MCT/XCT Oil and Coconut Oil?
CoconuttyMummy
Posts: 685 Member
Im just starting out on my Keto journey and Bulletproof Coffee with 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp coconut oil is my new breakfast (plus 1 scoop protein powder - i hope adding whey/casein to BPC doesnt prevent or reduce ketosis?? I figure the body needs protein to prevent catabalism and i struggle to get enough if i dont use a protein powder.).
My questions relating to XCT/MCT oil are:
1). What are the differences between MCT/XCT and Coconut Oils?
2). Is MCT/XCT oil really necessary in your opinion?
3). Does MCT/XCT oil help the body get into ketosis more than coconut oil?
At £30 a bottle this oil is crazy expensive, as im sure you've noticed!, so im trying to ascertain iff i NEED it or not?
Thanks guys.
My questions relating to XCT/MCT oil are:
1). What are the differences between MCT/XCT and Coconut Oils?
2). Is MCT/XCT oil really necessary in your opinion?
3). Does MCT/XCT oil help the body get into ketosis more than coconut oil?
At £30 a bottle this oil is crazy expensive, as im sure you've noticed!, so im trying to ascertain iff i NEED it or not?
Thanks guys.
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Replies
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I've been wondering the same things. Sorry I'm no help.0
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@Mami1976D - No worries! So much information to collect when you first start out on Keto isnt there?
I dont mind spending that much on a bottle of oil (*gulp*) IF it has some real benefit over coconut oil. If it did happen to speed up or encourage stronger ketosis or help the scale go down in whatever way then id be all over it, but if its addded benefits are minimal i dont think i could justify it.0 -
http://healthimpactnews.com/2014/mct-oil-vs-coconut-oil-the-truth-exposed/
http://paleoleap.com/mct-oil-need-know/ (slightly less biased)
That should shed some light on the differences. It is entirely possible to go keto and never eat coconut. I use MCT oil in my coffee in the morning (with my scoop of protein powder), but I don't like the flavor of coconut early in the day and I'm not eating dairy right now.
MCT oil does, however, make awesome mayo.0 -
Thanks @Twibbly - I'll go read your links right away.0
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A "me too", actually.
I found 3 different articles that have a lot of info, but not sure how good the info is:
http://paleoleap.com/mct-oil-need-know/
http://healthimpactnews.com/2014/mct-oil-vs-coconut-oil-the-truth-exposed/
https://www.bulletproofexec.com/what-is-mct-oil-vs-coconut-oil/
Looks like MCT oil is concentrated.
No idea what the bulletproof guy's XCT oil is. More concentrated??
-T.
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Hmm, im still not clear as to whether MCT/XCT oil increases or encourages ketosis or aids in weightloss more than coconut oil?0
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I'm not sure whether there have been any actual studies done on it.0
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I just understood MCT oil to be like a coconut oil extract with greater MCT density.
Maybe that is too simple but it was explained in a way I could get 0 -
professionalHobbyist wrote: »I just understood MCT oil to be like a coconut oil extract with greater MCT density.
Maybe that is too simple but it was explained in a way I could get
I understand that but im not clear on if the effects differ consuming MCT over coconut oil? Specifically physical tangible results, ie increased weightloss if using MCT over coconut oil?
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A "me too", actually.
I found 3 different articles that have a lot of info, but not sure how good the info is:
http://paleoleap.com/mct-oil-need-know/
http://healthimpactnews.com/2014/mct-oil-vs-coconut-oil-the-truth-exposed/
https://www.bulletproofexec.com/what-is-mct-oil-vs-coconut-oil/
Looks like MCT oil is concentrated.
No idea what the bulletproof guy's XCT oil is. More concentrated??
-T.
Ooh thanks, i'll have a read now
Edited to add: OK, i hadnt read the last one from the bulletproof guy himself, thanks.
I think im just going to go for the XCT oil and hope its worth it. In for a penny in for £30 i guess.
I mean, what's the general consensus regards MCT? Do a majority of ketoers use it, or just a minority?
Does anyone reading this use MCT/XCT oil and if so do you personally feel it has greater benefits than just coconut oi?
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MCTs are medium chain triglycerides. There are C6 - caproic acid, c8 - caprylic acid, C10 - capric acid, and C12 - lauric acid. Coconut oil is high in lauric acid (It also has lower levels of the others). The MCT oils out there are refined from coconut oil so that they contain a higher concentration of of the other acids (C6-C10) but removing the lauric acid.
