Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) might be a new name to you. It is a kind of fat largely found in oils.
MCT fats are found in regular coconut oil, palm oil, and dairy. Also, the MCT compound is present in numerous food items and they are known to aid digestion more smoothly.
Most athletes and trainers use Mcts as supplements in abundance. These supplements lend numerous health benefits to the body.
Here are a few benefits of MCT oils that may have positive effects on our health.
Benefits Of MCT Oil
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Helps In Weight Loss
MCT oil is highlighted mostly because of its positive effects on weight loss.
According to a study[1] if a person consumes MCT oil in their meal they would consume few calories in comparison to other oils.
The triglycerides and glucose present in the MCTs make your appetite full with less food. And since you are full of less food then you don’t try to overeat.
Hence, Mcts helps you control the portion of your meals. In addition, the metabolic process known as thermogenesis that burns calories in your body is also boosted by the usage of MCTs.
Hence, when you lose calories automatically you shed those extra kilos too.
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Helps In Improving Heart Health
Since we are aware of the presence of saturated fat in the MCT oil. In addition, MCT oil controls the weight of your body.
Both the above factors directly prevent many risks which cause heart diseases. Saturated fats have a role to play in maintaining lipid profiles normal.
If your cholesterol and lipid profiles are normal then you are at lower risk of developing heart disease. Hence, MCT oil is known to be healthy for maintaining heart health.
According to a study[2]using MCT oil with other beneficial oils may reduce cholesterol levels more quickly.
MCT oil may also support the production of heart-protective HDL (good) cholesterol at a higher rate.
Reduction of C-reactive protein (CRP) which is known as a red flag for heart risk is possible with the usage of MCT oil.
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May Boost Up Your Energy
MCTs are loaded with carbons and have less chain of fatty acids. This makes them faster in reaching the cells for an instant source of energy.
Now MCT oils in your food could be the hidden gem for your active body the whole day.
Even the supplements made using MCT oil claim to provide energy while working out high-intensity exercises.
Not only the supplements but you could also eat the food items which have MCTs in their ingredients.
Although, we can’t comment firmly on the fact that MCTs are the right choice to improve your workout energy. Yet we could give it a try.
According to a study[3]of MCTs behaving as ketones in your liver. Ketones are known as the provider of energy in the brain cells.
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Your Blood Sugar Levels Could Be Maintained
Eating food containing MCT oil may help you in your diabetic journey.
The MCT oil is used to lessen the fat burning and storing capacity that helps in sugar levels normal in diabetic patients.
With MCT oil, your weight is controlled and hence you are at lower risk of developing anything negative. It could[4]also reduce the insulin requirement in your body.
In addition, based on a study diabetic patients using MCT oil and other patient using other oil showed major differences in their blood sugar levels.
Although, you couldn’t ensure the reduction in your blood sugar levels with MCT oil.
But the right food and the prevention from harmful items may maintain your blood sugar levels healthy.
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Boosts The Functioning Of The Brain And Memory
It is also said that Alzheimer’s disease could be improved by MCT oils.
The effects on ketones by MCT oil usage is the prime reason for making people better with Alzheimer’s disease.
Plus since ketones are used as the energy source by brain cells. You may[5]have better brain health with improved memory functioning.
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It Could Fight Back Against Yeast And Bacterial Growth
The high amount of fatty acids present in the Mcts helps keep the yeast and bacteria away. Also, MCTs are considered to have antimicrobial and antifungal effects in them.
Various skin infections and irritations come from a certain kind of yeast. The coconut oils and MCTs could make the growth of yeast less.
In addition, the bacteria which may[6]cause the disease are controlled using coconut oil in abundance.
It is said that due to the caprylic, capric, and lauric acid in MCTs the risks attached with the yeast and bacterial growth lower down.
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It Is Helpful In A Keto Diet
Although, you could utilize the MCT oil in your regular diet. But the features of MCT oil possess a significant option to be added to the keto diet.
The high ketone production in MCT oil makes them a prominent item to use in the ketogenic diet. MCT oil is fluid and there is no brainer on how to add them to daily meals.
The molecules present in the MCT oil could[7]be broken when heated. Hence, you cannot incorporate MCT oil as a cooking oil.
Moreover, there are several ways to use MCT oil, especially in the keto diet. You could start with a small portion of MCT oil in your daily diet.
Like, start with ½ tablespoon of MCT oil then gradually increase the dosage as per your convenience. Below are some of the basic ways to use MCT oil in your keto diet:
- Pour it into your coffee and mix it
- Prepare a salad and pour MCT oil into it before eating
- Using MCT oil in the smoothies and supplements
Conclusion
We could conclude on a positive note that there are vital benefits of MCT oil. There is proven evidence of benefits from using MCT oil as well as supplements.
Furthermore, there are certain limitations around it which you need to be careful about. Otherwise, you could try your hands on Mct oil carefree.
It is always nice to go for natural sources rather than taking processed forms.
References/Sources
- Marie-Pierre St-Onge and Aubrey Bosarge Weight-loss diet that includes consumption of medium-chain triacylglycerol oil leads to a greater rate of weight and fat mass loss than does olive oil Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Mar; 87(3): 621–626.doi: 10.1093/ajcn/87.3.621
- Laurence Eyres,Michael F. Eyres, Alexandra Chisholm, Coconut oil consumption and cardiovascular risk factors in humans Nutr Rev. 2016 Apr; 74(4): 267–280.Published online 2016 Mar 5. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuw002
- Jakob Norgren,Shireen Sindi,Anna Sandebring-Matton,et al. Ketosis After Intake of Coconut Oil and Caprylic Acid—With and Without Glucose: A Cross-Over Study in Healthy Older Adults Front Nutr. 2020; 7: 40.Published online 2020 Apr 15. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.00040
- T J Yost,J M Erskine,T S Gregg,et al. Dietary substitution of medium chain triglycerides in subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in an ambulatory setting: impact on glycemic control and insulin-mediated glucose metabolism Clinical Trial J Am Coll Nutr. 1994 Dec;13(6):615-22. doi: 10.1080/07315724.1994.10718457 Available from:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7706596/
- Etienne Croteau,Christian-Alexandre Castellano,Marie Anne Richard,et al. Ketogenic Medium Chain Triglycerides Increase Brain Energy Metabolism in Alzheimer’s Disease J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;64(2):551-561. doi: 10.3233/JAD-180202.Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29914035/
- Desy Cahya Widianingrum,Cuk Tri Noviandi,and Siti Isrina Oktavia Salasiac Antibacterial and immunomodulator activities of virgin coconut oil (VCO) against Staphylococcus aureus Heliyon. 2019 Oct; 5(10): e02612.Published online 2019 Oct 20. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02612
- Cliff J. d C. Harvey,Grant M. Schofield,Micalla Williden,et al. The Effect of Medium Chain Triglycerides on Time to Nutritional Ketosis and Symptoms of Keto-Induction in Healthy Adults: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial J Nutr Metab. 2018; 2018: 2630565.Published online 2018 May 22. doi: 10.1155/2018/2630565
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Alisha Matthew has been a practicing nutritionist since 2016. She holds a master’s degree in nutrition from the University of IOWA. She is a staunch believer in improving the human health index by educating people about nutrition and the importance of nutrition in leading a healthy and happy life. Her long-term goal is to keep educating people on general health and keep herself updated with the latest trends in the field of health.