MCT Oil – the most underrated supplement.
Shedding body fat and
getting ripped takes determination, willpower and discipline. People are always
looking for that ‘miracle supplement’, or ‘silver bullet’ to make it
easier. Truth be told, nothing will make it easy. You are still going to have
to work your butt off. However, there are a few tips and tricks that could help
get you there quicker. One such tip is increasing your intake of Medium
Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) or MCT oil.
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. Because of this difference in
structure, the two fats 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.
MCT oil can help you get in shape for the
following reasons:
1. It improves endurance and athletic performance:
MCT’s ability to rapidly be used as a fuel source and improve athletic performance has attracted the attention of athletes in recent years.
Animal studies have shown the ability of MCTs to improve athletic performance and endurance. In one such study whereby mice were subjected to swimming capacity tests, those fed a diet containing MCTs outperformed those fed a diet containing LCTs (1).
The researchers also found that the mice fed MCT’s produced the key energy ‘creating’ enzymes (3-oxo acid CoA-transferase, citrate synthase and malate dehydrogenase) at much higher levels than the mice fed the LCT diet. The MCT-fed mice also burned fat at higher rates which further enhanced energy production (1).
If you’re looking for a killer training program and want to burn fat, build muscle, get strong and look great, go here
2. It promotes
fat burning (Thermogenesis):
Human studies have shown the ability of MCT oil to enhance thermogenesis (fat
burning).
In one study,
researchers fed six lean and six obese young men a meal containing either LCT’s
only, or a mixture of LCT’s and MCT’s. In both the obese and lean
individuals, thermogenesis was enhanced after consuming the meals containing
MCT’s (2).
Another study conducted in Czechoslovakia concluded that the administration of
MCT’s can improve the long-term success of diet therapy in obese
patients (3).
3. MCTs
increase metabolic rate:
There is mounting evidence to support the fact that MCTs increase your
metabolic rate.
Studies have shown
that replacing dietary LCTs with MCTs increased the daily energy expenditure
(metabolic rate) in men and women (4). So,assuming your calorie intake and
exercise remain unchanged, any increase in metabolic rate through the addition
of MCTs to your diet will result in the loss of bodyfat.
MCTs have also been
shown to improve satiety of meals, meaning you feel fuller, and satisfied
quicker, making you less likely to over-eat and ingest too many
calories.(5).
Check out the video below of a nutritionist sharing his views on the use of MCT
oil/coconut oil, and how it can help speed up your metabolism:
First Time Here?
4. MCTs maintain muscle mass:
MCTs assist in preventing muscle breakdown in a number of ways.Firstly, they promote the production of ketones, which are used as an energy source in the muscles before amino acids (which become available through muscle breakdown), thereby delaying muscle catabolism (breakdown).
Secondly, they are able to act as amino acid ‘carriers’, helping to assimilate proteins inside the muscle, which further aids in preventing muscle loss and breakdown.
MCTs have also been shown to delay muscle glycogen depletion, as they are used preferentially over glycogen as a fuel source, thereby preserving muscle glycogen and improving endurance. This fact is especially useful for endurance athletes (runners, cyclists etc.)
If you are looking to get lean and ripped, then preserving your glycogen levels during training is not always beneficial. (For a better understanding and explanation of this, check out our article on interval training.)
Medium Chain Triglycerides are also especially useful for people on low carbohydrate diets, where there is always the risk of muscle breakdown, especially for those still engaging in intense exercise (like bodybuilders). By providing a good source of energy, MCTs prevent the use of amino acids being used for energy – as often occurs when there are no carbohydrates to provide energy (i.e. when glycogen levels are depleted.)
If you’re looking for a killer training program and want to burn fat, build muscle, get strong and look great, go here
How do I use MCT oil and where can I buy it?
The general recommendation is that MCT oil is safe for humans up to a dosage of 1g per kilogram of bodyweight, However, some side-effects reported by beginning users of MCT oil include nausea and gastric difficulties. This can be managed by beginning with very small doses and increasing the dosage gradually as tolerated, working your way up to 1-2 tablespoons per day.
MCT oil can be used as a salad dressing, but should not be used for cooking as the high temperatures will cause it to break down, adversely affecting the taste.
MCT oil can be purchased at
many health food stores and pharmacies. It can also be ordered online.It comes
in the form of pure liquid oil or capsules. There are also several sports drinks,
energybars and meal-replacement beverages containing MCTs, although the
dosages in many of these is too low to extend any of the benefits which MCT
offers. My advice, especially if you are taking to MCTs to get lean, would
be to go for the pure oil or capsules.
Is MCT Oil Safe?
In addition to some of the side effects mentioned above (nausea, gastric difficulties, diarrhea), 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.
- Extended use of MCTs may increase cholesterol levels.
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.
My suggestion is to use MCT oil, but use it sparingly. Don’t use it all the time. 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’.
If you found this article interesting, please share it with your friends and family.

Other Articles about muscle building, fat-loss and health:
The importance of measurement and goals in fitness.
Ladies, Lift some weights! – The benefits of weight training for women.
Interval training: The secret to super conditioning and extreme fat-loss.
References:
1. Fushiki T, Matsumoto K, Inoue K, Kawada T, Sugimoto E. Swimming endurance capacity of mice is increased by chronic consumption of medium-chain triglycerides. J Nutr 1995 Mar;125(3):531-9.
2. Scalfi L, Coltorti A, Contaldo F. Postprandial thermogenesis in lean and obese subjects after meals supplemented with medium-chain and long-chain triglycerides. Am J Clin Nutr 1991 May;53(5):1130-3.
3. Hainer V, Kunesova M, Stich V, Zak A, Parizkova J. The role of oils containing triacylglycerols and medium-chain fatty acids in the dietary treatment of obesity. The effect on resting energy expenditure and serum lipids. Cas Lek Cesk 1994 Jun 13;133(12):373-5.
4. Flatt, J. P., Ravussin, E., Acheson, K. J. & Jequier, E. (1985) Effects of dietary fat on postprandial substrate oxidation and on carbohydrate and fat balances. J. Clin. Investig. 76:1019-1024.
5. Stubbs, R. J. & Harbron, C. G. (1996) Covert manipulation of the ration of medium- to long-chain triglycerides in isoenergetically dense diets: effect on food intake in ad libitum feeding men. Int. J. Obes. 20:435-444.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, registered nurse, dietician or other healthcare provider. The information I have provided is based on my personal experience and thorough studies on the subject matter. The possible risks of using any nutritional supplement should always be discussed with your doctor. For more information, please see the full Disclaimer page.