If you’re on the ketogenic diet, then ketone production is probably something that’s very important to you. After all, keeping your ketone levels up is what ensures you’ll stay in ketosis or fat-burning mode. Without them, you’d revert back to being a glucose burner, and you can kiss those amazing health benefits goodbye!
Because of this, it’s important to eat foods and supplement with products that help support your ketosis. This is where MCT oil comes in.
Medium chain triglycerides or MCTs have been shown to enhance your blood levels of ketones, which is what enables you to burn fat as fuel (1).
The Onnit Company has you covered when it comes to choosing the best MCT oil, and we’re here to tell you all about them.
Health Benefits of MCT Oil on the Ketogenic Diet
Medium chain triglycerides are a type of fatty acid that contains six to 12 carbon atoms in its fatty acid chain. When compared to short-chain fatty acids and long-chain fatty acids, MCTs are the easiest to digest. They also come with the most health benefits, especially among keto dieters.
Research shows that when you take MCT oil, it’s rapidly synthesized in the mitochondria of your cells, which prompts your acetyl-coenzyme A levels to create more ketone bodies. This process also provokes a thermogenic response so you burn more calories while doing so (2).
In addition to helping you produce more ketones, MCTs have been shown to contain anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic properties when combined with the ketogenic diet, which can help you stay disease-free (3).
MCT oils also help improve brain health. One study found that MCT oil supplementation on the ketogenic diet can help reduce seizures associated with epilepsy (4).
Here are some other health benefits of MCT oil:
- Reduces food intake and promotes weight loss (5)
- Promotes better weight loss results than olive oil (6)
- Can be converted to ketones and utilized as energy during ketosis
- Improves both intestinal ecosystem and permeability to boost digestive health (7)
- Promotes mental stamina and energy because ketones can cross through the blood-brain barrier
- Improves exercise performance (8)
- Reduces blood lactate concentration after exercise to promote recovery (9)
- Helps reduce mild‐to‐moderate Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment (10)
- Improves autism spectrum disorders (11)
- Contains antimicrobial properties to help fight yeast infections (12)
- Protects the heart by raising “good” HDL cholesterol levels and enlarging lipoprotein particle sizes (13, 14)
- Improves insulin resistance (15)
MCT oil has few, if any, reported side effects. Some people claim that MCT oil has a laxative effect.
You may experience digestive discomfort if you take too much of it at once. For this reason, we recommend introducing it into your diet slowly. Try adding one teaspoon to your coffee per day.
Some people add MCT oil to their diet to help them stay regular, which can be hard to do on the keto diet because it lacks fiber.
Now let’s look at the different flavors that Onnit has to offer:
#1. Onnit MCT Oil
Sure, you can do the ketogenic diet without taking any supplements. But if you found a company that helped you stay in ketosis and met all of your needs, then why wouldn’t you give it a try?
Onnit is a premium company with outstanding products. They specialize in delivering the highest-quality coconut oil possible with medium chain fatty acids and lauric acid.
Lauric acid is the type of fatty acid that makes up about half of the fatty acid content in coconut oil. It is metabolized quickly in the liver and helps the body make more ketones as opposed to being stored as fat (16).
Other medium chain fatty acids found in this oil are caprylic acid and capric acid, which further support ketone production.
Onnit’s MCT oil is a clean source of fuel you can use to stay in ketosis and deliver energy to your cells whenever you need a boost. Unlike other coconut oil products, it contains no harmful additives or fillers.
The only ingredient you’ll find in this product is 100 percent non-GMO liquid MCT oil derived from coconut oil.
Here’s what we like about it.
Pros
- MCT oil is derived from pure coconut oil, not palm oil like some products are
- Contains 30 percent lauric acid for clean, slow-burning fuel
- Good for the environment because it doesn’t contain palm oil, which is dangerous to animals who rely on our rainforests
- Non-GMO, vegan, BPA-free, and contains no ingredients other than MCT oil
- Eat to mix in with any liquid, such as coffee, smoothies, or even water (heck, take it by the spoonful if you want)
- Taste and odor free
- Great for athletes
- Converted into ketones quicker than coconut oil alone to help you stay in ketosis
Cons
- It’s hard to say anything bad about this product, so we won’t. Instead, we’ll remind you to check the expiration date on your bottle and always buy the freshest oil possible. Store this in a cool place so it doesn’t go bad. Because there are no preservatives to extend its shelf life, you’ll want to replace this product often if you don’t use it up right away. But we think you’ll love it so much that you won’t be wasting a drop of it!
Where to buy: Click here for a special deal!
#2. Emulsified MCT Oil
Once you’ve mastered the art of coconut oil-derived MCTs, you can pretty much start creating just about any product you want because it’s guaranteed to be good. That’s what Onnit has done here. They’ve made a non-dairy coffee emulsified creamer derived from MCTs.
While you can always add straight MCT oil to your coffee, it’s not creamy and requires a blender to mix together.
Onnit’s Emulsified MCT oil is the answer to your coffee dilemma. You can stir it right into hot or cold drinks alike and you’ll get the same creamy texture throughout your beverage.
