Is MCT Oil the key to ultimate fat burning.

Of all the ‘magic foods’ that have appeared on the market in the past decade, perhaps none is so touted as MCT oil. Many athletes and lifters swear by it’s ability to raise energy and burn fat. So…what is it? And what does it really do?

MCT simply stands for medium chain triglycerides, as opposed to long chain triglycerides (LCT) found in most foods.  When MCTs are absorbed into the blood stream, their unique structure allows them to bypass the usual fat digestion process, making them more likely to be used for quick energy and less likely to be stored in the fat cells. When MCT is added to a meal, there is a significant increase in the number of calories burned through thermogenesis.

Cliff Sheats explains it like this: Our bodies are mostly water, so the body requires an elaborate process to metabolize hydrophobic fats. When LCT’s enter the body they are dissolved by bile in the stomach, then protein carriers in the intestines carry them into the lymphatic system. Eventually they reach the bloodstream in their new form and trigger insulin.

MCT’s are more water-soluble. These glycerides are transported directly from the small intestine to the liver. In the liver, many are converted into ketone bodies, which the muscles can use for energy. A second portion of the MCT’s are used for thermogenesis, and a third is converted to ATP, the energy currency of the cell. Being almost entirely processed in the liver means MCT’s are unlikely to be stored as fat.

However, some doctors are not so gung-ho on the supplement. Many have cited that it’s effects have only been proven clinically in animals. MCT does also raise cholesterol so doctors usually do not recommend it if you have diabetes, gastrointestinal problems, or high cholesterol.

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