In this article, you will learn what MCT oil and so-called “medium chain triglycerides” are and how it differs from coconut oil.
In addition, you get to know the quality differences are and how to choose the right oil for you.
In order to give you practical tips, we have an application recommendation for you for every oil.
Medium-chain triglycerides
Everyone should know the separation between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. However, there is another categorization of fatty acids.
To understand what medium-chain triglycerides are, one must first understand that fats always have a strand of carbon atoms.
The number of these carbon atoms determines the type and category of fatty acid between short-, medium- and long-chain fatty acids.
Short chain fatty acids contain two to six carbon atoms.
Medium-chain fatty acids contain six to twelve carbon atoms. For the exact definition and effect, we will enter immediately.
Long chain fatty acids contain more than 12 carbon atoms and are found especially in milk.
MCT: An overview of the fatty acids
The medium-chain triglycerides are found in nature and serve the body as a healthy source of energy.
Caproic acid (C6)
Caproic acid consists of 6 carbon atoms and is rapidly converted into ketone bodies. Coconut oil contains a negligible amount of this fatty acid.
The problem: It tastes bad and often causes stomach and digestive problems.
Tip: If a commercial MCT oil burns slightly in the throat and tastes a bit strange, it is probably because the MCT oil was poorly cleaned and therefore still contains caproic acid.
Caprylic acid (C8)
Caprylic acid is a very potent medium-chain fatty acid that is easily metabolized by the body. In fact, the body needs only 3 steps to convert caprylic acid to so-called “ATP” (the fuel of the cell).
By comparison, sugar takes 26 steps in the metabolism to become cellular fuel.
Capric acid (C10)
Capric acid is a medium-chain fatty acid composed of 10 carbon atoms that are slightly more slowly converted by the body into ATP.
Nevertheless, this fatty acid is a very high-quality source of energy for health-conscious people.
Lauric acid (C12)
Lauric acid accounts for the largest proportion of fatty acids in coconut oil at around 50%.
Unlike caprylic acid and capric acid, lauric acid must be previously processed by the liver.
Therefore, it behaves a little differently than usual medium-chain fatty acids.
Note: Despite this classification, lauric acid is not physiologically metabolized by the body like a medium-chain fatty acid.
How do I recognize good coconut oil?
The basis of high-quality coconut oil is the pulp and, in rare cases, the shell of the nut.
Usually, fruits from certified organic cultivation are used.
An important parameter for the quality of the oil is the speedy processing of the fresh coconuts so that the pulp does not suffer from enzymatic changes.
The fruit is opened, peeled by hand, dismembered and immediately cold pressed.
After filtering, it is immediately filled into its final glass container.
What is coconut oil suitable for?
Coconut oil can be perfectly used for almost any food and cooking methods. It is suitable for baking, cooking, and frying, as it is very heat resistant.
In addition, coconut oil is also becoming increasingly popular for skin and hair care.
What is MCT oil?
MCT oil is an oil that consists exclusively of medium-chain fatty acids.
Also, it is derived from natural oils. It is transparent and odorless.
How is MCT oil produced?
The production of MCT oil can be very different and create two completely different products, with the same name.
However, to judge the quality of the MCT oil, there are 3 areas that you can examine.
1. The basic raw material of MCT oil
Since the natural occurrence of MCTs is greatest in tropical vegetable fats, either coconut oil or palm kernel oil is often used to make MCT oil.
In order to protect the natural habitat of the orangutans and the quality of the basic raw material, I would recommend MCT oil, which is extracted from coconut oil.
2. The production method of MCT oil
Unfortunately, some cheap manufacturers of MCT oils use a chemical refining process that uses solvents such as hexane.
Although the product may subsequently be called “MCT oil”, this is a highly processed food.
There are also natural production methods that extract only the valuable medium-chain fatty acids by water vapor and pressure from cold-pressed coconut oil.
The result is a pollutant-free MCT oil.
3. The purity of the final product
According to this report, some coconut products contain pollutants such as mineral oil residues.
In addition, the fatty acids margarinic acid (C17) and caproic acid (C6) are not consistently filtered out in many production processes.
Taste test: If the MCT oil tastes and smells unusually, there are often residues on C6 and/or C17.
