCT oil mainly with coconut oil - and rightly so, because it constitutes over 60% of its nutritional value, but it is worth knowing that it can also be found in palm oil and dairy products.

Unlike other fats, after consumption it goes straight from the intestines to the liver, so the calories contained in MCT oil are used almost immediately and are not "stored" as fat tissue. Because MCT oil easily enters cells (without being broken down), it can be used as a direct source of energy [1] . It has also been shown that MCT oil promotes the release of hormones responsible for the feeling of satiety in the body: peptide YY and leptin [2] , so it is perfect for people who want to lose a few extra pounds. Importantly, MCT oil does not increase the level of total cholesterol in the blood.

Now let's get to the most important question: why should MCT oil be included in your diet?

• An MCT oil-based meal will keep you feeling full for longer, giving you the energy to train harder. It is also a great alternative to a snack made of simple carbohydrates, which, although it will initially give you a “kick”, may not maintain your energy level at the expected level. There are studies that confirm the effectiveness of MCT oil in relation to training efficiency. Dr. Naohisa Nosaka and other scientists concluded that recreational athletes were able to perform high-intensity exercises for longer after consuming foods rich in MCT oil [3] .
• MCT oil can be very helpful in weight loss – it has thermogenic properties (which is why it has a positive effect on weight loss), suppresses appetite, and helps optimize the growth of good bacteria in the intestines [4] . A great pre-workout “meal” based on MCT oil can be bulletproof coffee, which will give you a sense of satiety and energy for a longer period of time (especially if you don’t like breakfast). You can find the recipe for bulletproof coffee HERE .
• MCT oil contains fatty acids that fight the growth of yeast and bacteria. It has also been shown to have antimicrobial and antifungal properties [5] due to the caprylic, lauric and decanoic acids it contains.
• It is one of the basic ingredients for people on a ketogenic diet. Consuming MCT oil helps you enter ketosis faster, and therefore quickly increase the amount of ketones in the body.
• A growing body of research suggests that MCT oil may be helpful in improving mental abilities as well as combating the effects of diseases such as Alzheimer's.

So if you haven't used MCT oil-based products before, it's worth taking an interest in this topic, especially if the effect can be to improve your health and workout effectiveness!

[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27080715/

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4192077/

[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19436137/

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4882694/

[5] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24328700/

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