Coconut (Cocos nucifera)  is a member of the palm tree family and is botanically classified as a fruit, and more specifically a drupe, which is a stone fruit. Coconuts are well-known for their many uses and the flesh of the mature coconut, coconut milk and coconut water are regularly consumed by people in tropical and subtropical areas of the world.

A nutrient-rich food, coconuts are high in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) and phytosterols, and a good source of amino acids, fiber, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, calcium, folate and vitamin E (alpha tocopherol). Coconut milk contains myristic acid, palmitic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and noleic acid. The presence of electrolytes in coconuts has made coconut water a refreshing, low-calorie drink in tropical countries since time immemorial.

MCT Oil

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are most commonly extracted from coconut oil. Triglycerides are fats composed of glycerol and fatty acids. Fatty acids contain carbon atoms. MCTs contain fatty acids that are made up of 6-12 carbon atoms, in comparison to long-chain triglycerides (LCTs) which contain more than 12 carbon atoms, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) which contain less than 6 carbon atoms. MCTs take less time than LCTs to metabolize due to their shorter chemical structure. SCFAs are mostly produced by the fermentation of fiber in the colon.

More than 50% of the fats in coconut oil are MCTs, including C8 (caprylic acid), C10 (capric acid) and C12 (lauric acid). C8 refers to the eight-carbon chain that characterizes this fatty acid. Preliminary studies suggest that C8 is the most metabolically active medium-chain fatty acid, most easily converted to energy in the body, although more studies are needed.

MCTs are easily digested and provide numerous health benefits, linked to the way in which our body processes these fats. Unlike other fats, when MCTs are processed in the body they go straight from the gut to the liver, where they are rapidly converted into ketones to provide energy to the body. In the absence of glucose, the brain can also use ketones for energy.

Additionally, the acacia gum (acacia fiber) in our MCT Oil powder acts as a prebiotic, beneficial for gut health.*