What’s the benefit of MCT to your Ketogenic Diet plan?
The answer: efficiency. An efficient diet, which feeds an efficient lifestyle, that ultimately gives you more time to do the things you love.
MCTs are essential to your body transforming into a fat burning machine. Your body needs a lot of energy to do your daily stuff, MCT OIL provides that extra boost to keto dieters. Ketone bodies are produced as by product of MCT oil’s metabolism, which will enhance yor energy levels as well as keep you hunger free for long.
What is MCT oil?
MCT oil is a fat produced from coconut oil and palm kernels. Sometimes people just refer to it as coconut oil.
Now before you ask, “how is increasing my fat intake going to help?” you need to realize that not all fats are created equal.
Most dietary fat is made up of Long Chain Triglycerides (LCT’s), consisting of 12-18 carbon atoms per chain. Medium Chain Triglycerides on the other hand are shorter, consisting of 6-10 carbon atoms per chain.If you find C6 or C8 written on the label, it alludes to the number of carbon atoms in the chain.
Because of the difference in structure, the two fats: LCT’s and MCT’s have vastly different properties.
What makes MCTs useful?
Due to the reduced chain length, MCTs are absorbed and then metabolized very rapidly. They are very efficiently converted into fuel for immediate use, instead of being stored as fat. They are used as energy much faster than glucose and have over twice the calories per gram, making them an excellent energy source during intense exercise.
Research has reported that the fatty acids from MCTs in coconut oil (CO) are not easily converted into stored triglycerides, and so they cannot be readily used by the body to make larger fat molecules. Instead, it is readily absorbed and goes right to the liver where it increases thermogenesis.
MCT oil can help you get in shape for the following reasons:
- It improves endurance and athletic performance.
- It promotes fat burning (Thermogenesis).
- 3. MCTs increase metabolic rate.
- MCTs maintain muscle mass.
EDITOR’S NOTE: if you are interested in ‘Ketosis’ then MCT OIL will form an inseparable part of you diet plan. We recommend you to use the most genuine and safe ‘Perfect keto’ products.
MCT OIL HELPS YOUR GET INTO KETOSIS FASTER
As you already know, MCTs go to your liver, and act in a “carb-like” manner that LCTs do not have the ability to do. This means that you can theoretically kickstart Ketosis by following these steps:
- Fast with no breakfast.
If you’ve been out of Ketosis for awhile and you want to efficiently get back into a fat burning state, a mix of fasting and MCT Oil will do the job. Just eat a very low carb dinner, or even skip dinner, and then wake up and don’t eat breakfast! Instead, drink a cup of coffee, and put a tablespoon or two of MCT Oil into your coffee and head out!
The shot of MCT, plus the already fasted state of your body will have you back into Ketosis quicker than if you tried to just slowly eat your way back into Ketosis (i.e. nutritional Ketosis). It’s also worth adding that the energy you get from the MCT Oil and the coffee will be unlike what you were used to: the MCTs provide a prolonged energy that isn’t comparable to energy derived from glycogen.
- Meal replacement with MCT Oil
Another benefit that comes from using MCT Oil in your Ketogenic Diet plan is using it as a meal replacement.
This somewhat resembles the previous point of fasting with MCT Oil, but the difference is that you’re still eating other regular Ketogenic meals, except your replacing (at least) one of those meals with some MCT Oil.
One of the benefits of MCT Oil is its ability to satiate your appetite. So while it sounds initially scary to just depend a few tablespoons of oil for a meal replacement, your body will become accustomed as you do it more and more. The MCTs will act as replacement for what’s normally there (glycogen) and your fierce-badger-hunger cravings will lessen.
In our fast paced, 21st century lifestyle, the benefits of being able to remain in Ketosis while only slurping a few tablespoons of MCTs cannot be overstated.
- Ramp up your Ketogenic dishes with MCT
MCT Oil’s versatility is amazing.
You can MCT for a base to your dressing, and you can rest assured that you’ll still be burning fat after you’ve downed your greens!
Another way to use MCTs in your favourite Ketogenic meals is to use it as a replacement for regular oil in baking! There’s a whole ocean of Keto recipes out there, so why not double down and use MCT instead of regular coconut oil!
But what if you’re not baking? What if you’re out for a jog and you want to implement the energy efficiency of MCT Oil? How about a nice Keto “sports drink“?! All you have to do is it to water, and then squeeze in some lemon juice, and you’ll have a healthier, non-sugary sports drink for long workouts in the sun!
MCT OIL is now also available in powdered form so that it becomes excessively convenient for you to use it in your keto recipes.
Is MCT Oil Safe?
In addition to some of the side effects mentioned above (nausea, gastric difficulties, diarrhoea), there are some further warnings about using MCT oil:
Ketone bodies are produced as a by-product of MCT metabolism, so the use of MCT’s by diabetics is not recommended.
People with liver disease should also stay away from MCTs, as MCTs are rapidly delivered to the liver and their presence can put unnecessary stress on the liver.
People with hepatic encephalopathy, should not take MCT.
Conclusion:
MCTs have been shown to improve endurance and athletic performance, accelerate fat burning, speed up your metabolism and maintain muscle mass.
So yes, they can be extremely beneficial in helping you achieve your fitness and athletic goals, but they are not to be abused as there are many potential side-effects. Few studies have been conducted to determine the long-term effects of their use.
Use MCT oil, but use it sparingly at first and then as your body can handle it, you may increase the amount. Start slowly to figure out how your body responds to it. Use it for a specific purpose, to either provide you with a boost during your hardest training sessions or when you’re in the final phases of your low-carb diet, getting ripped.
As the cliche’ goes, ‘anything in moderation’!
EDITOR’S NOTE: if you are interested in ‘Ketosis’ then MCT OIL will form an inseparable part of you diet plan. We recommend you to use the most genuine and safe ‘Perfect keto’ products.
References:
https://ezinearticles.com/?The-Benefits-of-Mixing-MCT-Oil-Into-Your-Ketogenic-Diet-Plan&id=9420502
https://ezinearticles.com/?MCTs-and-Weight-Loss&id=2494385
https://ezinearticles.com/?MCT-Oil—A-Very-Underrated-Supplement&id=6985436