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FACT CHECKEDIf you have ever considered going on a ketogenic diet AKA keto diet, you have more than likely seen the words "MCT Oils" thrown around. Keto, simply put, consists of consuming higher amounts of fats, moderate proteins, and low carbohydrates. This will get the body into a state of ketosis, which means it will start using fat as an energy source rather than carbohydrates.
Now, where does MCT oil fit into this?
MCT Oil is said to enhance a keto diet by helping with ketone production, energy levels, burning fat, and weight loss. We'll get into the science down below for those interested, but without further ado, here are our top MCT oils this year.
My research began with a thorough understanding of Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) and their impact on metabolism and energy levels. Armed with knowledge, I then delved into analyzing various MCT oil brands, considering factors like source, purity, and production methods. I did rigorous testing and went through countless customer reviews, which also played a crucial role in my decision-making process. After careful scrutiny, I finally discovered the perfect MCT oils that aligns with what I believe are good health values, offering superior quality and undeniable effectiveness. Rather than choosing just one MCT oil (although I did select an "overall best"), I categorized 7 of the top choices for MCT oil based on various buying preferences, such as flavor or flavorless, and oil or powder.
Here is my review of the top choices for MCT oils, in order as listed above.
Note: If you aren't familiar with the ins and outs of MCT oil, be sure to read on after covering my top-rated MCT oils as I discuss what you need to know.
Our pick for the best overall MCT oil is the Sports Research MCT Oil supplement. Available in a huge 40-ounce bottle, you get around seventy-nine servings of medium chain triglycerides.
Extracted from 100% organic coconut oil, this high-quality organic MCT oil consists of C8 (Caprylic acid) and C10 (Capric acid), quickly crosses the blood-brain barrier and convert into ketones.
Sports Research MCT Oil utilizes a patented extraction process, that avoids using Hexane or other undesirable solvents so you know you are getting the best form of caprylic acid without anything unwanted additives.
This quality MCT oil supplement is a great addition to coffee, tea, smoothie, or whatever else you have to get your morning going. Add it to salad dressing in place of olive oil to get a dose of medium chain triglycerides during the afternoon, or use it in your baked goods.
Sports Research has made sure that their MCT oil is organic, using non-GMO coconuts to give you the best possible MCT oil that is keto and vegan friendly. If you are looking for a quality product that does not rely on fillers or harsh solvents, I recommend Sports Research as one of the best MCT oils on the market.
Key Points:
MCT C8 and C10 are body and brain boosting fatty acids that are extracted from organic coconut oil. Our MCT oil C8 Caprylic Acid and C10 Capric Acid is quickly digested...
Nature's Way MCT Oil is our pick for helping with weight loss. Made from pure coconut oil, Nature's Way doesn't depend on palm oil or any other fillers to bring you a premium Hexane-free product.
Available in a 16-ounce or 30-ounce bottle, you can get 32 and 59 servings respectively. You will get approximately 14 grams of C8 and C10 acids per serving to get your energy production going.
Flavorless and odorless, this high-quality MCT oil supplement can be a great addition to anything you want to consume MCT oil with. Coffee, salad dressing, guacamole (the healthy fat from avocados is a perfect pairing), nut butter are all some great options to get this into your diet.
Nature's Way has been a trusted supplement company since 1969, sourcing quality non-GMO ingredients as often as possible.
All their products go through a rigorous testing, including chemical, microbiological, and identity, so you know you are getting exactly what you are paying for.
Key Points:
Bulletproof Brain Octane C8 MCT oil is our choice for your best premium MCT oil option. Brain Octane oil is made from 100% coconut oil, no palm kernel oil filler oils which can be found in some lesser quality MCT oils.
Brain Octane is made up of pure C8 caprylic acid, unlike other MCT oils that utilize additional acids to fill out their product.
Pure C8 alone has been shown to have the highest ketone-producing ability, kicking your brain into gear with a superior boost of energy.1
Bulletproof MCT oil can be used in coffee (like the company's original Bulletproof coffee), salad dressings, marinade, and many other applications that can add variety to your supplement intake.
Brain Octane Oil is gluten and dairy free and uses non-GMO coconuts.
