When it comes to using healthy products, people are usually very skeptical regarding their authenticity. However, people who like doing their research before indulging in using any such products usually benefit from them the most. This is simple – they know what they are using and what is going inside their bodies is either safe for them or not.
One such new yet undiscovered product is MCT Oil. Since it is a product that very few people know about, there is usually a lot of confusion regarding it. Some people do not understand its usage, others do not know the potential of this product, and others remain unaware of the product in its entirety.
Therefore, it is better to learn more about this MCT Oil before deciding on its usage or stoppage.
What Is MCT Oil?
MCT is short for medium-chain triglycerides. This oil is named after its chemical structure since it contains several medium chains of triglycerides that give it its characteristic properties and make it appear as a useful product for all of us. [1]
Medium-chain triglycerides are shorter in length and simpler in structure than the other fatty acid chain structures. This makes them easier to digest by the human body. [2]
The MCT Oil is slowly but surely gaining quite a game among all the people who have already started using it and have gained benefits out of it as well.
It is a supplement manufactured from medium-chain triglycerides, a form of fat. MCT molecules are smaller than those found in most fats you consume (long-chain triglycerides [LCT]). This makes them more digestible. MCT is easily absorbed into the circulation. This converts it into usable energy.
What Is MCT Oil Made Of?
As it is clear that the MCT Oil comprises several triglycerides, it is evident that this oil is made from those resources rich in such fatty acids.
This beneficial oil is usually prepared from coconut oil since it contains the triglycerides considered the ‘backbone’ of this MCT Oil.
However, it is not just coconut oil used to manufacture MCT Oil. Some other oils and products, such as palm oil, dairy products, and caproic acid. Can also be used to manufacture this power-packed oil for everyone to use. [3]
Is MCT Oil Good For You?
Well, from whatever research has been done on the topic so far, it just translates to one thing. MCT Oil is indeed a helpful supplement that can benefit you in several ways.
It is said to contain numerous benefits that can both help you live a healthy and active lifestyle confidently.
If you’re aged and feeble, MCT oil may be able to assist. MCT has also been shown to increase the amount of energy consumed by your muscles.
For your convenience and barter understanding, here is a list of all research-backed, proven benefits. That the usage of MCT Oil can bring into your life for good!
It Helps Improve Stamina and Performance Levels:
This use of MCT Oil is the reason why it has become a popular supplement oil amongst athletes. Usually, what happens is when a human being exercises too much or works in a manner. That makes them run out of all their energy stores. The same feeling that you experience when you are panting helplessly after an intense workout or a run in the park. The body gets filled up with excess lactate levels to replace the finished energy levels. [4]
Lactate results in this panting or exertional feelings that you get after exercising or doing more work than normal. However, when you use MCT Oil, it helps to reduce the lactate accumulation in your body. Along with this, it also helps to build up endurance. And stamina levels in your body, both of which work towards making sure that you adapt to a more active and fit lifestyle. [5][6]
It Helps with Weight Loss:
It is also known to help you lose weight, especially when it is incorporated into your daily routine. There are two ways in which it works to help you lose weight. Firstly, it helps increase the satiety levels. Which suppresses your appetite and makes you feel fuller and ‘done’ once you are done eating in moderation. This mechanism also helps decrease triglyceride. And glucose levels in the blood, which is yet another beneficial effect on your body. [7]
The second way in which this mechanism works is by thermogenesis. This is a process by which the body generates heat by burning calories. Now, when calories are burned, it equates to the loss of excess fat from the body. [8]
It is now safe enough to ask ‘how to use MCT Oil for weight loss?’ Well, the answer to this question is simple – you consume it. It is recommended that two to three tablespoons of it in a day will help you get the desired benefits out of it. [9]
Helps Keep the Heart Safe:
It is found to have several beneficial impacts on a person’s heart health as well. It was seen to impact the lipid profile of a person, which indirectly helps the heart function better. [10]
The unhealthy lipid levels in the body are lowered. And the healthy lipid levels are normalized or made stable. Which helps the heart stay fit and away from the risk of developing several heart-related disorders. [11]
It Helps in Brain Disorders:
When a person becomes older, the most common effect that hits the brain and its health is cognitive decline. Everything seems perfectly alright until a person’s memory gets affected and they cannot seem to recall the recent events that happened in their life. Later on, most of these people develop neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s. [12]
In the context of MCT Oil, it was seen that when used in such older people, it helped them improve their symptoms of Alzheimer’s and also helped slow down the memory declining process. [13]
It Helps Keep the Skin Healthy:
Like every other organ system or body function, it was also helpful for the skin. It was found to help with certain skin conditions and pathologies such as acne breakouts and other minor skin irritations that cause the skin’s health and condition to be compromised. [14]
Using it for skin regularly also helps keep the skin supple, moisturized, and soft, which is a benefit that everyone needs for sure! [15]
MCT Oil Vs. Coconut Oil – Which One Is Better?
There are often debates that reflect around one commonly asked question: If MCT Oil is ‘made’ from coconut oil, why don’t we only use coconut oil? After all, it would have the same or even better benefits for all of us, right? So then, what is the point of going through all the tiresome processes and getting MCT Oil-manufactured for our use?
The secret is straightforward in this case – coconut oil simply helps get the desired number of ‘MCT’ concentrations that are needed to make MCT Oil appear as beneficial for us as it appears to be. It is simply a helping agent, not the whole MCT Oil itself! [16]
Moreover, it is concentrated with 100% MCTs, whereas coconut oil only has about 55% of the whole MCT composition in it. This is where the real difference lies. The actual goodness of MCT Oil is all contained in the original form of the oil. So you cannot simply compare coconut oil vs. MCT Oil to see which one would end up being more useful for you since both have their own different levels of goodness! [17][18]
Are There Any Side Effects of Using MCT Oil?
Just like there are countless MCT Oil benefits, it is equally common for them to possess some side effects. Usually, when MCT Oil is taken in moderation orally or medicinally through an IV line, there are no such side effects that are seen. [19]
However, MCT Oil side effects are usually mild and controlled and involve common adverse effects such as dizziness, vomiting, irritability, bloating, and fatty acid deficiency in the body. But this would only happen when you go overboard with using MCT Oil to get all the good that you can. If you use it in moderation, you will never have to see any side effects for sure.
Conclusion – Should I Opt For MCT Oil Or Not?
Provided that the MCT Oil has so much in store for you and all that positively, it is great if you opt for using it for all the benefits that it will provide you and your body.
However, just make sure that you do not overconsume it or try getting everything in one go – instead, start with slow and steady dosages. For example, if you plan on consuming it orally, it is better to start with one tablespoon per day. Then once your body gets used to it, you can carry on with increasing the dosage to no more than two to three tablespoons in a day.
But at the end of the day, it all ends up coming to the point that you will notice a difference only when you remain consistent with its usage. So do not expect overnight changes or differences, for they will not come suddenly. Instead, slow and steady wins the race here for sure!
Disclaimer: This article is only a guide. It does not substitute the advice given by your own healthcare professional. Before making any health-related decision, consult your healthcare professional.
