Medium-chain triglycerides, also known as MCTs, are a class of fats that have health some amazing benefits. MCT oil is one way to easily consume more of these energy-boosting fats, and organic versions of the product are a great option.

What Is MCT Oil?

MCTs are fats which the body can burn for fuel. They’re found in foods and are desirable because they’re metabolized more efficiently than their long-chain counterparts and are thus less likely to be stored as fat. MCT oil contains these triglycerides in concentrated form. It’s a man-made product, created when MCTs are extracted and isolated from coconut oil or palm kernel oil, the two richest sources of these fatty acids.

Benefits of Ingesting Medium-Chain Triglycerides

Besides the aforementioned ease with which they are metabolized for energy, MCTs are beneficial because they may aid in weight loss. This is due to their ability to help the body burn fat and to experience a sensation of fullness. They are lower themselves in calories per gram when compared to long-chain triglycerides.

MCTs may help the body reach ketosis, a metabolic state in which fuel comes principally from fat. As fuel sources go, ketones are considered preferable over glucose, especially if the area being fueled is the brain.

In addition, MCTs have antimicrobial properties and may help promote a healthy gut in which good bacteria are more likely to thrive.

MCT Oil Makes Consuming These Beneficial Fats Easy

Medium-chain triglycerides can be obtained by eating foods that naturally contain them. Coconuts and dairy products are examples of these, but it’s not always easy or practical to consume them on a regular basis and in the necessary quantities.

MCT oil is a concentrated source of medium-chain triglycerides, so it offers more bang for the buck since its recommended dosage is by the tablespoon. Furthermore, one of the benefits of supplementing with MCT oil is that it can easily be incorporated into a person’s daily diet. Since it comes in liquid form and is virtually odorless and tasteless, it can be easily added to other foods, such as shakes, coffee or broth, that are already part of typical meals. Substituting it for other oils in homemade salad dressings is another simple way to ingest MCT oil without the need for specialized recipes. While it can be used as a cooking oil, it’s best to avoid doing so as MCT oil has a low smoke point.

Why Is Organic MCT Oil the Best Choice?

Organic oil refers to a product made from ingredients that weren’t genetically modified and that were grown without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Organic MCT oils are produced using organically grown coconuts and palm.

The potential benefits of choosing an organic product over a non-organic one include the fairly obvious: Consuming chemicals and synthetic or possibly toxic substances is likely to benefit no one’s health. However, selecting organic products has other favorable but less apparent consequences, many of them related to the environment. For example, the use of organic MCT oil helps:

• Keep pesticides out of the soil, water and food chain.
• Save energy as organic farming uses approximately 30 percent less energy than conventional farming.
• Keep the workers involved in planting and harvesting safe from exposure to chemicals.