Bretton Curtis - TOBS staff
“Caprylic acid comprises 5–6 percent of the fat found in coconut oil, so you’d have to eat more than a dozen tablespoons of coconut oil to get the amount of caprylic acid in just 1 tablespoon of Brain Octane Oil." - Dave Asprey
Have you ever heard of MCT oil? This refined coconut oil product (mct are found in other oils such as palm oil but coconut oil is typically what it's made from due to a higher concentration of act's) has been growing in popularity for some time, and for good reason, MCT oil has several properties that make it a very attractive tool that anyone can add to their "toolkit" for everything from mental health, fat loss, and even some mental disorders. Made largely popular by the Ketogenic crowd, MCT isn't only useful in a Ketogenic diet, it can be used along with any diet to reap several valuable benefits. Below are some examples.
MCT Oil Benefits
Fat Loss
MCT oil can dramatically reduce your appetite to the point it will make a noticeable change in your body composition if used correctly. This study showed that when given CLA or MCT fatty acids vs a vegetable oil, patients reduced their overall calorie intake by up to 500 calories per day by simply being satiated longer and delaying time between meals. (intermittent fasting works simply by reducing the amount of time you're able to shove food in your mouth, thus reducing overall calorie intake.) 500 calories per day X 7 days a week = 3500 kcal per week, 3500 kcal is the energy in 1 lb of adipose tissue (body fat). What could losing 1 lb of body fat per week do for you?
Brain Health
A study on the effect of MCT-based ketogenic drink vs a high oleic sunflower drink to see if MCT oils could help people with mild cognitive impairment. Compared with the sunflower oil group, the MCT group experienced an increase in both plasma ketones and gray matter ketone metabolism. Ketones are the primary energy source of the brain and are much more powerful than glucose from sugar.
Compared to most fats that people eat, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are more readily absorbed into the bloodstream by skipping the liver and entering directly into the bloodstream requiring much less digestion and no release of bile to break them down or carnitine required to shuttle them into the mitochondria. Source
MCT oil has also been show to improve symptoms of Alzheimer's, Epilepsy, and Autism. (study)
Gut Health
One study on pre-term infants showed significant reduction in Candida growth after dietary supplementation of MCT oil, specifically capric acid (comprises roughly 28% of mct oil). Candida is a a fungus that is found typically in the human body but when it grows out of control it can cause many different health problems.
MCT oil promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut, which strengthens the intestinal barrier.
Side Effects
MCT oil is a relatively safe supplement that can improve your gut health. Much like any other oil, if you consume too much MCT, you may encounter some unpleasant side effects. Especially in the abdomen. It's recommended to start with 1/2 TBSP and slowly work your way up to 1-2 TBSP per day monitoring for any stomach discomfort. There is no cap on how much you can take safely but it's recommended not to exceed 4-6 TBSP per day.
Side effects of MCT oil may include:
Diarrhea
Abdominal discomfort
Decreased appetite
Gastric reflux
Nausea
Headache