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If you are reading this post, you are most likely looking for the best MCT oil. Kudos to you because there are a lot of potential benefits to be gained.
This means that you are also already possibly in tune with the benefits of caprylic acid which is the most important MCT oil (aka C8 MCT oil).
And you should know that MCT oil isn’t just for people on a ketogenic diet.
The benefits can be far-reaching too and may help conditions like candida overgrowth and neurological conditions as well.
I know from first-hand experience.
In this post, I will review the best MCT oils based on my experience and based on product quality.
I will also review the benefits of MCT oil as well.
Best MCT Oil Brands in 2023 Overview
MCT oil brands that are best for keto definitely will be good caprylic acid oils like the following brands.
Note: To be pure C8 MCT oil a supplement can’t contain lauric acid or capric acid.
But, powder varieties of MCT oil will also contain a small amount of C10 and can contain a little C12 too. They also contain some fiber to help with gut health.
Best MCT Oil Brands At-A-Glance
For more details about these brands, keep reading this post.
What is MCT Oil?
The best type of MCT Oil is also known as caprylic acid or C8 MCT oil. It is made up of caprylic short-chain fatty acids.
Not to be confused with capric acid, which is C10 MCT oil, C8 MCT oil is the most ketogenic type of MCT. Although both oils do have similar benefits.
There are a number of medium-chain triglycerides. The main types of MCT oil include:
- C6 oil-caproic acid
- C8 oil-caprylic acid
- C10 oil-capric acid
- C12 oil-lauric acid
Virgin coconut oil contains some of each type of these MCTs, including C8 oil.
What is MCT Oil Used For?
This coconut MCT oil is a type of medium-chain triglyceride that not only is great for energy but also is easily made into ketones in the body. Ketones are a type of fuel that the body uses and burns.
The best MCT oil for keto is definitely C8 MCT oil because it efficiently becomes a ketone in the body within minutes of taking the oil.
So as you might imagine, C8 MCT oil is great for anyone on a keto diet.
It is the most ketogenic of all MCT oils, so it can help ease anyone into a ketogenic diet.
How is MCT Oil Made?
Most C8 MCT oil is made from coconut oil but it can also be made from palm oil. The coconut oil variety is recommended because it is much more ecologically friendly.
From the coconut flesh, the oil is often cold-pressed or heat-pressed.
This helps to fractionate or separate the fatty acids so that they can be used for various health benefits.
You should avoid any MCT oil that is fractionated with chemicals like hexane.
By the way, you should always avoid putting MCT oils in styrofoam or BPA plastics because the chemicals from the plastic can leach out into your drink or foods if you do.
Related post: Best Keto Brownie Mix + Surprising Health Benefits (thehealthyrd.com)
MCT Oil Benefits Overview
While MCT oil is commonly used on a ketogenic diet, it has a lot of other benefits for the body and the mind.
And unlike other kinds of fat, medium-chain triglycerides are able to get into the brain where they serve as fuel. They cross the blood-brain barrier, unlike other fats, so they can be used as a fuel there.
Caprylic acid is the most preferred of the medium-chain triglycerides because it is known to have antifungal and antibacterial properties too.
Additionally, C8 oil may reduce the growth of candida according to a number of research studies. In fact, caprylic acid may work even better than some medications for drug-resistant fungal infections although more research is needed.
C8 MCT oil may even break down stubborn biofilms of candida.
And another beautiful thing about MCT caprylic acid? It usually isn’t stored as fat in the body so it is directly used for energy. The body will quickly make caprylic acid into ketones for energy in minutes.
Since it is a medium-chain triglyceride, it also is very easy to digest and absorb, making it a great option for people with digestive issues.
Related post: Best Healthy Substitute for Sugar in Baking: 10 Options (thehealthyrd.com)
Specific Benefits of MCT Oil
People feel a myriad of benefits when using caprylic acid, myself included.
Its health benefits include:
Brain Health: Caprylic acid is the best MCT oil for brain health because it is a direct fuel for brain cells. People use it to help manage epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, essential tremor, and more. In other words, it is the best MCT oil for memory loss and nerve health.
Energy-boosting: As an almost immediate source of ketones, C8 MCT oil helps increase sustained energy. It also likely helps increase adenosine in the body for added energy. It does this really well in my experience.
MCT and weight loss: When used as part of a healthy diet, caprylic acid helps with weight loss because it increases calorie burning. Many people, including myself, feel less hungry when using it too. Additionally, it isn’t usually stored as fat and the body still remains in a fasting state when using C8 MCT.
