What Is the Difference between Coconut Oil and Mct Oil?

Last Updated on January 27th, 2023

Sometime back, we used to fear fat so much. We were so much afraid of for health reasons. Today things are so different. You can find fat everywhere in a home, including the bathroom. So, what happened? The healthy fats are now available with ease. MCT oil and coconut oil are among the few healthy fats out there. One study shows that MCT oil is increasingly being popular because of its health benefits. Basically, MCT oil metabolizes relatively faster. It does not undergo the usual process of digestion, rather it directly enters the liver where it is broken down to release energy.

This means in the absence of carbs MCT can provide instant energy to keep the body running. Nevertheless, MCT oil and Coconut oil contain saturated fats. For instance, a single tablespoon of coconut contains 12g of saturated fat. This is about 85% of what you are supposed to consume each day.

More to know

Excess of it is very strenuous to the liver as well as the pancreas which breaks down saturated fats. Several studies show that diets with too much saturated fat are harmful to human health. Should you now shun MCTs? Not at all. It is only advisable that you utilize coconut oil externally since it has some microbial features, apart from being a fantastic natural moisturizer. But what is the difference between coconut oil and MCT oil? Well, we are going to spend the rest of our time discussing that.

The Difference Between Coconut Oil and MCT Oil

Do you know the difference between the two? We have already mentioned that MCT oil is obtained from coconut. Basically, MCT is an acronym for Medium Chain Triglyceride. This is a fatty acid made of 6 to 12 carbon chain. MCTs are extracted from coconut oil. Generally, coconut oil contains both MCT as well as other fatty acids. Nevertheless, MCTs can also stand alone. Have you heard of MCT oil for keto? For more information on the difference between the two types, head over to https://differencebetweenz.com to familiarise yourself in more detail with what the key differences are. 

The use of MCT oil with the ketogenic diet has contributed to its recent rise in popularity. Since it does not go through the usual digestion process and metabolizes faster, it is best for individuals who intend to get energy specifically from fats. Most of the benefits obtained from MCT oil cannot be found in coconut oil, though it contains other beneficial fats that make it perfect for high-heat culinary use.

More in Depth Details

To understand the difference between MCT and Coconut oil, we need to go back to the basics we earlier mentioned. Both of them have MCTs, commonly referred to as Medium Chain Triglyceride. Generally, there are four different types of MCTs. The first one is Caproic Acid (C6) is the shortest one with only 6 carbon atoms. Caprylic Acid (C8) is also referred to as Octanoic Acid and it is often used in the manufacture of MCT oil.

It metabolizes faster also and has other essential features. Capric Acid (C10) is also known as Decanoic Acid, and the last one is Capric Acid (C12). These acids have distinct benefits, including enhancing metabolism and some anti-microbial characteristics. The difference in MCTs ratios in Coconut oil and MCT oil that distinguishes them.

Coconut Oil has been used for so long. It is mined from the grain of coconut in either refined or unrefined ways. Basically, coconut oil contains healthy fats, and 50% of them are just MCTs. Nevertheless, the MCTs in coconut has lauric acid in high proportion and that is why it is an effective antimicrobial and antibacterial fat. While many individuals are still in fear of saturated fats, coconut has been widely accepted and it is not only safe but also good for consumption.

Benefits

Apart from antibacterial and antimicrobial use, the following are additional benefits of coconut oil:

• Deterring harmful bacteria as well as other pathogens.
• Boosts the level of good HDL cholesterol in the body.
• Essential in losing fat, more son in the waistline.
• Enhances skin health.

MCT products are basically purified components of coconut oil. They have a higher concentration of various MCTs compared to coconut oil. For this reason, they have proved to be very appropriate energy sources. As we earlier pointed out, the MCTs obtained from MCT oil does not go through the usual digestion process.

Upon consumption, they go right away to the liver. They metabolize faster and produce energy. What is more, they facilitate fat burning by boosting the manufacture of ketones. This is the main reason it is recommended to individuals in the keto diet. MCT oil has even more distinct taste that makes it an essential supplement to your meals. Besides, it is a very common supplement to tea and coffee which lessens cravings and facilitates fat loss.

The following are specific uses of MCT oil:

• It keeps one full better than coconut oil can
• Helps in weight loss
• Enhances the health status of the heart.
• Boosts the cognitive function
• Facilitates regulation of sugar in the body

Making Choice

What Is the Difference Between Coconut Oil and MCT Oil? We have thoroughly discussed this subject and the difference is quite clear. Even though MCT oil is made from coconut, it is refined and contains more concentration of essential fatty acids. So how do you make a good choice between the two?

If you want to lose weight faster with MCT oil and boost your cognitive function, a daily intake of MCT oil in the right proportion will serve you better. MCT oil will serve these functions more effectively than coconut oil. Remember we also mentioned that it is easier for them to be broken down because they circumvent the usual digestion process. When purchasing MCT oil, be careful with ingredients. Make sure it does not contain palm oil.  Coconut oil is still very essential, especially in baking and various cooking.

The Bottom Oil

MCT oil and Coconut oil are essential fats that benefit the body in various ways. The difference between the two lies in the concentration of fatty acids and functions. Even though both are beneficial, MCT oil has an edge against Coconut Oil. We hope this discussion has been helpful to you. Let us know what you think.

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Dr. Amanda

Amanda is a certified nutritionist and fitness yoga trainer, and writer in the areas of health, fitness and nutrition.

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