Whether you blend it into your coffee or add it to your favorite salad dressing, MCT oil is a powerful supplement that can help you stay in ketosis by providing fat for fuel. But what about MCT oil powder?
Real talk: MCT oil isn’t the easiest thing to transport, which can make it tough to supplement your low-carb, high-fat diet on the go. That’s what makes MCT oil powder so convenient: It’s easy enough to mix into your favorite beverage on the go without missing out on the satiating, ketone-generating benefits of MCTs.†
But how does MCT oil powder stack up against MCT oil?
The answer: It depends on the MCT oil powder you choose. Not all products are created equal, and some MCT oil powders might even kick you out of ketosis. Here’s what you should know when considering MCT oil powder vs. MCT oil.
Are you following a low-carb, high-fat diet? Supplementing with medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) helps ensure you’re getting enough quality fat to stay in ketosis. (That’s the state in which your body burns fat, rather than carbohydrates, for fuel.)
But that’s not the only reason people use MCT oil. If you’re new to ketogenic supplements, here’s how MCT oil works.
The key thing to know is that your body processes certain MCTs differently than other fats. Caproic acid (also called C6), caprylic acid (C8) and capric acid (C10) go directly to your liver, where they’re converted into ketones—the fuel source your body produces when it burns fat for fuel.†
Ketones are awesome. They help increase energy, metabolism, promote satiety and brain function, and they’ve been shown to help curb food cravings, which makes it easier to stabilize your blood sugar and stay in ketosis.
So, MCT oil supplements are an easy way to add more ketones to your diet. But in terms of MCT oil powder vs. MCT oil, which supplement reigns supreme?
With MCT oil, what you see is what you get. It doesn’t require a carrier oil or extra additives. For instance, Bulletproof Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil is triple-distilled C8 MCT oil. It’s expeller-pressed, sourced completely from coconuts and not mixed with any unnecessary chemicals.
MCT oil powder is a little different. It’s generally produced via a process called spray drying. MCT oil is sprayed onto a carrier material, which forms a powder. This process introduces two important variables into the equation when you’re considering MCT oil powders: What type of MCT oil did the manufacturer use, and what is the carrier?