Key Points:
Brain Octane C8 MCT oil is extracted from 100% coconut oil, not palm oil, and rapidly converts into brain-powering, fat-burning ketone energy...
Onnit MCT Oil supplies three different medium chain triglycerides, in the form of C8 caprylic acid, C10 capric acid, and C12 lauric acid. While other MCT oils on this list don't contain the medium-chain triglyceride lauric acid, mainly due to its slower absorption time, this coconut oil based product doesn't shy away from keeping them as part of their product.
One way to look at it is to keep a closer composition to unrefined coconut oil than some of the other products on the market.
An added benefit of keeping lauric acid in the mix is the positive effect it has on your gut biome. It has antibacterial properties that can keep your healthy gut bacteria winning the battle over bad sickness-causing bacteria. Does this mean this product will keep you from getting sick? No, it doesn't, but gut health is extremely important for your overall well-being and can contribute to more efficient weight loss.
Key Points:
100% pure premium MCT oil with lauric acid, harvested from coconuts. Onnit MCT Oil is sustainably sourced and contains no palm oil...
Sports Research is back on the list, this time for their powdered form of MCT oil. Just like its liquid counterpart, this MCT oil powder is derived from organic coconuts, is USDA Organic Certified, Keto and Vegan Certified, and Non-GMO Verified.
You can expect to get the same health benefits as you would from liquid MCT oil products, but in a creamier when mixed package. This might be a great option for someone who is looking to get a somewhat smaller dose of medium chain triglycerides due to the amount being 6 grams of MCTs versus the approximately 14 grams in liquid versions.
Also in this product, you get 3 grams of Organic Acacia, which is a great natural prebiotic that will help keep your digestive system functioning as optimally as it can.
Key Points:
Say hello to your new daily ritual! Load up on C8 and C10 by mixing our coconut oil MCT into your morning coffee, tea, or smoothie formulas...
Perfect Keto MCT Oil Powder has got our pick for the best flavored MCT Oil. Processed from organic coconuts, this organic MCT oil powder is comprised of 70% C8 caprylic acid and 30% C10 capric acid, so you will be getting 7 grams and 3 grams per serving, respectively.
Perfect Keto MCT Oil Powder comes in an 11.5-ounce BPA-free plastic container, giving you 30 servings per container. This is pure MCT oil in a delicious powder form. Available in chocolate, cinnamon toast, matcha, peanut butter, salted caramel, strawberry, unflavored, and vanilla, this can help on your weight loss journey while giving you something with great flavor.
Unlike some other powdered MCT oils, Perfect Keto doesn't rely on lactose to get a creamy consistency when mixed in. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and keto-friendly means this is a great choice for almost anyone's dietary needs.
Key Points:
Has zero added carbs or sugar - just MCT fats from coconuts, which curb your appetite & hunger. It’s GF, nondairy, and best for Keto...
Horbäach has our pick for the best capsule form of MCT oil. With every serving of Horbäach MCT Oil Capsules, you get 3.6 grams of C8 and C10 medium chain fatty acids. While this is a lower amount of MCT oils, the capsules are the gentlest form of MCT oil on the gut, which may be appealing to those with a sensitivity to this dietary supplement.
MCT oil capsules are an easier-to-transport form of MCT oil, making them ideal for someone who may be traveling a lot and doesn't want to risk spilling liquid MCT oils all over everything.
Capsules also have the added benefit of being encapsulated in gelatin, so you don't have to worry about the MCT oil going bad on you.
Horbäach does use coconut oil as well as palm kernel oil in their product, which can vary the percentage range of caprylic acid and capric acid by 10% in each serving size. So those looking for a product that is made from 100% organic coconuts and nothing else may want to check out other options on this list.
Key Points:
Our professional formula is backed by our commitment to purity and potency. Laboratory Tested, Trusted Ingredients, Superior Quality, 100% Guaranteed!...
Here's how our 7 choices for MCT oil supplements stack up against each other.
