What are the benefits of MCT oil powder that outweigh other alternatives? MCT oil powder and coconut oil have some similarities and are both welcome in a healthy diet, but they are not created equal. While you can often use coconut oil and MCT oil interchangeably in recipes, it doesn’t mean they provide the same benefits.
Below we’ll clear up significant differences between MCT oil vs coconut oil and how you can get the most out of each.
First, let’s do a quick overview of both.
Most people know what coconut oil is: an edible oil extracted from the meat of coconuts. It’s high in saturated fats but contains a unique type of saturated fats: medium-chain triglycerides, or MCTs.
Because of their unique chemical structure, MCTs are more quickly absorbed by your body than other fats, so you can use them for fuel instead of storing them as fat.
MCTs also provide around 10 percent less calories than long-chain triglycerides.
Also, because of its high saturated fat content, coconut oil doesn’t oxidize and go rancid as easily as other healthy oils. This means you can store it for longer and it’s good for cooking at higher temperatures.
There are different ways to process coconut oil:
There has been a lot of controversy around coconut oil in recent years, but we’ve debunked the health concerns here.
As you know by now, “MCT” stands for medium-chain triglycerides like those in coconut oil. And most MCT oil is derived from coconut oil, although sometimes it’s taken from palm oil.
Unlike coconut oil, which is solid at room temperature, MCT oil is liquid at room temperature. It’s also colorless and odorless. This makes MCT oil great for adding to beverages like coffee, smoothies, and other foods.
You can read more about the specific health benefits of MCT oil powder here.
But the most significant difference you need to know about MCT oil vs coconut oil is the type of MCTs used in each.
There are four types of MCTs:
The primary MCT in coconut oil is C12, lauric acid. C12 must be processed by your liver before it can be used by the body.
While it still provides some benefits of MCT, C12 is not the most ideal.
Here’s where MCT oil wins out:
So, in conclusion, MCTs are amazing fats. And while you can get them from both coconut oil and MCT oil (and MCT oil powder), the latter provides a much more potent dose than just coconut oil. By all means, still enjoy your coconut oil, but to optimize your MCT intake, be sure to get your daily dose of MCT oil or MCT Oil Powder.
Try a scoop of MCT Oil Powder in place of coconut oil in your keto coffee to supercharge your intake of wonderful MCTs!