MCT Oil Benefits For Maximising Weight Loss
If you’re investigating the benefits of MCT oil (medium chain triglycerides), you’re likely curious about its role in weight loss and dietary health.
MCT oil, sourced mainly from coconut oil, has gained attention for its ability to provide a quick energy boost and support in burning fat.
We explore the science behind these claims and offer practical tips for seamlessly adding MCT oil to your dietary routine.
Key Takeaways
- MCT oil, derived from pure coconut and palm kernel oils, offers health benefits like increased energy and improved cognitive function and supports weight loss by enhancing fat burning and reducing appetite.
- It is particularly effective in ketogenic diets, where it helps to increase ketone production and boosts energy levels, contributing to efficient fat usage and weight management.
- When incorporating pure MCT oil into a diet, starting with a small dose is recommended to prevent digestive issues. Due to its minimal flavour impact, it can be easily mixed into food or beverages.
Pure MCT, or medium chain triglycerides, is a unique dietary fat primarily derived from coconut and palm kernel oils. Unlike long-chain fatty acids found in other fats like olive or corn oil, MCTs have a smaller molecular structure, which allows for easier digestion and rapid absorption into the bloodstream.
This means that consuming MCT oil provides a quick source of energy, bypassing the usual metabolic processes that longer-chain fats have to go through.
Some benefits of MCT oil medium chain triglycerides include:
- Increased energy levels
- Improved cognitive function
- Enhanced weight loss and fat-burning
- Reduced appetite and increased satiety
- Improved gut health and digestion
Adding pure MCT to your diet can be a simple and effective way to boost your overall health and well-being.
The main components of MojoMe pure MCT oil (medium chain triglycerides) are caprylic acid (C8) and capric fatty acids (C10), which together account for 60% and 40% of the oil, respectively. These specific medium-chain fatty acids are known for their quick energy conversion, which is why MCT oil is often used in ‘Bulletproof’ coffees and as a supplement in ketogenic diets.
Premium-quality MCT oil, like South African MojoMe Pure Coconut MCT Oil Medium Chain Triglycerides is:
- An ultra-pure source of pure MCT oil with a low smoke point
- Free from hexane and other harmful solvents
- 100% medium chain triglycerides sourced exclusively from coconut
- Certified free from palm oil
- Delivers efficient, quick-burning energy for your body and mind.
The Role of Pure MCT in Ketogenic Diets
The ketogenic or keto diet is a low-carb, healthy-fat diet which aims to put your body in a metabolic state known as ketosis. In this state, your body utilises fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. Some benefits of the keto diet include:
- Weight loss
- Increased energy levels
- Improved mental clarity
- Reduced inflammation
- Lowered blood sugar levels
Pure MCT effectively supports this process as it quickly provides energy and assists in producing ketone bodies.
Ketone bodies are molecules produced by the liver during periods of low carbohydrate intake, like during a ketogenic diet. They serve as an alternative energy source for the brain and other organs. Consuming pure MCT increases the number of these ketones available to the body, supporting the ketogenic process.
Besides boosting energy levels, Pure MCT aids weight loss initiatives by offering an immediate energy source and assisting in ketone body production that can contribute to weight reduction.
Pure MCT is more ketogenic than coconut oil due to a higher proportion of caprylic and capric fatty acids, which are more efficient at ketone production.
The Science Behind Pure MCT and Weight Loss
The benefits of Pure MCT for weight loss are attributed to several physiological effects, which we will delve into in the subsequent subsections. These include increasing energy expenditure, suppressing appetite, and improving insulin sensitivity.
Energy Expenditure and Caloric Burn
The medium chain triglycerides in Pure MCT are digested much more quickly than long-chain fatty acids, allowing for a rapid source of energy that can increase your metabolism. This swift digestion escalates calorie burn and boosts your food’s thermogenic effect, referring to the energy needed to digest, absorb, and metabolise the nutrients you ingest.
The metabolic boost provided by Pure MCT enhances weight management by increasing fat oxidation. This process, in which the body breaks down stored fat for energy, is more efficient with MCT oil than other fats.