The fatty acid, which often leads to digestive problems.
Therefore, it is important to pay attention to natural and gentle production.
Thus, high-quality premium MCT oils, are extracted from coconut oil using only water, pressure and heat in a natural and gentle process.
What is MCT oil used for?
One of the most classic applications is the so-called Bulletproof Coffee.
It is a popular ketogenic coffee among health-conscious biohoppers.
In addition, it can be wonderfully served in sauces, dips and also simply over meals.
It is important that MCT oil is not overheated.
Temperatures above 120 ° ensure decomposition and smoke development. Therefore, the oil should not be used for frying.
Incidentally, MCT oil is also wonderful for skin and hair care.
Simply rub the skin with MCT oil or give the hair a cure and then rinse.
What is C8 MCT oil?
For pure C8 MCT oil, i.e. pure caprylic acid, coconut oil, and palm kernel oil are used as raw material.
The production method of C8 MCT oil
Similar to the normal MCT oil, there are significant differences in the production of pure C8 oil.
It is important that as many other fatty acids as possible are filtered out during the extraction.
The purity of the final product
However, the highest possible purity is by no means 100%.
So far, the highest purity is 99.6%.
In a good C8 oil, the remaining 0.4% are distributed on caprylic acid and lauric acid.
What is C8 oil used for?
C8 oil is particularly fond of a ketogenic diet because up to 80% of its calories come from high-quality fats in this diet.
It is perfect for morning Bulletproof Coffee, but also sauces, dips, and shakes.
Because C8 oil is relatively more expensive due to its more elaborate manufacturing process, many trailers use the oil a bit more sparingly.
Emulsified MCT oil
Emulsified MCT oil behaves like cream in consistency and consists of a special mixture that favors its dissolution in liquids.
Virtually a hydrophilic oil.
Production method
The special mixture consists of MCT oil, a fiber and water.
Mixing these ingredients together in a special ratio, then you get a homogeneous liquid after a while.
What can you use emulsified MCT oil for?
Emulsified MCT oil is the perfect replacement for conventional coffee cream.
It is lactose-free and contains high-quality medium chain fatty acids and important fiber.
With this special oil, it is possible to prepare the Bulletproof Coffee within a few seconds without a blender.
It’s also a great topping for smoothies, bowls, ketogenic desserts, and low carb cakes.
Final Thought: MCT Oil vs Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a particularly versatile oil, which is very popular among health-conscious people.
However, it contains only a small portion of true medium-chain fatty acids such as caprylic acid and capric acid.
So if you’re after these fatty acids, you should focus on high-quality MCT oil.
MCT fatty acids can be quickly converted into energy through 3 metabolic steps and therefore are very interesting for health-conscious people.
I would like to close this article with some of the most commonly asked questions about MCT Oil:
1. What is MCT?
MCT is short for Medium Chain Triglyceride and means medium chain fatty acid. These types of fatty acids are easily digested by the body and serve as a quick source of energy.
2. What is Bulletproof Coffee?
The Bulletproof Coffee is a special coffee, which is whipped together with butter from grazing and MCT oil in a blender. It gives the body fast and long-term energy and increases the focus.
The recipe for Bulletproof Coffee can be found here.
3. Can I use MCT oil for the skin?
MCT oil has a very nourishing property for the skin and enhances its natural protective barrier. Therefore, it is very suitable for general skin care.
4. What is caprylic acid?
Caprylic acid is a medium-chain fatty acid that consists of 8 carbon atoms and is easily digested by the body.
5. What is capric acid?
The medium-chain fatty acid “capric acid” consists of 10 carbon atoms and serves the body as a fast source of energy.
6. What is lauric acid?
Lauric acid is the primary fatty acid in coconut oil and consists of 12 carbon atoms. This fatty acid has, according to studies, antibacterial and antifungal properties.
7. Can I consume MCT oil during a ketogenic diet?
Yes. In fact, MCT oil is even very popular in a ketogenic diet.
Have you ever tried MCT oil instead of coconut oil? If so, do you have any other recommendations in regard to potential applications and servings?
Feel free to leave a comment below!
Speak to you later,
Janik
