MCT Oil For Weight Loss: Does It Really Work?

MCT Oil is a supplement often combined with other food items such as salad dressings, coffee, and smoothies. But is MCT for weight loss effective? Find out here.

MCT oil for weight loss

With the current state of affairs in terms of the food systems in place, it is no longer surprising that people are yearning to find some form of alternative to help improve their diet and overall health. Processed food items and other artificial ingredients have led individuals to unhealthy life choices and unwanted weight gain. All is not yet lost though as there are a number of things that people can do to improve their chances of better managing their weight and boosting their health through supplements and other healthful products or items. One such supplement is MCT oil and the said product may provide a number of different health benefits. But can MCT oil work for weight loss? In this article, we look at the possible health benefits of MCT oil and its other possible health benefits. Read on and find out more!

MCT Oil: A Brief Overview

MCT Oil is a form of supplement and is often combined with other food items such as salad dressings, bulletproof coffee, and smoothies. MCT or Medium Chain Triglycerides contain triglycerides which are medium-length chains of fat. Due to lengths that are shorter, MCTs are more readily processed and digested by the human body and as such, can lead to different benefits for health and are also associated with how the body can process fats that are consumed. 

These MCTs are commonly obtained from coconut oil as more than half of coconut oil fat comes from MCTs.  These kinds of fats can also be acquired from different food items such as dairy products and palm oil. There are four kinds of MCTs and out of these four (4), two of the most commonly used for MCT oils are capric acid and caprylic acid. 

Weight Loss with MCT Oil: Is it Really Effective

MCT oil can aid in the promotion of weight loss in a number of different ways. MCT oil has been observed to increase the production of two (2) hormones that can lead to the promotion of feeling full or satiated and these are called leptin and peptide YY. MCT oil might even be more beneficial than coconut oil in terms of promoting the sensation of being satiated.

A study showed that people who took two MCT oil in the amount of two (2) tablespoons as part of their routine for breakfast resulted in the individuals eating less during lunchtime compared to those who just took some coconut oil. In addition, MCT oil has been shown to be potent in terms of reducing the circumference of the waist and body weight. There is also a report that showed how MCT oil can be used in the prevention of obesity. 

Compared to LCTs or long-chain triglycerides, MCT oil contains reduced calories (about 10%). The way the MCT oil is processed in the body may also aid in how it can have calories burned. In addition, the body can utilize MCT oil as a form of an energy source that is instant which means that the unnecessary storage of fats may no longer be required for such purposes.

Nonetheless, it is important to mention here that the body still needs to adapt to this kind of energy utilization which means that only temporary and short-term results may be achieved. As an added bonus, those who are observing the ketogenic diet may gain some advantage from using MCT oil as this supplement can help the body achieve ketosis and stay in the said state which is the body being in an efficient fat-burning mode. 

Lastly, the environment of the gut is also critical when it comes to weight management. This is because the said supplement can aid in optimizing good bacteria growth and help improve the lining of the gut. Both this good bacterial growth and improved gut lining can also help in weight loss and overall better weight management.

Other Possible Health Benefits of MCT oil

Aside from weight loss, MCT oil may also provide the other following health benefits:

1. Can be used as an instant energy source that fuels the brain.

MCT Oil is considered some form of super fuel as it can easily be absorbed by the human body compared to LCT oils. Due to their chains that are shorter, MCT can move directly from the gut to the liver and will no longer require additional processing like LCTs. This quick processing of MCTs means that they can quickly enter cells to be immediately used as energy by the body and the brain.

2. MCT oil can help reduce lactate buildup in athletes and aid in utilizing fat for energy

Athletes are currently raving over MCT oil and for good reasons. This is because during physically demanding activities such as exercise, levels of lactate rise and can impact the performance of exercise negatively.

Interestingly, MCT oils can help in the reduction of the buildup of lactate.  A study conducted on athletes showed that those who took MCT oils after cycling had lactate levels that are lower and were able to continue exercising rather easily compared to those who took LCTs.

3. MCT oil can aid in addressing Autism, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Epilepsy-

There is evidence to suggest that MCT oil can aid in the management of certain health conditions. Due to its benefits for the ketogenic diet which is a form of diet originally used to treat those with epilepsy, MCT oils can benefit those suffering from the said condition. Alzheimer’s disease, on the other hand, results in the impaired use of sugar by the brain as an energy source.

With MCT oils, the energy source of the brain gets shifted to ketones. MCT oil, on the other hand, has also been noted to possibly help children with autism. As autism may be caused by a number of interconnected factors, further studies are needed to show which specific aspects are actually addressed by these supplements in order to help patients with autism.

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