If you’ve been looking to improve your fitness, weight, and overall health lately, then surely you must have heard about the benefits of MCT and coconut oil.

Weight loss experts often recommend these types of oil to improve their client’s weight and diet. It’s also supported by industry experts as well as researchers in terms of its importance in maintaining a healthy body.

Both oils are said to provide digestive, heart, and cognitive benefits because of their antiviral, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

ALSO READ: 5 Major Health Benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil

 

What Is MCT or MCFA?

 

The acronym MCT means medium chain triglyceride while MCFA refers to medium chain fatty acid. But what’s the difference? Nothing really. Both are used interchangeably since fatty acid is just another way of saying triglyceride.

The term “medium” is used to describe the chemical structure or the length of the fatty acid chain. Oils may contain short chain, medium chain, or long chain fatty acids. The short chain fats contain 5 carbon atoms or less. Medium chain fats consist of 6 to 12 carbons. While the long chain fats have 13 or more carbon atoms.

 

Coconut Oil vs MCT Oil: Similarities and Differences

 

Coconut oil contains about 90% saturated fatty acids of which 62 to 65% match the chemical categorization of an MCT. About 50% of fatty acids in coconut oil is lauric acid, making coconut oil one of the best sources of this highly beneficial compound. Many studies have shown that lauric acid has antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiviral properties

Next to lauric acid, there are 3 other kinds of MCTs which differ depending on the number of carbon atoms connected to the fat molecule. The other 3 MCTs are called caproic acid, capric acid, and caprylic acid.

And here lies the difference between coconut oil and MCT oils. While coconut oil certainly contains beneficial MCTs, concentrated MCT oil is almost entirely made out of MCTs. Furthermore, concentrated MCT oils usually have all four types of MCTs which can be hard to get from other foods.

That’s one of the reasons why highly concentrated MCT oils are now increasingly becoming popular with some people claiming that they are healthier or better than others because they are concentrated and contain all four MCTs.

But let’s not forget that unlike MCT oil, coconut oil is an all-natural occurring food that has undergone minimal processing steps.

ALSO READ: What Is Clean Eating? 7 Simple Rules To Live A Healthy And Clean Lifestyle

 

Benefits of MCTs for Weight Loss

 

MCT oil is an effective supplement when it comes to your weight loss goals. Once the MCT supplement is digested, it triggers a thermogenic effect inside the body which helps improve metabolic function. They are also easily burned and turned into fuel, so if you couple this with exercise, you don’t need to worry about it getting stored as fat.

MCTs can also help with boosting your energy levels, allowing you to do more and burn more fat. Furthermore, adding MCTs to your diet regularly will help you to prevent obesity since it increases satiety and improves appetite control. That why we often add extra-virgin coconut oil to our morning smoothies.

Additionally, their antioxidant properties also improve brain and heart health.

ALSO READ: Simple Ways To Keep The Brain Healthy And Young

 

Takeaway

 

Coconut oil and MCT oil may have their similarities and differences, but these supplements are both beneficial to your health. Along with proper exercise and a healthy diet, you can achieve your long-term fitness goals. So which wins between the two? MCT oil is more effective because it is more concentrated. Therefore, you get the quickest energy boost like no other. But coconut oil is a more natural, unaltered product.