Intermittent Fasting (IF) has become a trendy eating pattern in recent years, with numerous health benefits attributed to this approach.
This eating pattern involves alternating between periods of fasting and eating, with many people opting for a 16:8 window, where they fast for 16 hours and eat during an 8-hour window.
While fasting, you can consume only water, coffee, or tea, and some supplements.
In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the role MCT oil can play in achieving success with Intermittent Fasting. We will discuss MCT oil and how it can help support your fasting goals.
We will also explore the science behind MCT oil, how to use it effectively, and the potential risks and benefits of this supplement.
Three Common Types of Fasting
Many people are confused about Intermittent Fasting and its specifics around its fasting period.
To get a clear understanding of this dietary method, you need to understand the three common types of Intermittent Fasting:
- Time-restricted eating,
- Alternate-day fasting,
- Prolonged fasting.
Knowing the difference between each type will help you decide which is best for your particular needs.
Time-Restricted Eating
This type of fasting involves limiting your eating to a specific time each day, typically six to eight hours, then fasting for the remainder of the day.
For example, you might eat between 12 pm and 8 pm each day, followed by your fasting window of 16 hours until the next eating window.
This version of Intermittent Fasting is the most practical and sustainable for most people. It allows them to continue eating their usual meals while still achieving the benefits of fasting.
Alternate-Day Fasting
As the name suggests, Alternate-Day Fasting involves fasting every other day.
On fasting days, you typically eat one small meal or consume no calories at all. On non-fasting days, you eat normally.
This type of fasting can be challenging for some, as it involves long periods without food. Still, it can be an effective way to achieve weight loss and improve insulin sensitivity.
Prolonged Fasting
With prolonged fasting, you abstain from food for extended periods, typically 48 to 72 hours.
Lengthy fasting can be challenging because most people find it difficult to go without food for an extended period, but it has been shown to have significant health benefits.
Prolonged fasting can help improve insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation, and promote the regeneration of cells.
Before we get into the good stuff about Intermittent Fasting and MCT oil, it’s best that you are aware of the risks involved.
The Risks Associated with Intermittent Fasting
Although Intermittent Fasting has numerous benefits, it’s only suitable for some.
Before beginning an Intermittent Fasting program, individuals with specific medical conditions should seek advice from their healthcare provider.
Additionally, fasting can lead to side effects such as dehydration, fatigue, and headaches, especially in the beginning. It’s vital to listen to your body and adjust your fasting regimen accordingly.
The Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent Fasting has numerous benefits, including weight loss, improved metabolism, and reduced inflammation.
Another health benefit that is associated with Intermittent Fasting is lowered blood sugar levels by improving insulin level. This is particularly beneficial for individuals with Type 2 Diabetes or insulin resistance.
Insulin sensitivity relates to how effectively the body responds to insulin, the hormone that manages blood sugar levels. Better insulin sensitivity can improve glucose control, reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases.
Additionally, fasting has been linked to improved brain function, including increased focus and clarity.
It has been a great way to help people lose weight and improve their overall health and wellness.
What is MCT Oil?
MCT oil stands for medium chain triglyceride oil; it’s a dietary supplement composed of mostly caprylic and capric acids extracted from coconut oil or palm oil.
MCT oil is odorless, colorless, and has a low smoke point, making it ideal for salad dressings, smoothies, or cooking oil.
These shorter-chain fatty acids provide quicker energy to the body compared to long-chain triglycerides because they require fewer steps to be absorbed. Additionally, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are not stored as fat.
The primary benefit of MCT oil comes from the main ingredients – lauric acid (C12), caprylic acid (C8), and capric acid (C10).
These three specific medium-chain fatty acids do not require bile or pancreatic enzymes for digestion, allowing them to pass quickly through our gut lining into our bloodstream faster than long-chain triglycerides.
Once in our bloodstream, they are readily transported across the blood-brain barrier, where they can be converted into ketone bodies which can then be used as an energy source by our cells.
MCT oil also contains several healthy fats that have 8 – 10 carbon atoms per molecule.
This helps them bypass many typical breakdown pathways that fats must go through in order to be broken down by digestive enzymes, so they are released quickly during metabolism and sent directly to the liver.
This makes them an optimal fuel source for your body!
Many people wonder if they should use MCT oil while fasting. The answer to this question depends on your goals. If you’re fasting for weight loss, then MCT oil can be beneficial.
MCT oil helps increase feelings of fullness, potentially leading to reduced caloric intake and weight loss. Additionally, MCT oil has been linked to increased energy levels and mental clarity.
Therefore an MCT oil supplement is ideal for people who want to stay focused while fasting.
The Health Benefits and Uses of MCT Oil
MCT oil has numerous health benefits and can be incorporated into a sustainable diet and lifestyle for optimal health.
