Oils - MCT and others - Demistify please!

Catawampous

OK I am having a hard time understanding this stuff. It seems so complicated and frustrating. I am doing well on keto and love it! But I do lack knowledge in this area and need a bit of help.

MCT oil - Is this coconut oil or not? If not, what is a good MCT oil to get and why? If it IS - same question. How do I find a good one and what should I be looking for and looking OUT for?

Olive Oils - I see folks saying "make sure it is good olive oil". Ok what does that mean? I have no idea how to tell a good one from a bad one. Ingredients on mine either isn't there that I can find OR it just says Olive Oil. LOL

The reason I am interested in this is I tend to be very OCD. It has gotten better since I've been on keto but I'd like to see if I can improve this part of my brain even more. I understand some people respond well to MCT oils for this?

As a side note - I am on a pretty tight budget for these types of things so I can't spend $20 on a small bottle of oil so any recommendations on this would be helpful.

Thank you guys!

cstehansen

MCT = medium chain triglyceride

These are USUALLY going to be a modified coconut oil, but can be obtained from palm.

By removing one of the fatty acids from coconut oil, it makes it liquid and primarily MCT. There are different types of MCT. I believe the range is from 8 to 12 carbon bonds. 8 is optimal. Few packages will specify the number of carbon bonds.

@Sunny_Bunny_ has some recommendations for brands. Ketomct.com is a newer brand that was highlighted by Jimmy Moore recently.

As for olive oil, try to stick with extra virgin or at least virgin. Avoid "light" olive oil because it has been mixed with vegetable oil.

Catawampous

OK thank you! And ok I need to buy a different olive oil because I see mine is marked "light".

kpk54

Generally Speaking:

Commercial MCT Oil is either a combo of coconut oil and palm kernel oil or coconut oil only.
Commercial MCT Oil is either USUALLY C-8 only or a combo of C-8 and C-10.
Of the commercial MCT Oils I have researched, seen, used: those that are coconut oil only and C-8 only are usually the more expensive.

I have been supplementing with MCT Oil for about 4 or 5 months (would have to look) solely because there is an MCT OIL Diet for epilepsy. While I do not have epilepsy, I do have a neurological movement disorder so my use has been a trial for what is readily observable involuntary movement-meaning little guessing involved. I either move involuntarily or I don't (as much). Keto alone (without MCT supplementation) is responsible for my improvement.

Personally I have seen no improvement in my Dystonia with the use of MCT Oil (or improvement of anything else such as attentiveness). I've used 1 tablespoon or 3 tablespoons (daily). YMMV regarding your purpose for using.

I'm currently using Brain Octane (brand) that is C-8 only and coconut oil only. Previously I used Now Sports (brand) which was a mix coconut/palm kernel and C-8/C-10. I did not like Now Sports Brand because while it is touted as being "tasteless" it does have a taste to me. Brain Octane is "tasteless" to me but is about 3 times the price. $50/qt. with shipping versus $17/qt. for Now Sports available at the local GNC.

In regards to olive oil: I'm personally not a fan. I prefer avocado oil so no help. I'll leave it to others to discuss potential fraud in labeling and the Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio.

You've probably already read this article. 1 person's insight/opinion:

http://www.phoenixhelix.com/2013/03/04/would-the-real-olive-oil-please-stand-up/

Lois_1989

I've been told MCT oil isn't really necessary unless you want to use it for things like smoothies. Where coconut oil would go solid, MCT stays liquid, otherwise coconut oil is just as good, therefore doesn't justify the cost (in my head). But that is what I have read, I can be convinced, if someone has more information on it.

RalfLott

Highly-rated (Consumerlab.com), inexpensive olive oils are Kirkland's EVOO, regular and organic. The organic is a little more expensive but really good stuff!

Phinney sent a sample from a bottle he got at Costco to a lab to verify that it's pure olive oil.

Catawampous

Thank you guys! This is helping a lot.

@kpk54 ... Thank you for explaining how the oils worked for you and the link. I hadn't seen it I read it at lunch and it was really helpful. NOW I get what *good* means. I will have to reread and process when I get home from work.

@RalfLott. Thanks for that! I will have to see if I can find that brand around here!

kimberwolf71

@Catawampous you will only find Kirkland at Costco. That is their store brand.

Sunny_Bunny_

There's an in depth discussion on MCT oil here
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/37343584#Comment_37343584

RalfLott

Note on Kirkland brands and just-updated recommendation for best cheap olive oil:
http://www.familysavvy.com/the-best-supermarket-extra-virgin-olive-oil/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ULUVU4
http://www.walmart.com/ip/California-Olive-Ranch-Extra-Virgin-Olive-Oil-25.4-fl-oz/40685373

Note - In the US, you can get Kirkland EVOO by mail from Amazon, but it's much cheaper at Costco.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BOTZTDO

RalfLott

cstehansen wrote: »

MCT = medium chain triglyceride

These are USUALLY going to be a modified coconut oil, but can be obtained from palm.

By removing one of the fatty acids from coconut oil, it makes it liquid and primarily MCT. There are different types of MCT. I believe the range is from 8 to 12 carbon bonds. 8 is optimal. Few packages will specify the number of carbon bonds.

@Sunny_Bunny_ has some recommendations for brands. Ketomct.com is a newer brand that was highlighted by Jimmy Moore recently.

FYI, here's a FAQ page from KetoMCT:
https://ketomct.com/pages/faq

And a summary of clinical trials, with a bibliography:
https://ketomct.com/pages/mct-research

Sunny_Bunny_

I think keto MCT was another one that was comparable to Brain Octanes 15g caprylic acid per tablespoon.
None of this means anything for weight loss though. But it's a great source of quick energy especially for the brain.
Using any basic MCT oil or coconut oil still supplies these short chain fatty acids as well as beneficial Lauric acid (C12), so there really is no way to say what's best for you without knowing exactly what benefit you're looking for.

Catawampous

Wow. Thank you guys for all the info and links!! What a great help !

@Sunny_Bunny_. I am trying to see if adding some MCT oil might improve my OCD and ability to focus a bit more. My reading comprehension isn't the best either. I'm not looking for a miracle. I know I'll always have these issues. Easing them up a bit would be a big help though.

Sunny_Bunny_

Catawampous wrote: »

Wow. Thank you guys for all the info and links!! What a great help !

@Sunny_Bunny_. I am trying to see if adding some MCT oil might improve my OCD and ability to focus a bit more. My reading comprehension isn't the best either. I'm not looking for a miracle. I know I'll always have these issues. Easing them up a bit would be a big help though.

Id definitely suggest getting one of the higher C8 oils then. They really do help with mental focus for a couple hours at a time. If you want the benefit throughout the day, you might need to dose it every 3-4 hours or so.
I use it for ADHD and just take a morning dose of 1Tbs but I still take a lower dose adderall which kicks in later for me. I also use it on non med days and I feel a difference for sure.
The highest C8 per Tablespoon are Brain Octane, KetoMCT and MiCkeyT8. That I know of...

Catawampous

OMGosh Thank you! I appreciate the recommendations and will check into those. Just what I was hoping for!