Again, they get their MCTs from coconut oil and not palm oil, so right off the bat you know you’re getting the best source possible. Then they’ve added pure flavors. You can add this to your coffee creamer for a ketogenic boost whenever you need it without using the blender.
Pros
- Saves time because you don’t have to blend the MCT oil into your coffee drinks anymore
- Comes in several different flavors, including vanilla, coconut, strawberry, and coconut
- Can be used in ketogenic dessert recipes
- Recommended by athletes
- Derived from coconut oil and not palm oil
- Sugar-free, vegan, non-GMO, and dairy-free
- Contains the MCTs lauric, capric, and caprylic acids
Cons
- The only potentially bad thing about this product is that it contains preservatives. But keep in mind that any coffee creamer you buy will have these because it needs to be shelf stable. The amount you’re getting is so small that we doubt it will have too much of an impact on your health. If preservatives are a deal breaker for you, then you can go back to using the regular MCT oil and blending it into your morning coffee.
Where to buy: Click here for a special deal!
#3. Almond Milk Latte Emulsified MCT Oil
Making an almond milk latte infused with MCT oil on the ketogenic diet just got a whole lot easier.
Onnit’s Almond Milk Latte Emulsified MCT oil is an excellent dairy-free way to enjoy a cup of coffee while getting in the MCTs you need to boost ketone levels and stay energized.
Just like with the rest of the Onnit MCT product line, there is no palm oil added to this product. These MCTs are 100 percent naturally derived from coconut oil.
Just like with the last product, this almond milk latte takes the blending out of your MCT oil coffee experience, which can save you time in the morning because it comes emulsified already. But this product takes your coffee to the next level by allowing you to enjoy a creamy latte and not just flavored coffee.
It contains some of the best keto no-calorie sweeteners around, including monk fruit extract and stevia. So it tastes good and it supports all of your ketogenic goals. The only thing you need to do is add coffee and stir.
Pros
- MCT oil is derived from coconut oil, not palm oil
- Takes the work out of blending coffee and MCT oil together
- Provides a delicious, creamy latte using almond milk
- Contains high-quality keto sweeteners, such as monk fruit and stevia
- Can be added to other keto recipes or breakfast cereals for added flavor and an MCT boost
- Sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan
- Supports ketosis by boosting ketone levels in the liver
- Can be mixed with hot or cold beverages
- Tastes great!
Cons
- It’s hard to say anything bad about Onnit products, but if we were to get picky again, then we would mention the use of preservatives as a con. Keep in mind that all coffee creamers will need to use some sort of preservative to keep it shelf stable and you can always go back to blending if you don’t like it. But then you’ll lose out on the delicious taste of an almond milk latte first thing in the morning, and it’s totally not worth it.
Where to buy: Click here for a special deal!
#4. Savory Emulsified MCT Oil
Now that we’ve given you a list of the best possible coffee creamers, it’s time to move on to bigger and better things. This Savory Emulsified MCT Oil is the best thing that ever happened to your soups or salad dressing.
It gives you the same ketone boost as its other products and is derived strictly from coconut oil and not palm oil.
Additionally, this product is emulsified with savory herbs that can be added to meat-based dishes, soups, or used as a dressing. Pick from fresh onion, ginger, or herb flavors.
Check out the Omnit website for recipes and ideas for using their products. We recommend adding some to chili, iced tea, or even some Primal Kitchen ranch dressing. Because it’s already emulsified, there is no stirring or blending required, and the oil won’t separate from your dish. The possibilities are endless with this product.
Pros
- Delivers coconut-derived MCT oil along with herbs for a delicious way to boost the flavoring of your favorite foods
- Comes emulsified so there is no mixing or blending involved; the oil won’t separate
- Contains no palm oil, sugar, gluten, dairy or GMOs
- Can be used in various recipes or added to salads
- Comes in several different flavors
Cons
- This product uses a nice blend of natural flavors to enhance its flavor and shelf life, but the preservatives are still there. Keep in mind that the amount you’re using in recipes is not likely to be enough to cause any real problems if you’re trying to watch your preservative intake.
Where to buy: Click here for a special deal!
Conclusion
Adding MCT oil to your ketogenic diet is a great way to boost ketone levels and help you stay in ketosis. Sure, you can get there with food alone, but supplementing is a nice way to enhance your diet. Onnit makes a variety of MCT oil-based products to help make your ketogenic diet that much more enjoyable.
All products are sourced naturally from coconut oil and not palm oil, which is better for you and the environment. You’ll get the added benefits of enriching your coffee or favorite food recipes while supplying your body with more energy.
We recommend jazzing up your coffee with one of the above-mentioned coffee creamers. Or add some savory MCT oil to your salads and meat-based dishes to enhance the flavor. If you’re not ready to experiment with different flavors yet, then invest in some original Onnit MCT oil and you won’t be disappointed. Just make sure to keep your bottle fresh and updated often as it doesn’t contain any preservatives, which is a good thing!
