For those on a ketogenic diet, MCT and C8 oils are practically indispensable. We'll help you understand the differences between the various oils and explain why coconut oil is a miracle worker, what makes MCT oils true superheroes, and how to use them optimally.
Table of contents
1. MCT - What is it?
If you're into biohacking and healthy eating, or follow a ketogenic or paleo diet, you've probably heard of MCT oil. MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides . This means that MCT oils contain medium-chain fatty acids , which consist of chains of 6 to 12 carbon atoms , and this is precisely what distinguishes them from conventional oils.
Medium-chain fatty acids are saturated fatty acids . Unfortunately, MCT does not occur in its pure form in nature . However, it is found primarily in tropical vegetable fats such as coconut oil or palm kernel oil . The advantage of medium-chain fatty acids over long-chain fatty acids, such as those found in conventional cooking oils, is that they are easier to digest .
The body can digest them without bile acids and fat-splitting enzymes (lipases) from the pancreas. Thus, while they pass through the liver during metabolism, bile is virtually skipped. Medium-chain fatty acids effectively enter the mitochondria , your cellular powerhouses, and serve as the starting material for their work.
This means they are converted into energy for your brain and muscles. In general, the shorter the carbon chain in the oil, the better .
BRAINEFFECT HACK: What makes MCT oil so special are its medium-chain fatty acids. MCT oil is better absorbed by your body than conventional cooking oils, helping you perform at your best and optimizing your mental performance. Try our high-quality MCT oil made from 100% caprylic acid C8 .
2. Which MCT oil is the best and what is C8?
Conventional MCT oils on the market often contain a high proportion of cheap, longer-chain, and therefore less effective fatty acids. So be careful when buying MCT oil! Among the most effective medium-chain fatty acids are capric and caprylic acid .
The latter, also known as C8 , is the highest-quality form of MCT , as it is well metabolized and directly forms ketones . Ketones are particularly important for the body's energy cycle. In the energy cycle, various products are processed in the mitochondria to generate energy.
Either glucose or fat is burned . Which is better? For biohackers, it's clear: fat! Ketone bodies , which are formed in ketosis , can be converted into energy in 3-5 steps . Ketones are therefore the optimal power for your brain.
Furthermore, they don't affect your insulin levels , thus providing a consistent energy output . This means there's no drop in performance due to low blood sugar levels. Only a maximum caprylic acid content enables the formation of ketones, even on a low-carb diet , which is why MCT oil intake is especially important in this case.
C8 is the most efficient, but also the rarest of the MCT acids. It can be obtained from coconuts , oil palm fruits, or rapeseed , for example. So, you should look for MCT oils with the highest possible caprylic acid content.
Blends of C8 with other fatty acids are often sold. These are generally cheaper than pure C8 oils, due to the fact that large amounts of the cheaper but slower-acting capric acid (C10) are added to the C8.
Capric acid cannot form ketones as quickly as caprylic acid, which is why the effect of such blended oils is much slower than that of pure C8 oils. A blended oil therefore doesn't have nearly the same effect on your mental performance as a high-quality pure C8 oil.
BRAINEFFECT HACK : There's hardly anything comparable to our ROCKET C8 MCT OIL on the European market. We rely on 100% caprylic acid! This is naturally obtained only from controlled cultivation and in an orangutan-friendly manner. Our BRAINEFFECT ROCKET C8 helps you reach an optimal power level every day, so you can achieve your ambitious goals and master your daily challenges.
Take-Home Message #1: If you want to buy MCT oil, it's important to make sure it contains effective fatty acids. The highest-quality form of MCT is caprylic acid (C8). It's a fantastic source of energy for you, allowing you to fully dedicate yourself to your goals.
3. The correct intake of C8 oil
C8 oils are generally tasteless and can therefore be easily mixed into food and drinks . Dosage should be increased gradually so your body can get used to the new energy boost. You should start with one teaspoon of the oil per day .
It's best to take it in the morning so you can benefit from your MCT power source during the day . After a few weeks, you can increase your MCT intake, but you shouldn't consume more than three tablespoons of C8 oil per day. Even with short-term use, MCT oils, and especially C8 oils, can increase the production of ketone bodies, which provide you with more fuel.
