What is MCT Oil?
First things first - what exactly is MCT oil? MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides, which are a type of fatty acid that can be found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and other natural sources. Lus Health Ingredients only sells MCTs that are 100% Palm-free (coconut based). Unlike long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), which are more common in our diets, MCTs are metabolized differently by the body. They can enter our blood directly, are quickly converted by our livers into ketones. As a result this can be used as a source of energy instead of glucose. In the market you will currently find two types of MCT oil. One type has 60% of caprylic acid (C8) and 40% of capric acid (C10), and another type is almost pure caprylic acid (The Lus Health product offers minimally 99%). Research shows that C8 is more ketogenic than C10, so you can imagine C8 is loved by the Keto Crowd!
MCT oil is a concentrated form of the goodness coconut oil is offering. It's a clear, tasteless liquid that can be added to smoothies, coffee, or other foods and drinks.
So why is MCT oil so popular among those following a keto diet? Here are just a few of the benefits it can offer:
But there is more to MCT oil than you may think, read further below!
While MCT oil is certainly popular among those following a keto diet, its benefits extend far beyond just weight loss and energy. Here are a few additional reasons to consider adding MCT oil to your supplement regimen:
So there you have it, MCT oil is a versatile product that can be used for different health areas. Lus Health Ingredients specializes in PalmFreeMCT™ oil, which we sell in bulk, in private label and in micro encapsulated format. If you want to find out more about MCT oil, get some studies, want a sample or a quote of our PalmfreeMCT™ oil, visit the webpage here or contact (L)us on info@lushealth.com
Several studies show the positive impacts that medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) can have on satiety and food intake with weight loss as a result. In the earlier days, when MCT was not as popular as is Today, these benefits were connected to the consumption of coconut oil. In what way do these ingredients have similar effects?
The aim of the study from Kinsella, R., Maher, T. and Clegg, M. E. (2017) was to examine the effect of MCT oil compared to coconut oil & control oil on food intake and satiety.
This randomised, single-blind, repeated measures study fed 28 healthy female and male participants (without restrained eating habits). They received three different isocaloric test breakfasts on three non-consecutive days with at least one day between tests. On the day prior to all three test days, participants avoided consumption of caffeine, alcohol and nicotine. Since this could increase their appetite the next day. In addition, unusual strenuous physical activity could not been done due to the same reason. The participants also had to fast from 9pm the night before (10-12 hours before testing).
Following this overnight fast, participants consumed a test breakfast smoothie containing 205 kcal of either (i) MCT oil (ii) coconut oil or (iii) vegetable oil (control). The lipid profile of these fats was as follows:
First, baseline measurements were taken. After that, participants had fifteen minutes to consume the test breakfast. 180 minutes after consumption of the breakfast, the participants recorded their ratings of appetite on visual analogue scales. They could also eat a variety of personally preselected sandwiches (as many as they wanted). Each sandwich type had the same energy content.
The energy and macronutrient intake from the different participants was measured with one-hundred-millimetre continuous line visual analogue scales (VAS). Participants completed the VAS before and after consumption of the test breakfast. This was repeated every 30 minutes for the following 3 hours until they received the preselected sandwiches. The final VAS was completed after this lunch.
In conclusion, the results show a significant difference in energy and macronutrient intake at the "sandwich meal" between the three oils. MCT oil had the biggest impact on reduced food intake compared to the coconut and control oil. Moreover, differences in food intake throughout the day were found for energy and fat. The control oil even increased food intake compared to the MCT and coconut. The MCT oil, on the opposite, increased fullness over the three hours after breakfast compared to the control and coconut oils. See the results of this study in the graphic below.
The results of this study confirm that there is a significant difference between MCT and coconut oil in such a way that coconut oil cannot be promoted as having the same effects as MCT oil on food intake and satiety. The MCT oil that was used during this study did not consist purely of Capric (C10) or Caprylic Acid (C8). Further research would be interesting with MCT oil that consists of pure Caprylic Acid or a combination of both. In addition, to repeat this research with obese or overweight individuals.
Interested in more research around MCT oil? Read more about our PalmFreeMCT™ Oil or get in touch with us! Does a product which helps with improved satiety and reduced food intake sound like music to your ears? Our Ketosene® Green may be exactly what you are looking for!
The food supplement & diet industry is constantly evolving and keto meal shakes seem to be the new thing. Within these markets, the end consumer is the driving factor behind new product developments. Interesting things are happening in these COVID-iniated lockdown times. Not only are consumers more health-conscious than ever & looking for convenience, they are also expecting a highest quality standard for products. For diet & supplement companies, this trend towards convenience & clean labelling opens up many opportunities when it comes to launching new products.
One of the product trends that has an interesting growth curve, are meal (replacement) shakes. A supplement that helps the consumer lose (or maintain) weight, save time, renew energy levels and optimize overall nutritional needs.
The market for meal replacement shakes has expanded in popularity over the last ten years. The amount of brands offering meal shakes has grown, through the market is dominated by a few large companies. Some brands focus purely on (quick) weight loss while others focus on building muscle or simply getting the right nutrients.
All with one similar main purpose: to be able to replace a meal with a healthier option than conventional snacks and achieve a certain level of convenience.
Meal replacement products can be categorized into different product types: ready-to-drink liquids, nutritional bars, and different powdered (shake) products. The rising demand for convenience and on-the-go nutrition is linked to the hectic lifestyles of people and mostly to that of Millennials. Research data shows that a growing number of consumers (and especially Early Majority) move towards timesaving meals and snacks, portraying an increasing demand for meal replacement products.
Our own research is showing that one dominant factor is changing the health food market and that is: the consumer’s approach to diet and sustainability.