Moreover, pure MCT induces a greater sense of satiety compared to coconut oil and long-chain triglycerides, potentially diminishing your long-chain triglycerides consumption and aiding weight management.
Appetite Suppression
Pure MCT is pleasant tasting and may help to reduce appetite and calorie consumption by promoting feelings of fullness, a crucial factor in managing weight. This effect, especially in liquid form, has been shown to increase satiety, which can lead to lower food intake and potential weight loss.
Consuming pure MCT caprylic and capric fatty acids after a fasting period can increase the levels of leptin and peptide YY (PYY). These hormones are known for suppressing appetite and increasing satiety. This can help manage your caloric intake, making maintaining or losing weight easier.
By inducing satiety and manipulating satiety hormones, Pure MCT is a potent tool for controlling calorie consumption and weight reduction.
Insulin Sensitivity
Insulin sensitivity refers to how responsive the body’s cells are to insulin. Improved insulin sensitivity means that less insulin is needed to control blood sugar levels. Pure MCT consumption has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, which can be crucial for weight management and reducing fat accumulation.
A clinical study showed a 12% average increase in insulin sensitivity among subjects after MCT oil supplementation. However, individual responses varied significantly, with some experiencing greater increases and others experiencing decreases.
The study suggested that individual factors such as race, sex, and BMI might influence the impact of Pure MCT on insulin sensitivity, indicating a need for further studies for confirmation.
Incorporating Pure MCT Oil into Your Diet
Integrating MCT oil into your diet can be straightforward. As a general guideline, start with a conservative amount of 1 teaspoon per day to avoid digestive issues, and then slowly increase the dose over several weeks as tolerated.
Adding MCT oil to your meals is uncomplicated. You could:
- Stir it into breakfast items like oatmeal or yoghurt
- Blend it into pancake batter
- Drizzle it over snacks like popcorn or roasted nuts
- Mix it with nut butter for a healthy spread on fruits or vegetables
MCT oil also blends well into beverages. You can add it to your morning coffee, mix it into smoothies, or stir it into herbal teas. Its almost tasteless nature makes MCT oil a versatile ingredient that can enhance various dishes without affecting their original flavour profiles.
Consuming MCT oil produces even greater results if you are already using coconut oil in your cooking. One thing to remember is that MCT Oil should not be used for cooking at temperatures over 160°C; rather, use coconut oil, which is excellent for high-temperature cooking.
'Bulletproof' Coffee
Kick-start your day with a delicious hot mug of SuperFuel Coffee.
Caffeine actually speeds up the absorption of MCT's which means results in their rapid transportation into the bloodstream for faster keytone production. MCT's on their own are a quick burning and efficient source of energy, which is why they are less likely to ever be stored as fat by your body.
MCT Oil SuperFuel Coffee
To make your own delicious cup of SuperFuel Coffee you will need:
- MojoMe SuperFuel Pure MCT Oil
- High Quality Coffee (If you don't like Coffee you can also use Tea or Drinking Chocolate)
OPTIONAL Unsalted Butter (preferably grass-fed)
Stick blender to give you a smoother and creamier fully emulsified drink.
Method - Make a strong cup of coffee (or tea or hot chocolate)
- Add up to 2 tablespoons* (30ml) of MojoMe SuperFuel.
- Add 1-2 Tablespoons Butter
- Blitz thoroughly (with a stick blender or similar) until totally smooth and creamy.
- Drink while hot to enjoy a welcome energy boost that should take you through the day. (Unless your diet includes High GI Carbohydrates)
Bulletproof coffee works so well for energy, especially sustained energy, because it combines MCTs with longer-chain fats. This gives you the rocket boost up front with longer-lasting sustainable energy.
Smoothies
Smoothies make a delicious and healthy snack. Enjoy one of our favourite Low Carb smoothie recipes using MojoMe MCT SuperFuel. Not only does it taste great, but it is also high in antioxidants, and the MCT Oil increases nutrient absorption for a quick, efficient release of energy.
