MCT oil is a commonly used carrier for cannabidiol (CBD). It is a high fat oil which is extracted from either coconut or palm.
For years fats have been viewed as the enemy of health, weight loss and well-being. Now we know better. Fats have many vital roles and are an important part of a healthy diet.
MCT goes a step beyond. It is an oil that is packed with nutritional benefits as well as having a role in enhancing and targeting other ingredients.
Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) are fatty acids found in coconut oil and palm oil. It is often reported that they boost energy and support an increase in brain power. It is a clear liquid with no smell and is often added to food or coffee (also called Keto or Bulletproof Coffee) and smoothies.
MCT oil is a general term for several different oils including caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid and lauric acid. Each has varying effects and are found in different amounts in MCT oil.
Most MCTs get their reputation and quick effects from by-passing the digestive tract and going straight to the liver to be broken down. They quickly become high-energy ketones and are transported to the bloodstream. This quick action makes them a source of fast energy and a useful delivery method for other substances such as CBD, which can be broken down in the digestive tract.
Some studies have observed a link between a diet rich in MCTs and weight loss. They appear to have links to good gut health and can modify the gut microbiota to support metabolic processes. At the same time, they are both antifungal and antimicrobial, which keeps your digestive system healthy. MCTs have considerable potential for gut health, weight loss and provide a quick source of energy that can reach your cells faster than other forms.
Note: The amount of MCT consumed when taking a CBD oil is minimal. A few drops of MCT oil are not going to provide these same health benefits.
Coconut oil is packed full of beneficial oils, 62% of which are MCTs. However, of that percentage, a large majority is lauric acid. While lauric acid is beneficial it does not behave like other MCTs and can be broken down in your digestive tract instead of the liver.
Coconut oil is a great choice and can work well in many diets. However, if you want the benefits associated with MCT oil it is best not to buy coconut oil.
When adding any food supplement to your diet it is important to consider its bio-availability. Bio-availability refers to the amount of active ingredient that will reach your bloodstream.
CBD is often broken down by your liver before it can be used by your body. If you ingest CBD, only 4% to 20% will reach your bloodstream and this could take up to two hours.
However, this is still a well-used method of consuming CBD. It is still used because:
1. Ingesting CBD is convenient, and it can easily be added to food or drink.
2. The effect of CBD is often longer when it has been ingested.
3. Taking CBD in this way means that you won’t need to carry any other items such as vaporisers.
Because ingestion is the method of choice for many CBD users there has been lots of research into ways of making it more efficient. It has been found that the amount of CBD and other cannabinoids that reach your bloodstream increases when combined with fats. MCT oil is particularly effective at doing this.
CBD is fat-soluble so the MCT acts as a carrier and prevents it from being broken down in the digestive system. This allows a greater amount of CBD to reach your bloodstream than if you were to swallow the CBD.
MCT oil is a source of healthy fats that can build your energy and maintain your gut health. When combined with CBD the key benefit is enhanced bioavailability of CBD.
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Tom Russell
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Tom Russell writes extensively about CBD oil and other groundbreaking food supplements. He and his wife share their home with two daughters and a lifetime’s collection of books.