When you follow a high-fat, very-low-carb ketogenic (keto) diet, you will soon find out that fats are not all the same.
Some sources of fat are better for you than others, and it’s critical that you fill your plate with the most wholesome options to successfully reach your health goals.
Basically, not all saturated fats are the same. MCTs are healthy “good fats”. In fact, MCTs speed up the fat burning process known as ketosis. The body doesn’t store them like it does LCTs. They are easy to digest and quickly converted to ketones in the liver.
Compared to LCTs (long-chain fats), MCTs are more quickly absorbed. It is easier for the body to break apart the carbon bonds in MCTs. They are much smaller and no special enzymes have to work overtime to break them up.
MCT’s by their very nature are fat burning. They do not get added to the stores of fat in the body. And during ketosis they actually burn that stored up fat.
“Good Fat” Food Sources
- Coconut oil contains 15% MCT
- Palm kernel oil contains 8% MCT
- Cheese contains 7.3% MCT
- Butter contains 6.8% MCT
- Whole Milk contains 7% MCT
- Whole Yogurt contains 6.6% MCT
MCTs can also be found in grass-fed beef.
Note that “fat-free” or “low fat” milk and yogurt have the MCT’s removed. Since “low fat” products have most of the MCT content taken out they do not have the same health benefits.
Coconut oil is one of the best sources of MCTs. As much as 65% of the oil contained in a coconut is MCT based.
MCTs are the best source of essential “good fats”.
The Ketogenic Diet is Healthy
The ketogenic diet was first developed a century ago. It was primarily used as a nutrition plan to cure and/or control epilepsy.
Ketogenic dieting enables the body to burn fat and ketones for fuel. Keto dieters consume high fat (mostly MCTs), and low carbohydrates.
This is the perfect way to produce the ketosis state.
A keto diet encourages your body to burn fat at an elevated rate. This process also produces ketones in the liver. As the body begins to burn both ketones and fat, a state of ketosis results.
Ketosis should not be confused with diabetic keto-acidosis which is a life-threatening condition for people who have type 1 diabetes.
Proponents of a keto diet believe that during ketosis it is easier to lose weight. They also point out the many additional health benefits of ketosis.
The benefits of a ketogenic diet include aid for a myriad of neurological problems, as well as reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer, high cholesterol, cancer, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.
MCTs are also good for the heart and obesity prevention.They help you lose weight by restoring the metabolism for optimal functioning. And if you’re on a keto diet trying to stay in ketosis, MCTs are the key.
Health Benefits of “Good Fat” MCT’s:
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Help with weight loss
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Reduce body fat by maintaining metabolic function
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Increases Energy
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Boosts Brain Function
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Aids digestion
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Balances hormone levels
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Improves Mood
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Fights infection and viruses from bacteria
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Absorbs more fat-soluble nutrients from whole foods
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Antioxidant (Anti-inflammatory)