Product |
Price |
Number of Servings |
MCT per Serving |
Type of MCT |
Additional Features |
Customer Rating |
$28 |
79 |
14g |
C8 + C10 (caprylic & capric acids) |
Keto, organic, vegan, sustainably-sourced coconut oil |
||
$27 |
32 |
14g |
C8 + C10 |
100% organic; usually big discount offered on Amazon |
||
$24 |
32 |
14g |
C8 |
100% coconut oil, not palm oil |
||
$24.95 |
47 |
12.7g |
C8, C10 & C12 (lauric acid) |
Also contains some LCTs; reputable company that focuses on sports performance |
||
$22.50 |
30 |
6g |
C8 & C10 |
3g dietary fiber (bound to acacia to blend better), MCT oil powder |
||
$39.99 |
30 |
7g |
C8 & C10 |
Flavored, bound to acacia fiber for easy blending, MCT oil powder |
||
$33 |
100 |
3.6g |
90+% C8 & C10 |
Soft gel MCT oil capsules |
MCT Oil or medium chain triglyceride oil, is a type of fat found in common products like coconut oil as well as palm oil.
MCT has the interesting distinction of being considered a "healthy fat" (which are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats), even though it is mainly made from saturated fat (which is an "unhealthy fat").
MCT oil is made from a process called fractionation, which isolates and extracts only the MCTs which are absorbed quickly by the body and turned into ketones.
As you can probably infer from the name, there are also short-chain triglycerides and long-chain triglycerides.
For the sake of brevity, we'll stick to the relevant fatty acids found in coconut oil which are medium-chain fatty acids and long-chain fatty acids.
The difference between medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) and long chain triglycerides (LCTs) is the number of carbon atoms contained in all of the fatty acids.
Medium chain fatty acids have carbon counts of 6 through 12.
Long chain triglycerides have carbon values between 13 atoms and 20 atoms.
Here's the key point: The longer the fatty acid chain, the longer it takes to be absorbed into the body and used for energy.
It should be noted that while C12 lauric acid makes up a large part of the medium chain triglycerides, it acts closer to a long chain triglyceride, which is why you won't usually see it in a "premium quality" MCT oil.
C6 capric acid is also removed due to its unpleasant taste.
So that leaves C8 and C10 as the "best types of MCT Oil".
In order to get the full benefit of taking MCT oil, you should be on a ketogenic bodybuilding diet. That being said, people that are on a keto diet have sung the praises of adding MCT oil to their weight management routine. While it may not be a cure-all product, taking a good MCT oil can possibly help with a wealth of things.
People taking an MCT oil as part of a reduced calorie diet may see a positive change in their weight loss progress, though overall more research is needed on this topic.2 MCT oils increase the release of the hormones peptide YY and leptin, which signals fullness to your body. If you feel satiated, you are less likely to snack or have other negative dietary behaviors.
Pure MCT oil also help keep your body in ketosis - a fat burning metabolic state - when following a low-carbohydrate diet. Burning fat to use for body and brain energy may help with overall weight and fat loss especially when incorporating some sort of exercise into your daily routine.3
MCT oil may help increase the good bacteria in your gut as well, which means you'll be able to digest your food more efficiently. A well-oiled machine works a lot better when all of its internal parts are lubricated and tuned up.4
Keep in mind that MCT oil is still a fat, meaning it's a calorie-dense nutrient providing 9 calories per gram. Adding too much to your diet can halt weight loss progress - as with all things you'll get best results when used in moderation.
While in the beginning stages of a ketogenic diet, people find their energy levels drop and may turn to a product such as Keto Energy, which will give a caffeine and energy boost.
As your body enters a state of ketosis, MCT oil can help increase energy by the quickly produced ketones. Rather than needing to be broken down by your body, your liver will convert the MCTs to ketones which will promote energy almost instantly. As ketones, they can pass through the blood-brain barrier and be converted to energy in your brain cells and even contribute to brain health.5
Studies have found that MCT oil blocks a receptor in the brain that causes memory loss. There also have been studies of high-quality MCT oil improving short-term cognition of people with a specific Alzheimer's gene type.6
As you can see from our list of products, there is a decent amount of variety in just the small amount of products we've covered. If you want to know what is a good MCT oil to buy, then consider these points below.
Knowing that MCT oil can be taken from coconut oil as well as palm kernel oil, figuring out how important the source of your MCT oil is to you should take priority. Do you need to have only organic coconuts, or are you fine with a blend of oils? If you decide to buy a powdered MCT oil supplement, what is being used as the binder?