Our bodies use the capric acids, as they are called, a bit differently than the lauric acid, but probably not to the extent that they improve weight loss or metabolism. Some people claim that the MCTs are like "rocket fuel" for the brain, but I am not so sure that is true for everyone - maybe some folks are more sensitive.
My take is that it is more of a money making issue than a health one.
Pax0 -
greenautumn17 wrote: »MCTs are medium chain triglycerides. There are C6 - caproic acid, c8 - caprylic acid, C10 - capric acid, and C12 - lauric acid. Coconut oil is high in lauric acid (It also has lower levels of the others). The MCT oils out there are refined from coconut oil so that they contain a higher concentration of of the other acids (C6-C10) but removing the lauric acid.
Our bodies use the capric acids, as they are called, a bit differently than the lauric acid, but probably not to the extent that they improve weight loss or metabolism. Some people claim that the MCTs are like "rocket fuel" for the brain, but I am not so sure that is true for everyone - maybe some folks are more sensitive.
My take is that it is more of a money making issue than a health one.
Pax
I read the first two articles and agree with this quote. I don't think one is better than the other considering the mcts are inside coconut oil itself...mct is a manufactured, concentrated version of those triglycerides. You're not going to see increased weight loss as a result of consuming one over the other. Try both and see what you like better. I like coconut oil and i'm not interested in trying MCT, largely due to the cost.0 -
Responses appreciated, thanks Pax & TiaBia9. You both seem in agreement that MCT oil will not improve metabolism or weightloss over coconut oil, so its appeal to me is rapidly diminishing.
I wonder if its improved energy claims are true compared to coconut oil? Im always tired so that would be something id be interested in too, if only the increased energy claims were true.0 -
Coconut oil makes me more energetic than MCT oil, but that's just my personal experience. I get warmer as well.0
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Wow, that's a surprise - sounds like id be better to spend my money elsewhere then.0
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Coconut oil makes me more energetic than MCT oil, but that's just my personal experience. I get warmer as well.
I'm so glad you weighed in! I have been thinking of trying the real Bulletproof Coffee with the XCT oil or whatever to see if it actually gives me more energy.... but honestly, I think the only thing that's going to give me more energy is to actually get enough sleep. Sleeping only 11 pm to 4 or 5 am on a daily basis just isn't sustainable for me, although my lifestyle requires pretty much every moment of those 18-19 waking hours to accomplish the necessities.
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Sleep is our friend. I normally get about 9 hours...0
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http://healthimpactnews.com/2014/mct-oil-vs-coconut-oil-the-truth-exposed/
http://paleoleap.com/mct-oil-need-know/ (slightly less biased)
That should shed some light on the differences. It is entirely possible to go keto and never eat coconut. I use MCT oil in my coffee in the morning (with my scoop of protein powder), but I don't like the flavor of coconut early in the day and I'm not eating dairy right now.
MCT oil does, however, make awesome mayo.
Remember, too, that refined coconut oil is tasteless. I don't like coconut (at all), and so refined works fabulously for me.
So if MCT makes awesome mayo, does coconut oil do the same? I love the mayo recipe I have, but it uses olive oil, and a lot of it. I end up buying it just to make the recipe. I already buy coconut oil in quantity, so... What MCT recipe do you use (for the mayo)? Interested at seeing if I can convert it.0 -
Coconut oil makes me more energetic than MCT oil, but that's just my personal experience. I get warmer as well.
I'm so glad you weighed in! I have been thinking of trying the real Bulletproof Coffee with the XCT oil or whatever to see if it actually gives me more energy.... but honestly, I think the only thing that's going to give me more energy is to actually get enough sleep. Sleeping only 11 pm to 4 or 5 am on a daily basis just isn't sustainable for me, although my lifestyle requires pretty much every moment of those 18-19 waking hours to accomplish the necessities.
My guy's shifts changed at work, and I started getting slightly over 6 hours of sleep (compared to my normal 4.5-5.5 hours), and man, I was tired all the time! I either need that lower number (around 5 hours) or much higher (upwards of 7.5 hours) or my body SO does not like me!0 -
KnitOrMiss wrote: »So if MCT makes awesome mayo, does coconut oil do the same? I love the mayo recipe I have, but it uses olive oil, and a lot of it. I end up buying it just to make the recipe. I already buy coconut oil in quantity, so... What MCT recipe do you use (for the mayo)? Interested at seeing if I can convert it.
