MCT Oil Benefits

Bulletproof coffee is a popular new workout and weight loss trend, particularly among people who are following a ketogenic or other low-carbohydrate diet.  It is made by adding butter or coconut oil to straight black coffee, without any extra carbohydrates that come from sugars or creamers.  Many people use bulletproof coffee as a breakfast replacement, as the caffeine and fats provide energy to start the day without the need to consume carbs.¹ 

Fitness-minded individuals also use bulletproof coffee to give themselves an energy boost for a higher-intensity morning workout on an empty stomach, with the idea that it accelerates the burning of fat stored in the body during this exercise.  As a bonus, coffee beans are a good source of antioxidants.²

Ketogenic diets have long been used to manage certain types of epilepsy, but recently have gained popularity as a weight loss diet.  The principle of a keto diet is that you consume most of your daily calories in fats and lipids, with a moderate amount of protein, with very little coming from carbohydrates (less than 50g of carbs per day).  This causes your body to enter a state of ketosis, where your cells switch from burning sugars for energy to using fat, including that stored in your adipose tissues.³

Many followers of the ketogenic diet have turned to bulletproof coffee for their morning pick-me-up.  Adding coconut oil to coffee gives it a more interesting flavor, plus makes it richer and more satiating for longer periods of time.  Coconut oil serves as a carb-free alternative to traditional coffee creamers which often contain lactose and other sugars.  The energy from the caffeine enables a higher-intensity workout, which will burn fat and strengthen muscles quicker.^1,2

Compared to other oils and fats, coconut oil has a relatively high content of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).  Most of the other types of oils you eat and cook with are predominantly composed of long-chain triglycerides (LCTs).  The smaller MCTs are quickly converted into high-energy ketones rather than getting stored in fat deposits in the body.⁴  Though research is limited, initial evidence suggests that coconut oil may have anti-inflammatory effects and be neuroprotective.⁵

Coconut oil may be healthier than butter and other animal fats, but has a higher saturated fat content than other plant-based oils.  It tends to raise blood cholesterol levels, including low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol.  This poses a potential risk for cardiovascular disease.⁶

Essentially, MCT oil is a component of coconut oil.  About 63% of coconut oil is MCTs, while the rest is LCTs and other types of fats.  The MCT oil that you can purchase at the store is usually produced industrially in a laboratory or manufacturing plant, where the MCTs are distilled from coconut or palm kernel oils.⁴  If buying MCT oil, make sure to check the labeling. Sometimes companies will try to pass off coconut oil as MCT oil, even though it is not pure and contains other types of fats.

Most of the health benefits attributed to coconut oil come from its MCT oil content.⁶  Thus, pure MCT oil can provide those benefits to a greater extent.  MCT oil also makes you feel fuller for longer than coconut oil.⁷  For the greatest perks, look for pure C8 MCT oil. This specific type of medium-chain triglyceride provides more energy per molecule and is more highly ketogenic than other MCTs.⁸

• Dr. Bronner’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
• Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
• Viva Naturals Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
• Clean MCT Oil
• MiCkey T Eight (Kosher)
• Kiss My Keto C8 MCT Oil
• Bulletproof Brain Octane Oil
• Perfect Keto Pure MCT Oil