If you take a look at the ingredients printed on any CBD oil tincture bottle, you’ll most likely find “Cannabidiol” and “MCT oil” each time.
When cannabidiol (CBD) is first extracted from raw hemp material, it isn’t in its consumable form that we know and buy from stores. After drying out, extracted CBD appears more in a crystallized, salt-like state that couldn’t become properly absorbed or metabolized as intended.
And before manufacturers can package and distribute CBD as an oil tincture, this dried form, also referred to as CBD isolate, needs a catalyst that lets it work without itself being affected.
CBD molecules are fat-soluble rather than water-soluble, which translates to, “it doesn’t mix well with water.” But because CBD compounds resemble lipids found in essential oils, they can easily dissolve and bind to oil molecules. That’s why producers of CBD oil tinctures choose a carrier oil to infuse their isolates.
The oil most CBD makers use is MCT oil. But what is MCT oil exactly, and why is it preferred over other compatible oils?
What Is MCT Oil?
MCT stands for medium-chain triglyceride, which means medium-length chains of fats. Because these fats are shorter, our bodies can digest them much more easily. These MCTs are in a variety of foods, but they are found in larger quantities in coconut oil.
And MCT oil is usually extracted from coconut oil or palm kernel oil. Either way, these medium-chain fats are capable of hosting some fantastic effects supported by research.
What Are the Benefits of MCT Oil?
The following are just a few MCT oil benefits you could get from daily use:
1. An Instant Energy Source and Brain Fuel
Because MCT oil is more easily absorbed and distributed more quickly than long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), MCTs can get into your cells without having to be broken down and used immediately as energy.
And for Keto enthusiasts, the liver works to convert MCTs into ketones while on a ketogenic diet. The ketones from this process serve as a suitable source of energy for brain cells because they can pass through blood-brain barriers.
2. Useful Fatty Acids Against Yeast and Bacterial Growth
Due to MCTs’ antifungal and antimicrobial properties, MCT oil has fatty acids that can fight yeast and bacteria.
Studies show that MCTs can reduce a common yeast strain found in various skin infections by 25 percent and lower the growth of disease-causing bacteria. These effects are chiefly due to the lauric, caprylic, and capric acids found in MCTs.
3. Management of Blood Sugar Levels
MCT oil may help you gain control over your blood sugar. In particular, it could affect diabetes by boosting your fat-burning while cutting down your fat storage.
A Chinese-based analysis concluded that daily consumption of MCT oil caused sharp reductions in waist size, insulin support, and body weight compared to oils with LCTs. Another comparative study showed that people living with diabetes needed 30 percent less sugar to sustain healthy levels when consuming MCTs rather than LCTs.
4. Various Generators for Weight Loss
MCT oil is shown to help weight loss in several different ways. One method is to increase hormones that curb the appetite.
One study implied that taking two tablespoons of MCT oil with breakfast helped people eat less for lunch. And the different ways our bodies process MCTs are known to also help with burning calories.
5. Lactate Reducer for Athletes
When athletes and active people exercise regularly they increase their lactate levels, which can hurt their fitness performance. Some evidence indicates that MCTs help lower lactate buildup.
Such a trial measured lactate levels before and after cycling and found that the people who took MCTs with food before bike-riding had lower levels of lactate afterward compared to those who took LCTs.
As you’ve read, there are a handful of reasons why MCT oil is useful. However, like any other beneficial substance, it isn’t some miracle oil, and it should be taken in moderation.
Are There Any Side Effects From Using MCT Oil?
MCT oil doesn’t pose many risks; health experts consider MCTs mostly safe to use. But a couple of downsides have been discovered.
Using too much MCT oil regularly may raise the amount of fat in your liver – in the long run. But the high doses of MCT oil required for such an effect are not recommended. Furthermore, more research is needed to pinpoint any exact long-term effects of using MCT oil.
In some cases, MCTs may express an inverse effect regarding hunger hormones. Instead of increasing the types that make a person feel fuller, the MCTs may boost hormones that stimulate appetite.
Such an impact is more common among people with eating disorders, so whether this is an adverse effect or not depends on perspective.
Cannabinoids and MCT Oil
Based on MCT oil benefits, you can begin to piece together why CBD and MCTs would make such a dynamic duo. But more importantly, a carrier such as MCT oil is needed for CBD isolates to bind and become consumer-friendly in the form of oil tinctures.
And because of this unique combination in CBD oil tinctures, you’re gaining not only the wholesome goodness of CBD, but also a convenient way of getting all the perks of MCTs. It’s almost like a two-for-one deal, right?
Have you personally used MCT oil outside of CBD tinctures? Do you know of any MCT oil benefits that didn’t make our list? You’re welcome to leave a post on any of our social media pages – Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.