Why Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCT’s)?
Of the fats that make up your diet, the ones that are the healthiest and most easily digested are the medium chain triglycerides (MCT’s). In contrast, the long chain triglycerides (LCT’s) that are also present in your food are much more difficult to digest and are more easily stored as body fat. Because MCTs are easily digested, rapidly absorbed, quickly metabolized, and readily converted to energy in the body, they are not as readily deposited as body fat. MCTs contain a high amount of lauric acid, the major fatty acid from the fat of the coconut. Also in one clinical trial with overweight men, consumption of a diet rich in MCTs resulted in greater loss of fat perhaps due to increased energy expenditure and fat oxidation observed with MCT intake. MCTs may be considered as agents that potentially stimulate weight loss.
