Which one to prefer? Coconut oil or MCT oil?


Health Benefits of MCT Oil vs Coconut Oil - Weight Loss & Ketosis

Introduction:

As we all know, the keto diet is primarily composed of fatty components. Various types of fats exist and a few of them possess a considerable advantage over the other. Of them, coconut oil is highly preferred because of the presence of a good fat component called ‘Medium-Chain Triglycerides’ in abundance. MCT oil too is purely composed of the ‘Medium-Chain Triglycerides’. So which one is a good bet? Read on to know the answer…

The composition:

Coconut oil is prepared from the white fleshy inner part of the coconut. The dried coconut meat termed as the ‘copra’ is crushed through an oil expeller and then stored in an air-tight container in a dry place at low temperature. MCT oil is primarily composed of medium-chain fatty acids which are beneficial for a healthy keto diet. MCT oil is manufactured from various natural organic sources such as oily plants, coconuts, palm kernel and butter extracted from animal’s milk.

Types of MCTs:

There are 4 forms of medium-chain fatty acids named as C6 (Caproic acid), C8 (Caprylic acid), C10 (Capric acid) and C12 (Lauric acid). MCT and Coconut oils differ in the composition of these medium-chain fatty acids. Additionally, they also contain a significant amount of long-chain fatty acids which don’t provide as many nutritional benefits as medium-chain fatty acids.

Coconut oil Vs MCT oil:

Coconut oil possesses 60% MCTs and 30% other long-chain fatty acids. C8 (Caprylic acid) and C10 (Capric acid) are the most occurring fats and C6 (Caproic acid) is the least occurring one. At times, coconut oil even tends to have 30 to 50% of non-beneficial long-chain triglycerides. But, in contrast, MCT oils are primarily made up of C8 and C10 fatty acids along with little amounts of C12 (Lauric acid). This makes them a preferred energy source for our body as they are very easy to absorb and get transported to other body parts. By consuming MCT oils more, you can fasten the fat loss process compared to other diets. MCT oils are highly efficient in boosting the body’s metabolism rates and increasing the rate of energy expenditure.

Why opt for MCT based oil?

Coconut oil is a better cooking agent and available at a low price compared to its MCT counterparts. It contains lauric acid which is very beneficial to our body’s health. But MCT oil wins extra points courtesy of its supplemental nutrition benefits. MCT oils are built with only the saturated fats that can be readily absorbed by the body. Hence MCTs can easily boost your body’s energy, brain health and improve the fat loss rates.

Conclusion:

In fact, regular consumption of MCT oils can also aid in protecting heart health and reduces the risk of heart blockages and heart attacks on the long-run. Therefore for obtaining better results using the ketogenic diet, our verdict is to use MCT oil on a regular basis.

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