Good for a ketogenic diet: Using caprylic acid helps to increase ketones in the body so it’s great for adding it to a ketogenic diet.
Improves gut health: By deterring the growth of candida and harmful bacteria, C8 MCT oil is a useful supplement for helping the digestive system. This means it could be a very useful tool for helping treat SIBO. Some studies even show it is helpful for inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Not to mention, many people find it very helpful for reducing constipation.
May help cholesterol: Early research shows that caprylic acid reduces bad LDL cholesterol while improving good HDL cholesterol.
May improve blood sugar levels: As part of a healthy diet, using caprylic acid and intermittent fasting can help improve blood sugar levels by increasing insulin sensitivity.
Related post: The Power of Fasting for Health
Best MCT Oil Overall
Bulletproof C8 MCT Oil
Bulletproof C8 MCT oil, known as Brain Octane, is the best MCT oil overall. I find it very energizing and focusing. For me, it also works wonders for helping with intermittent fasting. It’s both invigorating and curbs hunger in my experience. Not to mention it makes my skin baby soft and my digestive tract is overall in better balance.
And I’m not the only one. In fact, over 22,000 reviewers out there agree with me about the quality and effectiveness of this brand. It is pure C8 MCT and also naturally extracted and free of any additives. This is truly why this is the best MCT oil brand out there.
This is a great keto supplement but also great for anyone who just wants a little extra oomph in their day.
Its other benefits are that it is completely flavorless so it literally can be added to any dish at the table or added to any beverage. It also can be super helpful for people with weight loss because it helps curb their appetite.
It makes great salad dressings and you can use it to make anything from garlic oil to drizzle on foods at the table to make a low-carb smoothie.
By now I’m sure you’ve heard of the famous Bulletproof Coffee, so this is the oil you want to make your own Bulletproof drink. This high-quality MCT oil won’t disappoint. It also comes in C8 MCT oil soft gels and individual packs for when you are on the go.
Best MCT Oil for a budget
Level Up Clean MCT Oil
Level Up Clean MCT oil is the best brand of MCT oil for people on a budget.
It is available in a glass bottle if you buy directly from the company as well. This product gets overwhelmingly positive reviews as well.
The features of Level Up C8 oil are similar to Bulletproof Brain Octane in that it is free of hexane and is steam-filtered. Pure caprylic acid is the result so it provides natural energy and ketones. It also has 14 grams of caprylic acid per serving, making it very potent.
Reviewers love that this oil helps curb hunger and the “hangry” feelings you can get while on a ketogenic diet or fasting.
It is family-owned and sustainably sourced as well.
Best MCT Oil Powder
Intentionally Bare Organic MCT Oil Powder
Intentionally Bare Organic C8 MCT Oil Powder is the best MCT C8 oil powder because it is both organic and highly rated. It contains 6.3 grams of caprylic acid per serving which is the most of any powder out there. It has a total of 9 grams of MCT oil. Like other MCTs, it has 0g net carbs, and 0g of sugar.
A great tool for anyone who is on a special diet, including keto diets, low-carb diets, and for intermittent fasting diets. It’s great as a natural source of energy for anyone really. You can add this to any beverage such as coffee, a smoothie, a protein shake, and more. This product is great for traveling or if you are on the go.
Personally, I find this MCT oil powder very delicious and I love that it mixes very well with drinks like coffee.
While powders don’t have as much C8 as liquid forms, they are super convenient because there is no mess. Contains 2.7 grams of capric acid as well. Backed also by a 100% Hassle-Free Return Policy.
Perfect Keto is also a popular MCT oil powder but you should know that it is also not a pure C8 MCT oil either.
Best Organic MCT Oil brands
Sports Research Organic C8 MCT
Sports Research Organic C8 MCT oil is a top-rated MCT oil C8 product that gets rave reviews and it checks all the boxes for quality. At $1.18 per ounce, its price is comparable to the Bulletproof brand.
Coconuts are generally sustainable crops but this one has the added bonus of being USDA organic.
It is 3rd party inspected for quality and is from USDA-certified organic coconuts as well. For this reason, it is among the best MCT oil C8 supplements out there. Like all coconut-derived MCT oil, it is non-GMO verified too.
Natural Force Pure C8 MCT Oil
Natural Force Pure C8 MCT Oil is another of the best organic MCT oil brands because it contains 14 grams of C8 caprylic acid per tablespoon. It is also cold-pressed and USDA-certified organic.
