Coconut oil is all the rage these days, whether you’re using it to moisturize your skin, bake, or sauté veggies for a curry. Part of the reason for its popularity is the recognition that coconut oil is a lot healthier than previously thought, for two reasons. The first reason is that saturated fats are not the dietary villain they were once considered to be.*[1] (Coconut oil, like butter, is mostly saturated fat.) The second reason is MCTs.
MCTs, short for medium-chain triglycerides, are a type of fat that naturally occurs in coconut oil. These consist of four different fatty acids: caproic, capric, caprylic and lauric acids.
There’s emerging evidence that MCTs are burned differently than other fats — they can be converted directly to energy rather than being stored as fat.[2] This means MCTs do not contribute to weight gain in the same way long-chain triglycerides do.*[3],[4]
In fact, MCTs may even help people keep their cholesterol levels within a normal range.*[5],[6] MCTs also provide the brain with fuel in the form of ketones, which may help seniors stay sharp.*[7]
There’s just one caution. Like all fats, coconut oil is high in calories, so you don’t want to pig out on the stuff.
MCT oil consists of pure, concentrated MCTs. So, if you’re mainly interested in the metabolic and brain health benefits of MCTs, a high-quality oil such as Barlean’s MCT Swirl is your best bet. But if you’re after something you can use for culinary or cosmetic purposes (that also provides a smaller amount of MCTs), you should opt for coconut oil.
Barlean’s has three coconut oils for you to choose from: Organic Virgin Coconut Oil has a pleasant coconut flavor, while Organic Culinary Coconut Oil is flavorless and Organic Butter Flavored Coconut Oil, tastes, you guessed it, like butter (even though it’s vegan).
Either way — Barlean’s MCT Swirl and assortment of coconut oils — are an easy, delicious way to get more MCTs into your diet.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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