MCT Oil is your best choice to break the fast

MCT Oil is a great supplement that will be beneficial when you are on the Ketogenic diet. Personally, I prefer to break my 16 or 24 hours fast with MCT Oil. I  consume 3 tablespoons of MCT Oil immediately after my fast. The body recognizes fat as the main source of energy. The benefits that MCT Oil offers are multiple, but first…

Let’s see what MCT Oil is?

MCT is an abbreviation and refers to medium chain triglycerides. These are special types of saturated fatty acids with medium-chain carbs. They typically have 6 to 10 or 12 carbon atoms. Fatty acids are chemical compounds which are composed of a straight chain hydrocarbon having a carboxyl group at one end.

There are 4 types of MCT fatty acids:

• Caproic acid: 6 carbon atoms
• Caprylic acid: 8 carbon atoms
• Capric acid: 10 carbon chain
• Lauric acid: 12 carbon chain

MCT fatty acids are largely absent in our diet. The reason lays in the dietary guidelines. People who created them are constantly suggesting that saturated fat is harmful. How convenient, isn’t it? Actually, saturated fats are really healthy. The claims that saturated fats can cause several health issues like stroke or heart attack are fake. Let’s see and analyse another two saturated fats that nobody talks about.

Butyric acid

Butyric acid is another saturated fat which is short chain fatty acid. By its name you can understand that the butter is the richest source of it. Other sources are ghee, of course, parmesan cheese, animal fats and plant oils. Also, when we are consuming foods high in fibres the bacteria can ferment butyric acid. Butyric acid has other benefits too:

• Aids weight loss
• Anti-inflammatory
• Helps to fix insulin resistance
• Supports health of small and large intestines

Palmitic acid

Palmitic acid has been accused by big health organisations as bad for our health. They are claiming that it can increase cardiovascular diseases. Palmitic acid is available in nuts, oils, seeds, animal products. Another interesting thing is that the 50% of our cell membranes use palmitic acid. So, how can it be so dangerous if our body needs it?

Here is a link to what exactly the dietary guidelines suggest.

Why is MCT Oil Important?

The key to understanding MCT fat lies in the way our body works. When MCT is consumed, it is going straight forward to the liver. The liver turns the fatty acids into ketones, without the use of bile. That’s exactly what we need from MCT while breaking our fast.

MCT will bypass everything and it will transform into ketones immediately. Ketone bodies are then released into the bloodstream to be used as fuel. The energy will not store itself in the fat tissue for later use. Also, in the liver, MCT has a thermogenic function, which means it generates heat. That’s why MCT fat has the ability to change your metabolism in a positive way.

MCT Oil improves cognitive function

MCT Oil is particularly useful because it improves cognitive function. This helps to maintain healthy body weight. MCT’s fatty acids are relatively small and therefore can enter the cell membranes easily. MCT fat is a great option for stomach issues. The caprylic acid of MCT Oil has the benefit to aid digestion by increasing the motility of stomach. If you have irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, allergies, gluten intolerance, and bacterial infections, using MCT oil every day is one of the best strategies to quickly cure your intestines. Other benefits of MCT Oil are:

• Muscular endurance
• Spares muscle mass
• Delays fatigue
• Source of great energy

MCT Oil the medicinal potion

 MCT Oil is antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral. The benefits don’t stop there. MCTs lowering blood sugar naturally. It is natural anti-convulsive, aid in weight loss and increases the athletic performance. Therefore, MCT oil has a critical role in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Furthermore, it helps multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and diabetes in case of insulin resistance. In addition, MCT fatty acids have antioxidant properties and an anti-inflammatory effect.

Sources  

Some small amounts of medium chain triglycerides are in the cheese, grass-fed butter, full-fat milk and full-fat yoghurt. But the best sources are coconut oil and palm kernel oil.

Personal advice

I would definitely advise using MCT Oil as a supplement. Have in mind that food sources are not providing us with sufficient amount. Try to find the best value product that will still be top quality and made of 100% organic sources. A great example is MCT Oil from coconut and palm kernel oil.