Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below 
by Bryan Haycock MSc., CSCS [email protected]
There is a unique and often misunderstood kind of fat often sold as a supplement called Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). MCTs are saturated fats that have been made into shorter chains. Remember, fats are chains of fatty acids just like carbohydrates are chains of saccharides, and proteins are chains of amino acids. MCTs are chains of 8 - 10 fatty acids. Unlike long chain triglycerides, which must first travel through the lymphatic system, MCTs are absorbed directly into the portal vein and sent to the liver. MCTs require no bile to be digested. This has made MCTs a crucial energy source for people with digestive maladies.
Under certain circumstances, MCTs may be worth taking during a diet. When significantly restricting carbohydrates, MCTs can be consumed without being readily stored as fat. They are converted to ketones and acetone in the liver. This can speed the transition into ketogenesis. As the body shifts its preference from glucose to ketones, gluconeogenesis slows and muscle is spared. Because MCTs are so readily used for fuel they are also highly thermogenic.
Coconut oil is a rich source of MCTs. Unfortunately the other saturated fats found in coconut oil are so abundant that it is not a good food choice. If you are going to use MCTs, stick to the purified supplements. Supplementing the diet with MCTs should be done so gradually. Too much at one time can cause gastric distress. Usually a tablespoon with each meal is well tolerated. MCTs can be mixed with any food you want however they should not be used for cooking or baking. It is important to remember that MCTs do not contain essential fatty acids which our bodies need to survive, therefore other healthy fat sources should be used along with MCTs.
There is a unique and often misunderstood kind of fat often sold as a supplement called Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). MCTs are saturated fats that have been made into shorter chains. Remember, fats are chains of fatty acids just like carbohydrates are chains of saccharides, and proteins are chains of amino acids. MCTs are chains of 8 - 10 fatty acids. Unlike long chain triglycerides, which must first travel through the lymphatic system, MCTs are absorbed directly into the portal vein and sent to the liver. MCTs require no bile to be digested. This has made MCTs a crucial energy source for people with digestive maladies.
Under certain circumstances, MCTs may be worth taking during a diet. When significantly restricting carbohydrates, MCTs can be consumed without being readily stored as fat. They are converted to ketones and acetone in the liver. This can speed the transition into ketogenesis. As the body shifts its preference from glucose to ketones, gluconeogenesis slows and muscle is spared. Because MCTs are so readily used for fuel they are also highly thermogenic.
Coconut oil is a rich source of MCTs. Unfortunately the other saturated fats found in coconut oil are so abundant that it is not a good food choice. If you are going to use MCTs, stick to the purified supplements. Supplementing the diet with MCTs should be done so gradually. Too much at one time can cause gastric distress. Usually a tablespoon with each meal is well tolerated. MCTs can be mixed with any food you want however they should not be used for cooking or baking. It is important to remember that MCTs do not contain essential fatty acids which our bodies need to survive, therefore other healthy fat sources should be used along with MCTs.