If you're on a low-carb or ketogenic diet , you should definitely consume MCTs regularly to optimize your energy levels in the long term. You can easily mix a C8 oil like our BRAINEFFECT ROCKET C8 into smoothies or Bulletproof coffee , for example.
Take-Home Message #3: You should introduce your body to an MCT oil that consists exclusively of C8 gradually and allow it to become accustomed to it. Start with one teaspoon daily and gradually increase to three tablespoons per day. This way, you can strengthen and power your body and brain.
4. C6, C10 and C12 - the other fatty acids
In addition to caprylic acid, medium-chain fatty acids also include caproic (C6), capric (C10), and lauric (C12) acids. C6, or caproic acid, consists of a chain of six carbon atoms. At room temperature, C6 is an oily liquid with a very unpleasant odor. It also tastes unpleasant and can cause stomach upset .
However, it can form ketones very quickly , which cannot compensate for the unpleasant taste and other side effects. C10 , capric acid, is, as already described, a medium-chain fatty acid that is often sold in blended oils with C8.
It consists of a chain of ten carbon atoms and therefore forms ketones more slowly . It is found in palm and coconut oil, as well as goat's milk fat, among other sources. The acid can then be extracted industrially from these. Lauric acid, or C12 , consists of 12 carbon atoms and therefore forms the valuable ketones that power your brain and muscles the slowest.
As you'll learn more in the next section, it's also a major component of coconut oil . Chains of 14 or more carbon atoms are considered long-chain fatty acids . Many believe that even C12 is considered long-chain fatty acids.
All in all, it's clear: the more carbon atoms saturated fatty acids contain, the slower they form ketones. Therefore, C6 would be the best fatty acid. However, due to its smell and unpleasant taste, you simply don't want to consume it. Therefore, C8 is the ideal MCT acid and the perfect fuel to power your brain and muscles.
Take-Home Message #4: MCTs consist of carbon atom chains. The names C6, C8, C10, and C12 indicate how many carbon atoms each contains; C6 contains six carbon atoms, and so on. The shorter the chains, the more effectively the saturated fatty acid forms ketones and the more effectively it supplies your body with energy.
5. The difference between MCT and coconut oil
Coconut oil consists largely of medium-chain fatty acids , or MCTs. The thing is, according to most sources, the "medium-chain fatty acids" category includes fatty acids with chains of 6 to 12 carbon atoms. The largest component of coconut oil is 12-chain lauric acid (C12) .
Biologically, however, it is actually classified as a long-chain fatty acid and not considered an MCT. Coconut oil contains more than 50 percent lauric acid , which has great effects on your body and your health. However, it contains relatively little "true" MCT , which is what you need to fuel your body's and brain's mitochondria.
Take-Home Message #5: While coconut oil does provide your body with lauric acid, it's a long-chain rather than a medium-chain fatty acid. Therefore, while it's good for your health and your body, it can't deliver the same benefits for your brain as a high-quality MCT oil.
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6. Coconut oil and MCT – the combination works!
You can optimally supply your body with medium-chain fatty acids by incorporating both MCT and coconut oil into your diet . Coconut oil is great for sautéing vegetables, and a dash of MCT oil in your Bulletproof coffee makes it even more effective.
Coconut oil provides you with plenty of lauric acid , and a high-quality MCT oil provides valuable ketogenic fatty acids like caprylic and capric acid . The perfect combination to optimally supply your body with energy and boost your mental performance . Want to combine MCT oil with vitamin D3 in delicious smoothies? We have four delicious recipes for you here .
Take-Home Message #6: A diet that combines coconut oil and MCT oil provides your body with optimal MCTs and significantly optimizes your energy.
BRAINEFFECT HACK : Ever heard of Bulletproof Coffee? Sounds interesting? Then you should try our special upgraded ROCKET COFFEE with MCT oil. Instead of the classic C8 MCT oil, you can now also try our ROCKET C8 MCT POWDER .
7. Conclusion
When it comes to MCT oil, quality is key. Only then can you benefit from the positive effects of medium-chain fatty acids. C8 and C10 are best for consumption. If you want to optimally support your body in a state of ketosis, it's best to choose high-quality MCT oil made from 100% caprylic acid C8.
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