Benefits Of MCT Oil: 5 Reasons Why You Should Be Using It

A Blog Written By Barbara Cox, Nutritional Ambassador for Hunter & Gather. 

Barbara is a renowned nutritionist, author of Rainbow Recipes and a Global Wellness Council Representative. We are delighted to have her as our Nutritional Ambassador here at Hunter & Gather. Barbara understands that to be the best version of yourself diet is the foundation however sleep, movement and relaxation is also key - that's why she is the perfect ambassador. 

Here is what Barbara has to say about MCT oil 

Firstly, here’s a top line overview of Medium Chain Triglyceride oil (for short MCT oil), before we head into all the science and benefits.

MCT’s are no longer just a buzzword in the gym. It’s becoming mainstream because it’s one of the best most bioavailable forms of energy. MCT’s are an ideal source of saturated fat that creates energy in the form of ketones that the body can almost instantly turn into energy and also generate a strong thermogenic effect mainly for weight loss.

Best of all, this is done without the concern of it being stored as unwanted body fat.

MCT’s are known for being quickly absorbed by your body and metabolized into energy in the liver. They’re the most efficient saturated fats in terms of energy production.

They create ketones, an energy molecule. Ketones are an amazing source of energy for your body in comparison to glucose because they produce far less molecules that react with other molecules when they are metabolized. MCTs don’t need to be broken down at all as they are transported directly to the liver where they are used immediately by the mitochondria and oxidized for energy.

There are the four MCTs found in food (C6 Caprionic Acid, C8 Caprylic Acid, C10 Capric  , C12 Lauric Acid ) and Hunter & Gather MCT oil is made from 100% coconut oil and contains two of the 4 in a source of premium C8 and C10 carbons. C8 is Caprylic Acid (8 carbons) and C10 is Capric  Acid (10 carbons).

Caprylic acid (C8) benefits are to help you maintain a healthy gut thanks to its strong anti-microbial properties. This is one of the most efficient fatty acid because it converts rapidly into ketones in your liver.

The main difference between MCT oil and coconut oil is their MCT content. Coconut oil is 55% MCTs, while MCT oil is made 100% of MCTs. Furthermore, coconut oil contains all 4 medium-chain fatty acids (C6, C8, C10 and C12), including large quantities of lauric acid (C12), the least efficient MCT. MCT oil only uses the two most efficient MCTs for energy: caprylic (C8) and capric acid (C10)

MCT oil is actually a byproduct of coconut oil as they fractionate the coconut oil to extract the C8 and C10 to make the MCT oil and I like to think of MCT oil as the fast track to getting the most efficient fats from coconut oil.

Why do we need MCT oil?

When your body uses ketones as its main source of fuel instead of glucose from carbohydrates, it can enter and remain in the state of ketosis easier and for longer.

MCT oil is powerful because it helps make ketones readily available for your body to use, making ketosis easy to achieve and maintain.

Unlike almost all other foods, the two MCTs used in MCT oil are swiftly absorbed and metabolized as energy in your body, making them the perfect fuel for you to reach your weight loss and fat loss goals.

5 reasons I recommend my clients use Hunter & Gather MCT oil

1. Maintain healthy weight loss – many scientific studies have shown that MCT’s not only help you maintain fuller for longer, but that MCT’s also raise the metabolic rate at which your body functions which leads to greater weight loss and maintaining fat loss through it’s thermogenic effect and also has fewer calories and as mentioned above, doesn’t get stored as fat.

2. Support a healthy gut – MCT’s have been shown in scientific trials that they are capable of killing certain types of harmful bacteria without decreasing or removing “good” bacteria in our gut. Obviously, this leads to an improved gut environment overall which improves the defense against harmful bacteria, fungi and other parasites and naturally boosting your immune system.

Studies have also indicated that harmful bacteria such as streptococcus, staphylococcus and other bacteria known to cause viruses have been killed off by using MCT oil regularly as part of your diet. Your gut affects everything from energy expenditure to your ability to absorb vitamins and minerals, so it’s imperative to keep your gut in great working order.

3. Improve cognitive health – There are many studies that show the connection of brain and gut health, therefore, it is more apparent than ever we take great care of our gut health.

A large majority of our brain consist of fatty acids so it comes as non surprise that we get more energy and think more clearly when we provide our bodies with MCT oil and other healthy fats.

Ketones are able to pass through the blood-brain barrier and serve as fuel for the central nervous system, which means MCTs directly support brain health.

4. Improve heart health – Over the years, MCT’s have become a simple addition in the diets of both recreational and elite athletes. Therefore, it comes as no surprise due to the fact that MCT’s have a high energy density plus they are rapidly absorbed in the body and can quickly convert into clean and sustainable energy. This is also contributing to an overall improvement in heart health.

The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study showing that the consumption of MCT’s for 8 weeks resulted in a significant decrease (-14.54%) in blood triglyceride levels which is a common marker of cardiovascular disease. That’s good enough for me to make it an addition to my dietary routine.

5. Prevent risk of diabetes – This is an important one as the media is telling us that the next big epidemic is diabetes. Studies show that MCT’s are playing a possible role in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. As noted in the Journal of Diabetes and the Journal of Metabolism, there are published studies showing that MCT daily consumption for 3-6 months improved insulin sensitivity which is actually a key factor in diabetes prevention and management– in both diabetic patients and non-diabetic patients.

 MCT’s are also a promising supplement for people who already suffer from Type 1 diabetes. A small study found that ingesting MCT’s prevented the decline in cognitive performance during hypoglycemia in people with Type 1 diabetes. The effect was the most positive in verbal memory. Fantastic news for anyone who suffers from hypoglycemia and the effects this can have on your working life.