Not sure how well that would work, only because coconut oil is usually solid at room temperature...0 -
So much great info! Awesome thread
Now I know why my cheaper coconut oil is great for cooking seafood and imparting a tiny sweet taste
I use refined organic in my coffee. Is has no taste0 -
KnitOrMiss wrote: »So if MCT makes awesome mayo, does coconut oil do the same? I love the mayo recipe I have, but it uses olive oil, and a lot of it. I end up buying it just to make the recipe. I already buy coconut oil in quantity, so... What MCT recipe do you use (for the mayo)? Interested at seeing if I can convert it.
Solid at room temperature = hard as rock in fridge.
Basic recipe: Put egg, 1 tbsp or so acid (lemon juice or vinegar) & a good squirt of mustard in a jar. I use a wide-mouth pint-size Mason jar. Add one cup oil. Put immersion blender in, but do NOT start it for a minute. Let the oil all rise to the top. Start on low, do not move blender for a minute. After a minute, slowly slowly slowly move the immersion blend up through the oil. If you do it too quickly or put the blender on high, your mayo will break. Add salt/pepper/whatever for seasonings.
I've made it with straight MCT oil (failed once, but that's because my blender refused to work on low anymore) and have made it with half bacon grease and half MCT (good on burgers, weird in tuna). The one time I tried with light olive oil, it failed.0 -
I've made it with straight MCT oil (failed once, but that's because my blender refused to work on low anymore) and have made it with half bacon grease and half MCT (good on burgers, weird in tuna). The one time I tried with light olive oil, it failed.
Mmmmm... bacony mayo.
A lot of folks in the paleo community swear by avocado oil.0 -
Even though i intended to save my money, i felt compelled to give the Upgraded MCT Oil from the Bulletproof guy a go. I cant save money if i try! - Oh well, at least its on something healthy.
I ordered mine from Amazon. Not sure how long it will take to turn up, but im eager to give it a go. Im really interested to see how the MCT compares to Coconut Oil, particularly from an energy & satiety standpoint (but also, harder to prove, its longterm efffects re weightloss).0 -
I did try one bottle of MCT from Amazon too but just went back to coconut oil because I like the taste and easy of use/purchase price.0
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I have a bottle of MCT oil sitting in case I run out of coconut. It's probably good as a salad dressing, but don't cook with it. It's also tasteless and I wonder if I can use it on my face instead of coconut oil?0
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CoconuttyMummy wrote: »My questions relating to XCT/MCT oil are:
1). What are the differences between MCT/XCT and Coconut Oils?
2). Is MCT/XCT oil really necessary in your opinion?
3). Does MCT/XCT oil help the body get into ketosis more than coconut oil?
1. MCT is Medium Chained Triglycerides... Coconut Oil is about 55% lauric acid, makes coconut oil solid, there are some smaller chained fats (triglycerides) that account for the composition of what's on coconut oil. Coconut oil only contains a small fraction of MCTs.
2. For what? Do I think it's necessary for anything, no, you could get by without it, but it offers some awesome results.
3. Two words... H##L YES. The stuff works wonders to jumping you and keeping you in ketosis... If you take 15ml three times a day, whew... Great stuff... Once took 30ml (not recommended) at once, went from 0.4mmols/L to 2.1mmols/L in about 30 minutes. Felt terrible, but it works...
Questions?
Michael.0 -
MCT oil makes me feel terrible as well. But it does jump start ketone production even without carb restriction and within a hour or two I lost a lot of water weight on the john for sure.0
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CoconuttyMummy wrote: »My questions relating to XCT/MCT oil are:
1). What are the differences between MCT/XCT and Coconut Oils?
2). Is MCT/XCT oil really necessary in your opinion?
3). Does MCT/XCT oil help the body get into ketosis more than coconut oil?
1. MCT is Medium Chained Triglycerides... Coconut Oil is about 55% lauric acid, makes coconut oil solid, there are some smaller chained fats (triglycerides) that account for the composition of what's on coconut oil. Coconut oil only contains a small fraction of MCTs.
2. For what? Do I think it's necessary for anything, no, you could get by without it, but it offers some awesome results.
3. Two words... H##L YES. The stuff works wonders to jumping you and keeping you in ketosis... If you take 15ml three times a day, whew... Great stuff... Once took 30ml (not recommended) at once, went from 0.4mmols/L to 2.1mmols/L in about 30 minutes. Felt terrible, but it works...
Questions?
Michael.
Cheers, Michael - this was helpful. I've switched from Coconut Oil to MCT Oil in my BPC since it arrived a few days ago and i have to say i have been a little more energetic and ive stayed in ketosis more consistently. I wasnt sure if it was worth the huge price difference but if it delivers improved results im happy to shell out for it.
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Yay. Another thing I'll have to try.0
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