If you're experiencing a bout of sluggishness despite working out, taking green tea, diffusing essential oils, and chugging green juices, you might want to try MCT.
What is MCT?
MCT stands for medium-chain triglyceride. You might know triglycerides by their other name- fatty acids, which are the primary components of lipids.
Triglycerides are transported into cells and either stored as body fat or burned for energy. Most of the fat in our diet comprises of long-chain triglycerides, yet MCT is more popular. Why is this?
Why MCT?
If you rely on coffee for energy boosts, you might notice that it makes you jittery and wired.
MCT, however, doesn't give you adverse jitters or an energy crash like coffee. Instead, it boosts your energy and helps you sustain focus all through the day. How's that for an energy drink!
NOTE: Before consuming MCT, do your research on the side effects that some people experience.
Why is MCT special?
Unlike other fats, MCTs go directly to the liver from the gut. From here, they're burned to produce energy or turned into ketones. When the liver breaks down a lot of fat at once, it produces ketones which the brain uses for energy instead of sugar or glucose.
The body uses the calories in MCTs immediately; hence, they're rarely stored as fat. The result? Little to no weight gain that can come from increased fat consumption.
Various forms of MCT
Several foods contain MCTs, for example, coconut oil, goats milk, palm oil, cheese, and other types of dairy.
SOLID COCONUT OIL
Add a little coconut oil and butter to your coffee, then blend until it turns frothy. Enjoy! If this makes you nauseous, try the other options.
LIQUID MCT OIL
You can buy a bottle of MCT oil at health stores. It's a concentration of MCT components of coconut oil minus other fatty acids. Different brands contain varying percentages of medium-chain triglycerides.
POWDERED COCONUT OIL
This form of MCT is supposedly more pleasant to consume and gentler on the stomach.
Add some powdered MCT Coconut Creamer to your tea to make a creamy coconut latte. Yum! Most people don't taste the oil texture at all. You'll be energized well into the afternoon, minus the energy crashes of artificial energy drinks.
Apart from the increased energy, MCT gives you regular daily bowel movements and keeps you feeling fuller longer.
MCT side effects
BOWEL MOVEMENTS
Disaster Pants is a term you'll encounter as you research about MCT. Increasing fat into your diet at regular intervals leads to consistent and increased bowel movements. If you're having digestion problems, this is healthy. However, when you use MCT regularly, you might go more than the natural 2-3 times per day.
You might want to try MCT at home for the first time, just in case. If the bowel movements are too much, try using MCT as a supplement on days when you need that extra energy boost instead of a daily drink.
CHOLESTEROL
If you have cholesterol problems, you need to be careful as you consume MCT. Different studies conflict on whether MCT is harmful or helpful to body cholesterol levels.
As such, make sure you consult your doctor before using MCT.
OTHER EFFECTS
Minor side effects of consuming MCT include increased heart rate, fatigue, energy crashes, vomiting, lightheadedness, nausea, diarrhea, and an upset stomach.
Some people feel dehydrated and get mild headaches. However, these can be avoided by starting with small doses, such as 1/2 a teaspoon, then increasing intake slowly over time. Also, drink lots of water. Adjust your intake according to how your body responds.
BENEFITS OF MCT
Scientific studies show that taking MCTs offers many benefits. These include healthy weight loss, improved gut health, reduced risk of heart disease, better immune function, and improved cognition and brain health
Does all this sound too good to be true? Try it for yourself and see.
With love,
The Sole Toscana Beauty Team