Coconut Berry Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of MojoMe SuperFuel
- 100ml Coconut Milk (no preservatives)
- 100g of Double Cream or Extra Thick Greek Yoghurt
- Erythritol or Xylitol to taste (optional)
- 100g frozen berries (or your own combination of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries)
- 5 Ice Cubes (optional)
Method
Combine the ingredients together and blitz (with a stick blender) until you reach the desired consistency. Don't over blend if you prefer the fruit to be chunkier. Serves 1
Serve chilled in a tall glass. Enjoy!
Food Drizzle
MCT Oil is an odourless, flavourless source of beneficial fatty acids. It is an ideal substitute for conventional oils in salad dressings or mayonnaise and is great for drizzling over veggies, fish, poultry and meats.
Comparing MCT Oil with Other Dietary Fats
MCT oil distinguishes itself from other dietary fats with its unique structure and advantages. Medium-chain triglycerides, the fats in MCT oil, are different in their structure compared to long-chain triglycerides found in many dietary fats like:
- fish
- avocado
- nuts
- seeds
- olive oil
Unlike these other dietary fats, MCT oil is composed of purely MCTs, making it a concentrated source of these beneficial, healthy fats. This differs from coconut oil, another source of MCTs, which also contains long-chain triglycerides and unsaturated fats.
This means that MCT oil offers a more potent dose of the beneficial medium-chain triglycerides, making it a valuable addition to any diet, particularly for those interested in weight loss and ketone production.
Potential Health Benefits Beyond Weight Loss
Beyond weight loss, MCT oil offers a range of potential health benefits, including:
- Possibly beneficial for heart health by improving serum lipid profiles, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease
- Serving as an alternative energy source for brain cells, potentially supporting brain function and productivity
- Promoting gut health by controlling harmful bacterial and yeast overgrowth through its antibacterial and antifungal properties
Additionally, MCT oil may:
- Enhance athletic performance
- Improve absorption of vitamins and minerals
- Support brain cell maintenance and protection
- Help protect against degenerative diseases
- Support immune system function
- Enhance cardiovascular health
Addressing Common Concerns: MCT Oil Safety and Side Effects
As with any dietary supplement, responsible usage of MCT oil is imperative. To avoid potential digestive discomfort, begin with a small dose of 1 teaspoon daily and gradually work up to a larger dosage of 1-2 tablespoons daily.
Some people may experience gastrointestinal side effects such as gas, bloating, and abdominal pain when consuming excess MCT oil, especially on an empty stomach. Severe side effects like diarrhoea, potential hunger hormone release, and liver damage can occur if MCT oil intake exceeds the recommended guideline of up to 2 tablespoons per day.
It’s also worth noting that individuals with essential fatty acid deficiencies should avoid MCT oil, as it lacks the necessary fatty acids needed for those with this condition. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen.
Summary
In conclusion, MCT oil can be a powerful addition to your health and wellness toolkit. From contributing to weight loss efforts by boosting metabolism and suppressing appetite to improving insulin sensitivity and offering additional health benefits like heart health and brain function support, MCT oil is truly versatile.
Remember to begin with small doses when incorporating MCT oil into your diet, and always consult with a healthcare professional if you have any health concerns or conditions. Embrace the potential of MCT oil and unlock a healthier, more energetic you.
Dietary Supplement
1 tablespoon (15ml) 1-3 times a day with meals
Depending on your own constitution, you may need to acclimatise your body to MCT oil. For some people, too much MCT oil in one go, especially on an empty stomach can result in 'disaster pants' otherwise known as diarrhoea and possibly stomach cramps.
Discover the amazing MCT Oil benefits of adding MojoMe Superfuel to your diet today!
IMPORTANT NOTICE People with Type 1 Diabetes or Liver Damage/Disease should consult a doctor before taking MCT's (Medium Chain Triglycerides). MCT's are a dietary supplement and not a magic bullet. They are not a replacement for medication or a cure for any disease however they have been shown to be useful alongside medication in a number of cases.