What are the benefits of MCT oil powder that outweigh other alternatives? MCT oil powder and coconut oil have some similarities and are both welcome in a healthy diet, but they are not created equal. While you can often use coconut oil and MCT oil interchangeably in recipes, it doesn’t mean they provide the same benefits.

Below we’ll clear up significant differences between MCT oil vs coconut oil and how you can get the most out of each.

First, let’s do a quick overview of both.

WHAT IS COCONUT OIL?

Most people know what coconut oil is: an edible oil extracted from the meat of coconuts. It’s high in saturated fats but contains a unique type of saturated fats: medium-chain triglycerides, or MCTs.

Because of their unique chemical structure, MCTs are more quickly absorbed by your body than other fats, so you can use them for fuel instead of storing them as fat.

MCTs also provide around 10 percent less calories than long-chain triglycerides.

Also, because of its high saturated fat content, coconut oil doesn’t oxidize and go rancid as easily as other healthy oils. This means you can store it for longer and it’s good for cooking at higher temperatures.

There are different ways to process coconut oil:

• Virgin coconut oil is the best “unrefined” option. It’s extracted from the coconut without chemicals or the use of high temperatures. This is the healthiest form of coconut oil for cooking and baking.
• Refined coconut oil is taken from coconuts that have been baked before extraction. Then the oil is passed through a bleaching clay to clean it and kill bacteria. Refined coconut oil is best for beauty uses, such as hair conditioning, but you can use it occasionally for cooking.
• Partially hydrogenated coconut oil is just as bad as using processed oils containing trans fats and should be avoided for good health.

There has been a lot of controversy around coconut oil in recent years, but we’ve debunked the health concerns here.

WHAT IS MCT OIL?

As you know by now, “MCT” stands for medium-chain triglycerides like those in coconut oil. And most MCT oil is derived from coconut oil, although sometimes it’s taken from palm oil.

Unlike coconut oil, which is solid at room temperature, MCT oil is liquid at room temperature. It’s also colorless and odorless. This makes MCT oil great for adding to beverages like coffee, smoothies, and other foods.

You can read more about the specific health benefits of MCT oil powder here.

But the most significant difference you need to know about MCT oil vs coconut oil is the type of MCTs used in each.

THE HUGE DIFFERENCE IN MCT QUALITY OF MCT OIL VS COCONUT OIL

There are four types of MCTs:

1. Caproic acid (C6)
2. Caprylic acid (C8)
3. Capric acid (C10)
4. Lauric acid (C12)

The primary MCT in coconut oil is C12, lauric acid. C12 must be processed by your liver before it can be used by the body.

While it still provides some benefits of MCT, C12 is not the most ideal.

Here’s where MCT oil wins out:

• MCT oil contains MCT C8 and C10, which don’t need to be processed by the liver. This means they’re easily used as fuel, and when you’re in the Keto Zone, they’re quickly converted into ketones for fat-burning energy. And MCT C8 is the absolute best because it creates the highest amount of ketones.
• Plus, MCT oil contains many more MCTs than coconut oil. You would actually have to eat mounds of coconut oil (at least half a jar!) to receive the same amount of MCTs used in a serving of our MCT Oil Powder.
• And since MCT oil can cause digestive upset for some people, we created our MCT oil powder for easier digestion and use. It also contains more MCT C8 than other MCT oils or powders.

So, in conclusion, MCTs are amazing fats. And while you can get them from both coconut oil and MCT oil (and MCT oil powder), the latter provides a much more potent dose than just coconut oil. By all means, still enjoy your coconut oil, but to optimize your MCT intake, be sure to get your daily dose of MCT oil or MCT Oil Powder.

Try a scoop of MCT Oil Powder in place of coconut oil in your keto coffee to supercharge your intake of wonderful MCTs!