MCT oil is now one of the more well-known oils and is said to be a good aid, especially when it comes to weight loss. Athletes, health-conscious people and people who want to reduce their weight particularly value the oil. MCT oil gives energy and can improve concentration and performance.

Even if the oil is well known, not everyone knows it. We’ll now reveal what MCT oil is all about, where it comes from, how it works and what else there is to know.

What actually is MCT oil?

MCT is an abbreviation for medium chain triglycerides. These are triglycerides with medium-chain fatty acids. These include caproic, lauric, caprylic and capric acid.

Medium-chain fatty acids are assigned to saturated fatty acids, none of the fatty acids has a double bond. MCT oil is therefore an oil with four medium-chain fatty acids. Both capric and caprylic acid are the most important components, a high-quality MCT oil contains at least 90 percent of these two fatty acids, because they make the oil so special.

MCT oil is tasteless and odorless as well as colorless. It rarely has a slightly yellowish color.

The oil is not a natural product and therefore cannot be obtained from a specific plant. The triglycerides are also found in many other oils. MCT oil is obtained by hydrolysis mostly from coconut or palm oil and then esterified with glycerine. Despite chemical production, it is a vegetable oil.

MCT oil effect – what can the “power oil.” “?

The MCT oil effects are quite diverse. The oil is said to improve performance and also help with weight loss.

A study by the “Laboratory of Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics” in Washington was able to prove it that MCT oil can improve metabolism in the brain. Thanks to its faster utilization, it also has no effect on the blood sugar level. Another study confirms this.

A study at Columbia University in New York showed the effect of MCT oil on reducing body weight. The result was a reduction in body fat compared to test persons who received MCT oil instead of olive oil . In another study it was found that MCT oil had a positive influence on blood lipid levels. It was found that there was a reduction in LDL (low-density lipoprotein), the “bad” blood fat. This also has an impact on heart health and reduces the risk of AMIs (acute myocardial infarction, coll. Heart attack).

Since MCT oil can also be partially converted into heat, the body temperature increases and the metabolism is boosted. This in turn also has a positive effect on weight loss.

The oil is also said to have the following effects:

• antiviral
• antibacterial
• antifungal

However, these effects must be verified much more intensively in further studies. Due to its properties, however, it can presumably strengthen the immune system and thus prevent certain diseases.

MCT oil intake – easy-to-use oil

Taking MCT oil is very easy. The oil is mostly used as a dietary supplement and stirred into the coffee (see Bulletproof Coffee). It is advisable to start with a small amount of half a teaspoon, because too high a dose can initially lead to gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhea. After getting used to it, the dose can also be increased to a tablespoon.

If you don’t drink coffee and don’t want to take the oil pure, you can use it differently. MCT oil can be mixed in salad dressing or used for baking together with coconut oil in a ratio of 1/3 MCT oil and 2/3 coconut oil. The oil is also suitable for the preparation of mayonnaise.

Is the use of MCT oil-side-effects related?

As a rule, no side effects are to be expected when taking MCT oil. As already mentioned, symptoms such as abdominal pain, flatulence and / or diarrhea can only occur at the beginning of the application. The frequently recommended amounts of 50 to 100 grams should be achieved by slowly increasing the amount. However, if side effects occur when the dose is increased slowly, it makes sense to reduce the amount taken.

Buy-and-store-MCT oil – care should be taken

When purchasing MCT oil should be of high quality. Sometimes the differences in quality are great, but laypeople hardly know them. With MCT oil, the composition of the medium-chain fatty acids is particularly important. As already mentioned, capric and caprylic acid should be represented in the oil with 90 percent. In addition, you should make sure that it is MCT oil based on coconut oil. If the oil was obtained on the basis of palm oil, then this goes hand in hand with the clearing of rainforests and is ecologically questionable.

MCT oil – like other oils – should be stored in a cool and dark place. Storage at temperatures above 20 ° C can cause the ingredients to oxidize more quickly and thus reduce the shelf life. Unopened MCT oil has a shelf life of around two years, an opened bottle should be used within a period of two to three months.

Conclusion – MCT oil is not so popular for no reason

Without question, MCT oil has a multitude of positive properties for the human organism. It can be easily integrated into the nutrition plan and can develop positive effects after a short time. Of course, MCT oil does not replace a balanced and healthy diet, but studies show that if taken regularly and in good doses, it can have positive effects on various ailments and for athletic goals.