MCTs: The Importance of Healthy Fats

MCTs: The Importance of Healthy Fats

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MCTs: The Importance of Healthy Fats

Do you ever think about what your average diet looks like?

 

For instance, think about if you had a pie chart of all the different types of foods you eat - what would it look like?

 

Maybe you have a section of your proteins, vegetables, dairy, grains, sugars, (maybe even some STRONG Coffee too) - just the normal stuff you know?

 

But while all this might seem pretty standard to a lot of people, would it surprise you if I said that over 90% of Americans still have an unhealthy diet?

 

After all, food is like medicine, being the foundation for your body to function at a high level - and with over 90% of Americans eating poorly, this leads me to ask…

 

“Is there anything we can do to collectively improve our diets?”


In a time where there are more clinical studies done on American health than ever before, more and more research is finding one thing: the American diet is lacking one vital element.

 

In this article, we’ll discuss:

  • MCTs and healthy fats
  • What on Earth are MCTs? 
  • 3 Benefits of MCTs

 

 

MCTs and Healthy Fats

In the health and wellness world, there’s a common myth that fat makes you fat.

 

Specifically, something along the lines of  “eating fatty foods cannot be good for you and that you should avoid them at all costs.”

 

But more and more research is coming to find out: this is simply untrue. 

 

New research shows that not having enough fat in your diet can cause some pretty concerning health issues.

 

A fat-deficient diet has been linked to issues like a weak immune system, hair loss, dermatitis, vital vitamin deficiency, and many others.

 

But just because a lack of fat in your diet can lead to these health issues, this unfortunately doesn’t give you a free pass to eat as much fat as you possibly can.

 

Like all things - moderation is important. In fact, the USDA recommends that you should aim for only about 35% of your daily calories coming from healthy fats.

 

Here are a few of my favorite high-fat foods that can provide plenty of value to your diet:

  • Avocados
  • Eggs
  • Fish
  • Nuts
  • Cheese
  • Yogurt
  • Olive oil


All that said … Not all fats are created equal - some fats are much better for you than others. 

 

And there’s one in particular that not many people know about - and adding it to your diet can promote many valuable health benefits.

 

 

What on Earth are MCT’s?

 MCTs, short for “medium chain triglycerides,” is just a fancy scientific word for a unique type of fat that has different properties (and benefits) than normal ones.

 

While they are mostly found in coconut oil and butter, they can also be extracted from those foods and put into an isolated form called MCT oil.

 

But the thing that makes MCTs really special is the way your body digests them. 

 

See, most of the things you ingest go to your gut to be broken down & turned into energy (a process that can take hours).

 

MCTs, on the other hand, bypass your stomach and go straight to your liver. This shortcut results in (almost) instant energy for your body through a process called “Ketosis” (more on this later).

 

Over the last few years, these super nutrients have exploded in the health and fitness industry for their incredible health benefits.

 

 

3 Health Benefits of MCTs

Promotes Weight Loss

 

Ironically, eating fats can make you lose weight.

 

One of the most notable effects of MCTs is its ability to promote weight loss - and it does this in a very interesting way.

 

Research found that MCTs release two hormones (peptide YY and leptin) that produce feelings of fullness in the body and suppress appetite.

 

One study even found that because of this process, the participants taking MCTs (particularly at breakfast) ate significantly less for their next meal.

 

For this reason, MCTs have been used in managing eating habits - helping you feel satisfied after a meal and not overeating.

 

 

Great Source of Energy

 

So not only can fats make you skinnier, but they can give you more energy too?

 

Interestingly enough, a prime element of fats is that they provide a great source of energy for your body.

 

But in the case of MCTs, there’s one thing that makes them different from your normal type of fats: they can be absorbed by your body much faster than typical fats.

 

This can be attributed to the chemical structure of MCTs. 

 

MCTs, or medium chain triglycerides, contain a shorter chain of triglycerides than the traditional fats that you typically see in your diet (hence the name).

 

Due to their shorter chain length, MCTs can travel much faster to your liver - the place where fats are broken down as either an energy source or stored as body fat.

 

When your liver breaks down MCTs, they can be converted into Ketones - an alternative energy source for your brain. 

 

Once your body uses the Ketones as its main energy source, it goes into a state of Ketosis (which is what the popular “Ketogenic diet” targets).

 

Because they travel through your body so quickly, MCTs provide an immediate, readily available source of energy to your brain, which can be very useful.

 

 

Good Gut Health

 

Although it might gross you out to think about, your gut is home to trillions of microorganisms that help your digestive system function.

 

While lots of this bacteria is actually helpful to your gut, there can also be harmful bacteria and antigens sharing the same space. 

 

So, this makes having a balanced gut biome quite an important challenge. 

 

Having too much harmful bacteria can cause a load of uncomfortable symptoms - ranging from weight gain, issues sleeping, bloating, and constipation. 

 

Luckily, MCTs have the ability to aid the growth of good bacteria - which is the main element that strengthens your intestinal barrier to fight off these harmful antigens.

 

One particular study even found that MCTs helped fight a specific infection in infants’ stomachs through providing useful bacteria that fights antigens and viruses.

 

This makes MCTs a good way to help restore a healthy balance to your gut biome - all it takes is making sure you get a healthy amount on a regular basis.

 

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms I mentioned earlier, it might be worthwhile to look into gut cleansing solutions like MCTs to help regulate your stomach's microbiome. 

 

 

 

If You Read Anything, Read This …

 

Although the American diet is lacking in many different aspects, one area in particular is the general consumption of healthy fats.

 

While it's important to eat a fair share of healthy fats, it can be just as important to enhance your diet through consuming MCTs on a regular basis. 

 

Through benefits like weight loss, providing a source of energy, and good gut health, MCTs prove to be a valuable supplement to your overall diet. We personally believe in the benefits of MCTs so much that we made it a vital ingredient in our STRONG Coffee - adding 5 grams of Coconut oil into each serving; proving to give you a strong start to your day.

 

Want to discover what you’ve been missing out on by not drinking Strong Coffee? For a limited time only, receive 15% off your first order. Please use code MCT15 at checkout.