We see 2 important trends in this area:
In other words: among end consumers, there is a quest for whole food alternatives to current highly processed diet & meal shakes. And we, as an ingredient and Private Label supplier, can help you to capture this market.
The market for instant meal shakes has become an exciting field of innovation with many opportunities. A market that offers new exciting products for end consumers to suit a wide variety of individual health needs and deliver ultimate convenience for people on a (keto) diet. To offer easy-to-understand breakdowns of ingredients without needing to compromise on important nutrients. Are you ready to serve your customers too and make proper nutrition a breeze rather than a hassle?
Check out our newest product: All-in-one Keto Meal Shake 3:1!
Interested in launching a keto meal shake? Reach out to us to find out how we can help you.
Though MCT oil has been around for decades, MCT oil is moving its way to the mass market because of the trending Keto Diet. Suddenly you can find this type of oil everywhere: online in nutritional supplement web shops and offline in different health stores. What makes this product so popular?
To help you find an answer, we cover different aspects in this article. Namely: what MCT oil is, how your body digests it and how it plays a role in improving your health on a ketogenic lifestyle.
MCT oil is short for Medium Chain Triglycerides oil and contains of two main fatty acids: Caprylic (C8) and Capric (C10). The product is a concentrated fraction from either coconut oil OR Palm Kernel oil. For us, it is clear that coconut is the only way to go as the sustainable alternative to Palm-based products.
There are several types of MCT oil commercially available, with different ratios of C8 and C10 fatty acids. The most common ratio is 60:40 (C8:C10), yet a pure C8 is also very popular and one of Ketogenic Ingredients strongholds The different ratios of these fatty acids have different impacts on our body, with C8 creating Ketones and C10 leading to the biogenesis of mitochondria.
The digestion of MCT oil is in the first stage the same as the digestion of Long Chain Triglycerides (LCTs). LCTs are present in products like olive oil, fish oil, and sunflower oil. Within our digestive tract, the pancreas secretes lipase. This action results into disconnecting the Sn1,3 fatty acids from the glycerol backbone, ending up with two free fatty acids and a 2-acylglycerol. This process starts in the stomach yet takes mostly place in the gut. As a reaction, the body then releases bile salts to effectively emulsify the 3 fatty acids and 2-acylglycerol, making it ready for absorption. Migrating through the microvilli on the small intestine, the components now circulate in the enterocyte. Still following? This is where things start to get interesting and LCTs and MCTs take a different path!
In the enterocyte, LCT’s are being re-esterified into triglycerides and synthesized into lipoproteins called chylomicrons. These will then transfer through the lymph system to the liver and other tissues. A long route!
MCTs, however, are not re-esterified. They maintain their form as small free fatty acids, making it possible to directly enter the bloodstream and the liver. The liver quickly breaks down these fatty acids into an instant source of energy, called ketones. See it as LCTs taking a detour and MCTs taking the highway!
Among keto advocates, it is a well-known fact that MCTs play an important role in reaching goals like fat loss. This has several reasons. Compared to LCTs, as being discussed above, MCTs take a shorter route within the digestive tract and lead to a higher energy expenditure. As a result, consuming MCT may lead to increased fat loss (and especially visceral fat!) and improved body weight (1).
In addition, it has been shown that MCT oil increases the release of 2 hormones that promote satiety and suppress feelings of hunger, namely peptide YY and leptin (2). Even compared to regular coconut oil, taking 2 tablespoons of MCT oil prior to breakfast leads to increased satiety (3). This discovery has probably also to do with a lower rise of triglycerides and glucose when consuming MCTs instead of coconut oil.
Lastly, your body can directly convert MCTs into energy as ketones because of the shorter chains, preventing fat storage. Ketones are especially a highly beneficial energy fuel for the brains and C8 oil is to be considered the type of oil that leads to highest ketone production.
In summary, all the above-mentioned points show that MCT oil has great beneficial properties for people who want to manage their weight. Even when someone is not adhering to a ketogenic diet, taking MCT oil can still promote visceral fat loss!
With all the promising health benefits, it is important to implement MCT oil into your diet the right way. MCTs can successfully convert into energy, given the conditions that daily carb-intake is low (<50 grams) and the oil is being consumed separately from a meal. The key of implementing MCT in your diet is starting with a small amount, since your body is not familiar with the digestion at first. Start with adding 1 teaspoon a day to your coffee, 2 teaspoons after 3 days and 1 tablespoon after one week and slowly build up further till 2 tablespoons. When you are trying to lose weight, it is inevitable to consume MCT oil as a part of your total daily calorie & fat intake and not as an addition to it. Even though MCT oil supports visceral fat loss, the bottom line of losing weight is always to be in caloric deficit.
Since the popularity of a keto lifestyle has risen tremendously over the last few years, there are also more MCT-based products available and arriving on the market. For both nutritional supplement companies, individuals as well as for health professionals, it may be a challenge to find out which MCT oil meets the high-quality standards. To make it easier for you, the characteristics of a high-quality MCT oil are: non-GMO, Palm Free (sustainable derived oil from 100% coconuts), clear label with the different types of oil stated, highly refined and without any unnecessary ingredients like solvents. So do keep this in mind, since there are also a lot of misleading products on the market such as MCT made from unsustainable palm kernel oil or products that don’t show the ratio of type of MCT.
The bottom line is that MCT oil can be very beneficial to your health for different reasons, provided that you invest in a product that meets the high-quality standards.
Interested in PalmFree MCT oil for your company? Please visit this page for more information on our PalmFreeMCT™ oil and the possibilities for your company. Reach out to us for specific advice!
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