The Many Benefits of MCT Oil

• What is MCT Oil? | Health Benefits of MCT Oil | May Be a Good Source of Natural Energy | Helps Support Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

So why is this oil gaining popularity? Well, according to experts, there are many reported benefits of MCT oil. To name a few, MCT oil has been shown to improve body fat percentage, improve hunger cues, and even optimize the body’s digestive tract environment – a.k.a. your gut microbiome.

Adding to this, MCT oil may have the potential to promote healthy energy levels, preserve cardiovascular health, mitigate the growth of harmful bacterial species, and lower the risk of developing certain neurological diseases. But what is MCT oil, exactly?

What is MCT Oil?

As its name implies, the oil is made up of MCTs, which are medium-chain triglycerides. They are classified as this because they are essentially medium-length chains of triglycerides, which are fats. These triglyceride chains are easier to metabolize than, say, long-chain triglycerides, owing to their shorter fatty chain length.

Coconut oil is one of the best sources of MCT oil because more than 50% of its fat content is medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). MCTs are also naturally found in other healthy food sources like dairy and palm oil.

There are four main kinds of MCTs. The two primarily used to create MCT oil are capric acid and caprylic acid. There are some MCTs that may occasionally provide special benefits.

Benefits of MCT Oil

The following are MCT oil benefits you may experience by adding this super nutrient to your daily regimen.

MCTs May Help People Manage a Healthy Weight

Notwithstanding the conflicting results of recent studies, there are some possible explanations behind this particular benefit. Some believe MCT oil might be helpful for weight loss.

Leptin and peptide YY, which can help the body feel full, are two hormones that have been proven to be released more readily when MCT oil is consumed.

According to one study, participants who consumed 2 tbsp of MCT oil with their breakfast consumed less food at lunch than those who consumed coconut oil. In this very same study, findings reveal that the use of MCT oil caused a reduced increase in triglycerides and glucose levels. This is beneficial as it may positively impact your feelings of fullness.

Older research also suggested that using MCT oil could aid in lowering body weight and waist circumference. According to research, it might aid in lowering the risk of obesity.

Keep in mind that a few of these studies fail to control for some fairly important variables, such as activity levels and caloric intake of the participants. Because of this, it seems that further research is required to create clearer conclusions.

If and when you are following a low-carb, high-fat diet, you can use MCT oil to help you maintain thermogenesis, which is also known as the fat-burning metabolic state. This is because MCTs can be broken down into ketones to use as an energy source to fuel cellular activities.

Last but not least, the environment in your gut has a significant impact on your weight. MCT oil may have the ability to strengthen your digestive tract lining and promote an environment that allows healthy bacteria species to flourish. As a result, you may experience healthy weight loss and improved weight management.

May Be a Good Source of Natural Energy

Long-chain triglycerides, or LCTs, have more carbons in their chains of fatty acid. This means the body absorbs them at a slower rate when compared to medium-chain triglycerides.

MCTs move quicker from the gut to the liver compared to LCTs owing to their shortened length of fatty acid chains. This also means they don’t need bile to metabolize.

The liver breaks down lipids so they can be utilized as an energy source to fuel metabolic activities or stored in the body as fat. MCTs are a quick energy source since they have the ability to enter the cells in the body without having to be metabolized.

The body also has the ability to break MCTs down into ketones in the liver. This is important as ketones are able to cross the blood-brain barrier, which is beneficial in a state of carbohydrate deficiency where they can provide energy and be used to fuel the cells in the brain.

Helps Support Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

Those with a diabetic condition may also benefit from MCT oil. The use of MCTs has been demonstrated to improve thermogenic processes, or fat burning, and decrease the accumulation of fat in the body. These properties may be beneficial in helping with the management of disease and symptoms associated with chronic health conditions.

In one study, researchers compared the findings of drinking LCTs from maize oil and MCTs from coconut oil and found diabetic participants experienced a drop in key metabolic markers, including body weight, waist circumference, and insulin resistance.

A different study discovered that diabetics who consumed MCTs and received insulin injections required 30% less sugar to manage healthy blood sugar levels compared to diabetics who consumed LCTs.

Final Thoughts

It’s believed that medium-chain triglycerides, a.k.a. MCTs, offer a number of beneficial health effects. A few of the most reported and sought-after are its ability to help support a healthy weight, maintain healthy blood sugar levels, promote a balanced gut microbiome, and boost natural energy levels.

When it comes to MCTs, you can obtain these beneficial super nutrients via whole food sources. An alternative means to obtain high-quality MCTs are through supplements, such as Vitagenis MCT Oil, which offers the same advantages in a convenient, easy-to-follow dosing.

References

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