6 Health Optimizing Benefits Of MCT Oil

If you’ve paid attention to healthy food trends over the last 10 years you’ve most likely heard that coconut oil is a healthy fat with tons of functional benefits. But do you know of its healthy fat child, MCT oil that’s in our AWAKN Optimized coffee?

What is MCT oil?

MCT is short for Medium Chain Triglyceride, a fatty acid mainly derived from coconut oil or palm oil but can also be found in goat milk and breast milk.

MCTs have become a sought after supplement because our body metabolizes them differently than it’s triglyceride partners Short and Long Chain Fatty Acids, all of which are present in coconut oil. Because we metabolize MCTs differently they give us some very unique functional benefits when compared to other fats.

Fat’s (Triglycerides) can either be used for energy or stored as body fat. What’s awesome about MCTs is that they are pure fuel/energy for our bodies. 

Longer chain fats in foods like coconut oil pass from the small intestine into the lymphatic system then into the bloodstream where they can be stored as fat. But isolated MCTs pass from the small intestine directly into the liver where they are used for fuel.  Because they are quickly burned and metabolized they are a great tool for weight loss and brain fuel.

Here are the top researched benefits of MCTs:

1. Revs up weight loss (1, 2, 3, 4)
2. Kicks hangry to the curb (5, 6)  
3. Fuels your brain for mental energy and clarity  (7, 8, 9, 10) 
4. Helps athletes crush workouts in overdrive (11, 12) 
5. Cleans up your gut  (13, 14, 15)
6. Provides a yogi calmness to blood sugar levels (16, 17, 18)

Revs Up Weight Loss

MCT oil is shuttled directly to the liver where it’s immediately used as fuel or converted into ketones. The unique metabolism of MCTs can result in greater use of energy at the cellular level which in turn burns more calories by boosting metabolism. 

Kicks hangry to the curb

Tired of being hungry all the time? MCT oil makes you feel full longer.  Studies show that MCT oil triggers the release of hormones that help you feel full (leptin & peptide YY).  Additionally, MCT can be converted into ketones and studies show that when your body is in a “ketogenic state” your appetites can be suppressed.

Fuels your brain for mental energy and clarity

Try MCT oil for a boost in mental energy and focus. Your body can convert MCTs into ketones which break the blood-brain barrier as an energy supply for brain cells.

Additionally, because of this ability to provide an alternative source of energy to the brain via ketones, MCTs have been used to treat Alzheimer’s, where the brain’s ability to use glucose as energy is impaired.

Helps athletes crush workouts in overdrive

If you want a more sustainable source of energy for endurance and stamina, MCTs could help.  Studies have shown that athletes supplementing with MCTs were able to increase stamina in high-intensity exercises as well as reduce lactate build-up, which can negatively impact performance. 

In fact, many endurance athletes are supplementing with MCTs to help improve endurance, mitigating “bonk” and lessening the need for carbohydrates.

Cleans up your gut

Gut health is a big deal, it plays a role in everything from proper immune function to mental health.  MCTs have antimicrobial and antifungal effects that can fight yeast and bacterial overgrowth which in turn helps balance beneficial gut bacteria and supporting gut lining.

Provides yogi calmness to blood sugar levels

Elevated blood sugar can lead to inflammation and a host of diseases. Studies have shown that when people with diabetes supplemented with MCT oil they reduced insulin resistance and lowered the need for glucose to maintain blood sugar levels.

With all these great benefits you may be wondering how to get some MCTs into your routine.

Here are ways to get MCT oil into your nutrition:

1. Get pure MCT oil in the liquid form and take a tablespoon of it
2. You can use liquid MCT in salad dressings
3. Use a blender to blend liquid MCTs to your coffee or tea for sustainable energy, focus and reduce caffeine crashes. This is time-consuming but tasty.
4. For a convenient solution, just grab some of our AWAKN Optimized instant coffee which gives you 7 grams of coconut MCTs and a bonus of 10 grams of collagen protein. (no blender required).

In conclusion, MCTs can be a great supplement alongside a healthy diet. Head over to our home page to learn about our mission and what makes AWAKN great!