MCT Oil is one of the fastest sources of clean fuel for body and brain. These fast-absorbing fats are, hands down, one of the best ways to power up your performance or kick start a nutrition program.†
Most of the fats we eat are made from what are called long-chain fatty acids (LCTs)—carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms bonded to a long chain of carbons. As the name might imply, long-chain fats are bulky, and take time to be broken down in the body to fuel activity. Medium-chain triglycerides—MCTs—are saturated fats that, due to a shorter chain of carbon atoms, digest much faster, and therefore provide a quicker source of energy.†
When MCTs are consumed, they go straight to the liver, where they’re rapidly digested and absorbed, or turned into ketones, which the body can use in place of carbohydrate for fuel.† This fast turnaround makes supplementing with MCTs for the keto dieter what hitting the nitro button is to a street drag racer.†
MCT (Medium Chain Triglycerides) are a particular type of beneficial fat that requires minimal action from the liver to convert directly into fuel in the form of ketones. Ketones are one of the brain’s two primary fuel sources, and also a vital source of ATP energy for the body. ATP energy is what allows every muscle to move inside your body.† You may have heard people discussing the ketogenic diet, which is a diet designed to help the body run on ketones (from fats) rather than glycogen (from carbohydrates). This state is called ketosis.
If you’re a ketogenic dieter, MCT oil is better than coconut oil for getting into and maintaining ketosis. An American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study determined that caprylic acid is three times more effective at promoting the formation of ketones than capric acid, and six times more than lauric acid.
As a result, taking MCT oil may help to decrease the time it takes to reach ketosis compared to ingestion of LCTs. When people “go keto,” they tend to experience short-term but bothersome side effects, such as low energy and poor mood state. According to a 2018 study, MCT oil may help smooth the transition, reducing the time spent in this window.†
MCT oil and coconut oil are often confused as being the same thing, or offering the same benefits, but this is a mistake.
Coconut oil is the richest natural source of MCTs, but MCTs make up only about 54% of its fat content. It contains lauric acid, caprylic acid, and capric acid (types of MCTs), and some LCTs, like unsaturated fats, as well. The trouble is, lauric acid digests and absorbs more slowly than other MCTs, so, despite the abundance of MCTs in coconut oil, it’s NOT considered a great choice for those seeking the benefits of MCTs.
MCT oil is often derived from coconut oil, but with MCT oil, you’re getting a pure source of 100% MCTs, with a higher concentration of fast-digesting caprylic acid†.
Many MCT oils are refined from palm oil that is harvested from the palm forests that orangutans call home. As their habitat is already endangered, we don’t want to contribute to the problem, and we assume you don’t either.
That’s why MCT Oil is sourced from 100% coconut oil, sparing the destruction of more palm trees, and helping preserve orangutans’ natural habitat. Do the math…
Coconut-derived MCT oil + happy apes = good health AND good karma
As a dietary supplement, take 1 tablespoon (15 mL) daily. Onnit Pure Premium MCT Oil can be mixed into smoothies, or try it with Onnit Whey Isolate Protein for a certified delicious protein shake. Can also be used as a substitute for conventional oils in salad dressings or unheated sauces. Not recommended for cooking due to its relatively low boiling point.