Another important benefit of this brand is that it comes in a glass bottle that is non-toxic unlike some kinds of plastic bottles.
It is great for mixing into low-carb coffee, and smoothies, and drizzling on any entree at the table. Even the product label is biodegradable and made from non-toxic plant-based inks. The cap is fully recyclable too.
Third-party certified for quality and purity as well with each batch being tested by GMP standards.
Best MCT Oil Bottle Design
Kiss My Keto C8 MCT Oil
KissMyKeto C8 MCT Oil is pure C8 MCT so it is the most keto MCT out there like the other products listed. For this reason, it is one of the best C8 oil supplements.
With over 2000 positive reviews, it’s hard to beat this for customer satisfaction as well. Some reviewers even say it helps with their fungal acne issues.
Some nice features of this product are that it is in a glass bottle with an easy dosing pump. This makes it free of leaks. Like all high-quality C8 MCT oils, this is odorless and tasteless.
It is free of palm oil so it is orangutan-friendly friendly too.
Best C8 MCT Oil Gelcap
Amy Myers Caprylic Acid
Amy Myers Caprylic Acid Capsules (C8 MCT Oil Capsules) are typically used to help digestive processes. Caprylic acid in these supplements helps to reduce opportunistic yeast such as candida from overgrowing. Unlike liquid MCT oils, this contains calcium caprylate and magnesium caprylate which helps it reach the intestines.
It is also very convenient because it comes in soft gels. The only downside is that if you are using it for ketones, you will need a lot of gel caps to equal 1 tablespoon of liquid caprylic acid.
Dr. Amy Myers’s products are all GMP certified and this product is very highly rated for many of its benefits.
Best Cold-Pressed MCT Oil
Dr. Mercola Ketone Energy Caprylic Acid
Dr. Mercola Ketone Energy C8 MCT Oil is cold-pressed instead of heat-treated, which helps create a very high-quality MCT oil product. Like other MCT oils, this product is Gluten-free, GMO-free, and soy-free. Of note, this is 95% caprylic acid and 5% capric acid, which also helps make ketones. It is tasteless so it can be used virtually anywhere you want it in foods and drinks.
Dr. Mercola’s products are fully guaranteed for 90 days with 100% money back if not fully satisfied too. It comes in a glass jar too, which is a bonus.
Best Bargain MCT Oil Gelcaps
Now Foods Caprylic Acid Gel Caps
Now Foods Caprylic Acid Gelcaps are great if you are looking for a bargain caprylic acid gelcap. It is only $8.56 for a bottle of 100 softgels. Just to be sure you know, you will have to eat a lot of gel caps to equal liquid C8 MCT oil. That’s over 15 of them to equal a tablespoon of liquid MCT.
Like the other listed C8 MCT oil supplements, this one is soy-free, gluten-free, corn-free, dairy-free, and egg-free.
This company is a trusted business since 1968 and is GMP-certified for quality and purity.
MCT Oil Side Effects
Luckily C8 MCT supplements are safe for virtually everyone according to the FDA because they are generally regarded as safe status. They are hypoallergenic too.
Having said that, you will want to start with a small dose, such as a teaspoon or 1 gelcap, because your digestive tract may need some time to adapt to this supplement. Some people experience a bit of diarrhea if they overdo it in the beginning.
After about 3 days, you can increase your dose to the recommended amounts on your supplement package.
Because it can kill bad bacteria and candida you can feel a few die-off symptoms, which can include a bit of temporary GI upset.
Best MCT Oil Summary
If you are looking for which MCT oil brands to buy, aim for a C8 MCT oil that has high ratings, good quality reputation, and great results such as those listed here.
With C8 MCT, you can expect to have improvements in your journey on a ketogenic diet or just about any sort of health goals like digestive health, brain health, and metabolic health as well as energy.
Just start slowly with a small dose for the best results.
The information on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be used as medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider, preferably a healthcare provider with extensive training in food and nutrition, before changing your health regimen.
Heidi Moretti, MS, RD is The Healthy RD. A registered dietitian for 23 years as well as a book author of the new book Gut Fix and The Whole Body Guide to Gut Health, Heidi has a passion for functional nutrition and natural medicine. She has researched supplements and natural medicine throughout her career. One of her biggest loves is helping people gain function and vitality by tackling the root causes of illness.
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