Special ingredients could be something as simple as natural flavoring. An unflavored MCT oil is less likely to have any additives, while our recommendation for best powdered MCT oil has organic acacia in it, which is a prebiotic not seen in any of the other options.
It is becoming more and more common for people to be concerned about where their food and supplements are coming from. These products will display proudly on their bottle if it's USDA certified organic MCT oil, if organic coconut oil was used, Vegan-friendly, Dairy-free, Gluten-free, or non-GMO verified. Even checking to make sure it's a BPA-free plastic bottle if the container isn't glass.
Price can vary widely by product. More expensive doesn't always indicate a good MCT oil. Some of the best MCT oils available don't have to break the bank. One may look at a product like Performance Lab MCT oil (which is on the higher end of the price spectrum) and assume it must blow the competition away, but you can find a comparable product for much less money.
Remember to check the size of the container and the cost of price per fluid ounce for liquid MCTs so you can really understand how much you are paying.
It's always good to check out the reviews both good and bad to see what people that have tried the product think about it. Fair warning, when it comes to MCT oil reviews, you are going to see a lot of reviews mentioning an upset stomach which seems to occur when not easing into product use.
The choice between MCT oil, MCT powder, and MCT capsules depends on individual preferences, lifestyle, and intended usage. Let's compare the three options to understand their advantages and considerations:
In summary, if you prioritize simplicity and versatility, MCT oil is a solid choice. If you prefer a mess-free option and want to avoid the oily texture, MCT oil powders might be more suitable. On the other hand, if convenience and portability are top priorities, MCT capsules are the way to go. Ultimately, the best option depends on your personal preferences and how you plan to incorporate MCTs into your daily routine.
As mentioned above, there are many ways you can consume your MCT oil. The powdered form can be mixed into your beverage of choice, capsule form is self-explanatory. Options really open up with a liquid MCT oil. It can be mixed into your Bulletproof coffee, be used in salad dressings, taken as a standalone shot, or really however you feel like getting creative. That being said, it isn't recommended as a cooking oil due to reduced efficacy.
MCT oil is still a fat and too much can impact health, especially heart health. It's best to use it as a replacement for some of the long-chain fatty acids in your diet vs adding it on top of your current fat intake.
In general, people mostly take their MCT oil in the morning, commonly with their coffee. Taking MCT oil in the morning can help get you out of the morning brain fog and give you some mental clarity, not to mention MCT oil increases ketones in your body, starting off your day with fat burning.
Another popular time to take your favorite MCT oil is as a pre-workout supplement. Since ketones are converted to energy almost immediately, taking MCT before your workout will give you increased physical energy.
Just like the coconut oil, it is derived from, even the best MCT oils can cause abdominal discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting if too high a dose is taken. It's better to start with a lower dose to assess how your body responds and increase accordingly.
Check with your health care provider before adding any supplements to your diet.
MCT oil is a concentrated form of specific medium-chain triglycerides found in coconut oil, offering rapid digestion and absorption. Coconut oil, on the other hand, is a more diverse oil containing a mix of fatty acids, including both medium and long-chain triglycerides. Each has its unique benefits and uses, and the choice between the two depends on individual health goals and culinary preferences.
If you have been enjoying the benefits of coconut oil and are looking to refine your supplementation to only the beneficial saturated fats, then making the jump to MCT oil might be the logical step for you.
We've given you some of the science behind the functioning of MCT and your body, but if you really want to take a deep dive into the subject, you can research MCT oil on the Clinical Nutrition site. Fair warning, the presentations can be a bit wordy to get through.
Our favorite MCT oil comes from Sports Research due to its purity plus the fact it only contains C8 and C10 acids.
Whether you are looking for sustained energy throughout the day, or want to take advantage of the potential benefits of pairing MCT oil with low-carb diets, we've given you a rundown of which MCT oil is best on the market right now. As a final recap, here they are:
MCT C8 and C10 are body and brain boosting fatty acids that are extracted from organic coconut oil. Our MCT oil C8 Caprylic Acid and C10 Capric Acid is quickly digested...
Looking for more supplements to boost your health? Check out our post that covers the Best Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplements on the market.
References:
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