How to take MCT Oils
Unlike herbs and vitamins, MCTs count as a macronutrient in your diet. That means, MCT oil will take up part of your daily calorie intake.
For reference, one tablespoon of MCT oil can contain between 100-124 calories depending on the brand. One gram of MCT powder contains about 8 calories. Take note that serving size metrics we’re comparing are quite different here.
Best ways to take MCT Oil and MCT Powder:
If you can’t cook with MCT oil, then what do you do? Well, you drink it or add it to already cooked food. This may sound nasty, but high quality MCTs are quite neutral and flavored variations are pleasurably tasty.
With Meals
One general rule that you’ll want to follow with MCT supplements is to take them with your meals. This can mean an MCT drink alongside your plate, or MCT oil added to your already cooked food.
- Drink alongside your meal.
- Mix with salad dressing.
- Pour on top of meats.
In shakes and smoothies
The most pleasurable way to take MCT oil is to add it to your shakes and smoothies. If you’re using an MCT powder, this will add another layer of creaminess to your nutrition or protein shake. If you are using MCT oil, there will still be some oil consistency but it will disperse well.
- Add to smoothies.
- Add to protein shakes.
- Take flavored MCT oil or powder as-is.
In Coffee
The bulletproof coffee movement brought adding fat your coffee into the mainstream due to how this combination increases the duration and quality of coffees effects.
If you are taking your coffee well before breakfast in the morning, then it may be wise to pass on adding MCTs to your coffee as you’re in prime fat burning mode already. However, if you need an extra kick in the afternoon after you’ve already broke your fast, then enjoy some chocolate MCT powder in your coffee!
- Add MCT oil or powder directly to coffee.
How NOT to use MCT oils:
MCT oils should not be used for cooking. Period. This is because the shorter the fatty acid chains, the lower the smoke point of an oil. This makes MCT oils highly vulnerable to modification while cooking, which you don’t want.
The alternative here would be to cook with coconut oil. The largest component of coconut oil is C12 lauric acid, which as you know acts more like a long chain fatty acid. This stabilizes coconut oil and makes it better suited for cooking.
Should you take MCT oil or MCT powder?
When picking medium chain triglyceride supplements, you can opt for liquid or powder forms. If opting for a full-spirited MCT blend that also contains lauric acid, oil is a superior vector. However, for C8 and C10 products powder is highly versatile and our preference.
