1. MCT oil can promote weight loss

There are several reasons why MCT oil can be beneficial for weight loss.

From MCT oil has been shown to enhance the release of two hormones that can promote the feeling of fullness in the body: peptide YY and leptin (Article).

Research shows that people who took 2 tablespoons of MCT oil as part of their breakfast, eventually ate less food at lunch than those which use coconut oil (article).

The same study also found a lower rise in triglyceride and glucose with MCT oil, which can also affect the feeling of fullness.

In addition, some older studies showed that can help to reduce body weight and waist circumference using MCT oil. Researchers reported that it helps to prevent obesity (article 1, Article 2, Article 3).

MCT oil contains about 10% fewer calories than long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), which are found in foods such as olive oil, nuts and avocados (article 1, Article 2).

MCTs can also be converted to ketones, Which are produced by the breakdown of fat when the carbohydrate intake is low.

If you follow a ketogenic diet, which is very low in carbohydrates, yet contains a lot of fat, the use of MCT oil can help possible to stay in the fat-burning state known as ketosis (article 1, Article 2).

Finally, your intestinal environment is very important when it comes to your weight. MCT oil can help to optimize the growth of beneficial bacteria and support the intestinal wall, which can also help to lose weight (article).

2. MCT oil is a good source of energy

The body absorbs MCTs faster than long chain triglycerides (LCTs), containing more carbon atoms in their fatty acid chains (article).

Because of their shorter chain length MCT travel faster from the intestine to the liver and they do not need bile to break down fats such as longer chain (article).

In the liver, the fats are broken down to be used as fuel or stored as body fat. Because MCTs can easily penetrate cells without being degraded, they can be used as an immediate source of energy (Article).

If you follow a ketogenic diet, MCT can also be converted into ketones in the liver. These ketones can pass the blood-brain barrier, making them brain cells are an energy source for you.

3. MCT can reduce the buildup of lactate in athletes and help use fat for energy

During exercise increasing lactate levels may have a negative impact on exercise performance.

Interestingly MCTs can help reduce the buildup of lactate.

An earlier study found that athletes 6 grams or about 1.5 teaspoon MCTs food swallowed before they went biking, had lower lactate levels and found it easier to train compared to those who used LCTs (article).

Moreover, the study found that taking the MCT oil before exercising can help you use more fat for energy instead of carbohydrates.

Although MCTs can help increase fat oxidation during exercise, the study results are mixed can help whether you MCT oil to better train (article).

One study showed that it could improve swimming capacity in mice, but another human-based study found no improvement in endurance runners (article 1, Article 2).

The results of another animal study suggest that MCT oil may not adversely affect exercise performance (article).

4. MCT can help in controlling epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease and autism.

Studies have shown that MCT oil and help a ketogenic diet in controlling diseases such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease and autism (article).

Epilepsy

Although the ketogenic diet has become popular among people who want to lose weight, it was first introduced as a way to control epilepsy.

Researchers found that fasting increases ketonproductie and that it may reduce the frequency of seizures (article).

Because MTC can be converted to ketones, they may be useful in treating epilepsy.

The type MCT can, however, be important. An in-vitro study has shown that MCT-capric acid, the control of seizures improved better than a widespread anti-epileptic drug (article).

Another study showed rats that MCT same receptors in the brains blocked causing seizures, although more studies are needed in humans (article).

If you are considering a ketogenic diet to control your epilepsy, consult first with your doctor or nutritionist.

Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease impairs the ability to use your brains to sugar (article).

A ketogenic diet with MCT provides an alternative energy source: ketones. This would allow brain cells survive better. It also blocks a receptor that causes loss of memory in the brains (article).

One study showed that a single dose of MCTs short-term knowledge improved in 20 people with Alzheimer's disease with a specific genotype, APOE especially ɛ4 negative (article).

Although genetic factors have a role to play, there is evidence that 20 to 70 grams of additional MCTs which caprylic or capric could improve the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer slightly (24).

In general, the benefits of MCT oil in Alzheimer's disease and there are promising longer and larger scale studies are currently in progress. (article).

Autism

MCT oil can also affect children with autism (article). One study found positive overall improvement when a ketogenic diet was followed for 6 months (article).

Another study found that adding MCTs on a ketogenic diet and gluten significantly improved Autism behavior in 6 of the 15 children involved (article).

Because autism is a spectrum disorder, it can affect people in different ways.

This means that the addition of MCT oil to the diet of your child can help in varying degrees or no effects may have. There is also need more research (article).

If you are considering a ketogenic diet to help control autism your child, talk first with your doctor or nutritionist.

5. MCT contains fatty acids that the growth of yeast and bacteria prevention

MCT's have been shown to have antimicrobial and antifungal effects (article 1, Article 2, Article 3).

Coconut oil, which contains numerous MCTs, is shown in an in vitro study that reduces the growth of Candida albicans by 25%. This is a common yeast that can cause thrush and various skin infections (article 1).

An in-vitro study also showed that coconut oil is the growth of a pathogenic bacterium called Clostridium difficile reduced (article 1).

The ability of coconut oil to reduce yeast and bacteria, may be due to the caprylic, capric and lauric acid in MCTs (article 1).

MCT's home is also shown to the growth of a widespread infectious fungus hospital 50% suppress (33).

6. MCT can reduce risk factors for heart disease

Some factors that increase your risk of heart disease, include:

• High cholesterol
• blood pressure
• inflammation
• a high body mass index
• to smoke

MCT oil has shown that the weight and fat loss supports. This can in turn help to reduce your risk of heart disease (Article).

Research among 24 men with overweight showed that the use of MCT oil in combination with phytosterols and linseed oil for 29 days reduced total cholesterol with 12.5%. When olive oil was used instead, the reduction was only 4.7% (article).

The same study also found better reductions from LDL (bad) cholesterol when the MCT oil mixture was added to their diet (article).

In addition, MCT oil could help increase the production of heart protection HDL (good) cholesterol (article).

It can even reduce C-reactive Protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker that increases the risk of heart disease (article).

Additional studies have shown that MCT oil-based mixtures can also have a positive effect on other risk factors for heart disease (article 1, Article2).

7. MCT can help regulate blood sugar levels

MCT oil can also have advantages for people with diabetes (article). From MCTs it has been shown to reduce the fat storage and increase fat burning, which can help manage the condition (article).

A small, older study among 40 people with diabetes show that those who consumed MCT oil daily, saw down in body weight, waist circumference and insulin resistance, compared to those who used corn oil that contain LCTs (article).

Another study showed that when 10 people with diabetes were injected with insulin, they needed 30% less sugar to maintain normal blood sugar levels when using MCTs compared to LCTs (article).

However, in the same study, no effect of MCTs was found on reducing blood sugar levels in fasting (article).

Therefore, other factors such as timing and the amount of eaten food can influence the effects of MCT oil.