MCT oil does not break a fast if your goal is to lose weight. Here’s what you need to know and how to use it.
Does MCT Oil Break a Fast?
MCT stands for “medium chain triglycerides”. As a triglyceride, MCTs are pure fat sources. If you’re using a fasting mimicking approach where you’re focused on not spiking the storing hormone insulin, then MCT can be used during the fast. Pure fat sources do not raise insulin and therefore will keep the body in the “fat burning” state and not break the fast. However, if you’re following a “true” fast, then anything other than water, unsweetened tea or coffee (and electrolytes) will break a fast.
Related: Does Lemon Juice Break a Fast?
Does MCT Oil Help You Lose Weight?
MCT oil has gained massive popularity because it has been found to aid in weight loss and boost satiety.(1) In fact, it appears to help with both of these factors more than coconut oil, which is typically what MCT oil is derived from. Because MCT is “medium” sized, it also can provide direct energy to the body faster than long chain fatty acids (think olive oil and omega-3s) can.
However, simply adding MCT oil to your meals will not automatically lead to weight loss. In fact, if you’re pairing MCT oil with sugars or starches that raise insulin, the MCT oil is very likely going to be immediately stored. However, if you’re adding MCT oil to your morning Keto Coffee/Tea that only contains pure fat sources, then this can be a useful tool for boosting satiety and keeping the body in a fat burning state.
How Do You Use MCT Oil For Weight Loss?
As mentioned above, it’s important to not pair MCT oil with foods rich in starches or sugars. For example, sweet potato, grains, honey, maple syrup and fruit juices. Instead, for maximizing fat burning in the body, MCT oil is great to pair with other fat sources, such as grass-fed butter. Some AENpeeps use MCT oil in their Keto Coffee instead of coconut oil.
Related: How to Make Keto Coffee At Home
I personally prefer coconut oil as my source of MCT, as it’s a more whole food product. However, coconut oil doesn’t have as high of a concentration of MCT’s. So if you find that you struggle with hunger during the fast and coconut oil alone isn’t cutting it, you can experiment with a high quality, organic MCT oil, like the one pictured above.
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The 21 Day Intermittent Fasting Program
The 21 Day Intermittent Fasting Program provides step-by-step strategies to help you use Intermittent Fasting with delicious, protein-packed meals to support fat loss, reduce hunger, and boost gut health.
