Coconut Oil Vs. MCT Oil: Which Is Better?
Shrewd marketing leads to confusion between coconut oil and MCT oil’s benefits and composition. MCT oil, or medium-chain triglycerides, features fatty acids with a lengthy aliphatic tail and multiple carbon atoms. MCT oils earn recognition for their easy digestibility and sustained energy provision. They aid weight loss and support cognitive function. Conversely, coconut oil earns praise as a “life-saving” oil abundant in beneficial acids such as caprylic, capric, and lauric acid. Food and medicine guru Dr. Axe has called it an amazing fruit. Many are familiar with MCT oil and coconut oil due to their use in natural food and beauty products.
But the debate is on as to which is better — coconut oil or MCT oil.
The Truth About Coconut Oil
The coconut oil industry would have you believe coconut oil is an ideal source for MCT oil, claiming it contains sixty-two percent of MCT oil. The problem is, studies support the idea that coconut oil cannot truly provide a sufficient amount of MCT oil. However, not everyone agrees with this assessment, and some defend coconut oil, considering it superior to MCT oil. Health Impact News notes that MCT oil is manufactured, while coconut oil is natural. They also do their part to try and shut this conversation down, writing, “Is MCT oil better than coconut oil? No, of course not. How can a product with the most famous and dominant fatty acid removed be considered “better”?
They also state that, unlike MCT oil, lauric acid is unique to coconut oil, making up fifty percent of its fatty acids. It’s worth mentioning that 91% of the fat in coconut oil consists of healthy saturated fat.
Perhaps what is most impressive about coconut oil is its proven ability to help repair damaged brain function in those suffering from the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease. But it doesn’t stop there…
Aside from the ketones coconut oil produces in the liver (which improve brain functioning and help speed up the transition into ketosis), it also works to convert bad cholesterol into good cholesterol, thereby protecting against high blood pressure and cardiovascular issues. Many medical professionals have written extensively about the sundry benefits coconut oil consumption can unlock including potential protection against liver damage, osteoporosis and gum disease. It also serves as an anti-aging remedy and plays a role in balancing hormones. Coconut oil is really just a venerable natural food in virtually every way one could think of. It supports the immune system, prevents and treats cancer, improves skin problems and Type II Diabetes, and builds muscle.
It’s kind of astounding all the areas in which coconut oil can be of assistance from colitis and ulcer reduction to elimination of acid reflux and alleviation of pancreatitis. It is an organic panacea for not only pancreatitits but also heart disease and kidney infection. You name it, coconut oil is there to help! When we talk about superfoods, coconut oil should be at the top of the list. A lot of us have long been lead to believe that saturated fats are a health no-no, but modern science has debunked the theory.
According to Dr. Brenna, a noted specialist interviewed by the New York Times, “I think we in the nutrition field are beginning to say that saturated fats are not so bad, and the evidence that said they were is not so strong.”
Some of you will remember when movie theaters discontinued their use of coconut oil for buttering their popcorn, first in 1994 and again in 2009. This was due to the efforts of a consumer group called Center for Science in the Public Interest who falsely claimed that a large-size serving of popcorn contained as much saturated fat as six Big Macs. Thankfully, popular demand forces movie theater chains to restore coconut oil, but ongoing studies continue to explore its effects. Initial studies suggest coconut oil plays a role in atherosclerosis, but ongoing research debunks these claims.
Virgin coconut oil has a unique impact on a person’s cholesterol profile, one that runs parallel to that of hydrogenated oil. Therefore, it is not possible for it to cause atherosclerosis.
The Truth About MCT Oil
MCT oil is undeniably healthy and worthwhile, but is it “better” than coconut oil? The answer, of course, remains no. However, that doesn’t mean one should write it off entirely.
MCT oil quickly digests and goes straight to the liver. They exert a thermogenic effect and aid in proper metabolism. They are burned for energy whereas other fats are stored up.
Like coconut oil, MCT oil can help balance hormonal levels, fight bacterial infections and assist with maintaining a healthy weight. Unlike coconut oil, however, MCT oil is said to improve mood.
According to Be Brain Fit, MCT oil benefits those with depressive disorders and Alzheimer’s disease. It’s also used to feed premature babies and aid kids with epilepsy.
MCT oil has found favor with bodybuilders for its ability to increase lean muscle mass. Like its predecessor, MCT oil promotes energy and protects against the effects of aging.
MCT oil also supports gut bacteria, exerting antiviral and antibacterial properties.
Which Is Better?
Here is where it gets tricky, folks.
There really can’t be a clear and concise case for one over the other. Coconut oil is very rich in MCT’s, but the MCT oil manufacturers produce a more concentrated oil than coconut oil.
But while MCT oils are more concentrated, they do not contain any beneficial forms of MCT.
While coconut oil contains all four MCFA’s (lauric acid, capric acid, caprylic acid, and caproic acid) and is rich in lauric acid, MCT oils usually do not contain lauric acid.
In summation, if you are looking for a swift kick in the pants, one that affords you energy with some staying power, then MCT oil is the oil for you.
But if you want to reap the full benefits of lauric acid, benefits that include immune support and much, much more, then you need to get your hands on some coconut oil. STAT!
Also read our blog on Top 7 Nootropic Adaptogens to Conquer Anxiety and Stress