According to a medically reviewed article from Healthline.com, 7 Science-Based Benefits of MCT Oil, properly taken, it can increase energy, improve mental clarity, and enhance feelings of fullness.
Helping you gain mental clarity makes MCT oil an ideal supplement for people who want to stay focused during their fast.
Additionally, MCT oil is a good source of healthy fats, which can benefit heart health, reduce inflammation, and improve digestion. Thus MCT oil is a highly popular supplement within the ketogenic diet community.
How to Use MCT Oil During Intermittent Fasting?
If you decide to use MCT oil while fasting, it’s essential to do it correctly.
The maximum recommended dosage is one tablespoon of MCT oil per day, added to your morning coffee, smoothie, or salad dressing.
However, it’s best to start with a small amount, say, half a tablespoon, and increase the dosage gradually, helping your body adjust to the increased fat intake.
What Is the Best Time to Take MCT Oil?
When deciding on the best time to use MCT oil, it’s important not to overlook the impact it can have on your cognitive abilities.
Because MCT oil can provide an energy boost, it’s best to use it in the morning or early afternoon rather than in the evening, when it can disrupt sleep, leading to feelings of restlessness, an increased heart rate, and fatigue the following day.
It’s also crucial to choose a high-quality product that’s pure and free of additives for the best results. Finally, always select MCT oil that’s produced using environmentally friendly methods from sustainable sources.
MCT oil powder is a convenient alternative to liquid MCT oil, offering an easy way to add it to smoothies or other drinks. Plus, MCT oil powder can be used as a cooking ingredient, thanks to its high smoke point.
By incorporating MCT oil into your diet at the right time and in the right form, you can reap the benefits of this powerful supplement.
Does MCT Oil Break a Fast?
A common question about Intermittent Fasting is whether or not consuming MCT oil breaks a fast. While the answer to this question may vary depending on whom you ask, the consensus is that consuming MCT oil in small amounts does not break a fast.
MCT oil differs in how it’s metabolized from other types of fat. When you consume MCT oil, it’s rapidly absorbed and transported directly to the liver, where it’s broken down into ketones.
This end result of ketone production is what makes MCT oil a popular supplement for keto dieters to enhance ketosis.
Ketones are a type of fuel that your body can use for energy, similar to glucose. However, unlike glucose, ketones do not require insulin to be utilized by the body.
Because MCT oil is metabolized differently than other types of fat, it does not trigger an insulin response, which is the primary concern when breaking a fast.
Insulin is a hormone released in response to the consumption of carbohydrates or protein, and it signals the body to stop burning fat and start storing it.
If you consume MCT oil in small amounts, your body can use it for energy without triggering an insulin response.
This means that you remain in a fasted state and continue to reap the benefits of Intermittent Fasting, such as improved insulin sensitivity, weight loss, and increased energy.
However, it’s essential to note that consuming large amounts of MCT oil can lead to an insulin response, which can break a fast. Additionally, consuming MCT oil and other foods or drinks containing calories can also break a fast.
Hunger Pains and Energy Boosters
One of the biggest challenges of Intermittent Fasting is dealing with hunger pains (or hunger pangs) and fatigue.
MCT oil can help alleviate these symptoms by providing a source of energy because of the fast absorption rate by the kidney and immediate conversion to ketones, which the brain and body can use for fuel.
Bulletproof coffee is a popular drink among people who practice Intermittent Fasting by blending black coffee with MCT oil and grass-fed butter. While this drink is high in calories, it does not break a fast if consumed in small amounts.
Although bulletproof coffee may not necessarily break a fast, another risk to consider when using MCT oil can be found in the WebMD.com article, MCT Oil, is that MCT is high in calories.
Therefore, it is vital that MCT oil isn’t consumed with other high calorie foods that can potentially break your fast.
Furthermore, this can lead to weight gain, higher cholesterol levels, increased hunger, and liver fat buildup, all of which are a danger when using MCT oil in large quantities, or over an extended time.
Thus, you must be mindful of the calorie content and avoid consuming too much of it, as it could lead to blowing out your daily calorie requirement, and defeating the purpose of Intermittent Fasting.
Key Takeaways
Let’s recap the main takeaways:
- Intermittent Fasting and MCT oil can be a beneficial combination that provides energy, reduces hunger pains, and aids in weight loss.
- It is essential to use MCT oil in moderation and choose a high-quality product.
- Listening to your body and adjusting your fasting regimen accordingly will help in achieving your fasting goals.
- MCT oil is a versatile and convenient supplement used in various ways to improve your health and well-being.
- Incorporating MCT oil into your diet and Intermittent Fasting regimen, you can experience the numerous benefits of this remarkable supplement.
- Maximum recommended dosage is one tablespoon of MCT oil per day.
- Best used in the morning or early afternoon.
- MCT in small amounts does not necessarily break a fast.