We all want to live a long, happy life full of energy and vitality. Is an alkaline diet the answer to this healthier life?
We hope we can live well into old age and continue doing the things that we love with our friends and family. We want to spend less time at the doctor’s, in the hospital, or in a nursing home. Modern-day life has caused many chronic disorders, autoimmune diseases, and age-related issues, many of us accept that this is our reality. However, we are actually supposed to live much longer and feel much healthier as we age than we are currently accustomed to. The truth is, an alkaline diet can help us live well into old age and avoid sickness, inflammation and disease.
What is the link between an alkaline diet and cancer?
Some studies have shown that cancer cells thrive in highly acidic environments with a low pH. Supporters of the alkaline diet believe that if you make the body more alkaline this will make your body a poor environment for cancer to thrive. One preliminary study publishedin April 2019 in the International Journal of Cancer found that alkaline diets may offer a protective factor against breast cancer,.
The problem is that our current healthcare system doesn’t allow our bodies to be alkaline. We are continuing down a self-destructive path where pharmaceuticals are slowly killing us and making us sicker. Even properly prescribed and properly taken prescription drugs are a major cause of death.
Many of you will say that the doctor knows best but the truth is taking pharmaceutical medication is just masking the problem. The issue is still there you just can’t see it, but eventually, your body is going to suffer.
More and more people are beginning to ask questions and take their health, and the health of their loved ones back into their own hands. In fact, 70% of new medical students are actively requesting alternative methods of disease treatment.
Our bodies have the capacity to detoxify acidity up to a certain point, but most of us have a much more acidic diet than we should. Sugar, meat, and food additives contribute to acidity and this can prevent your body’s natural detoxing capabilities.
We’re only just beginning to understand how too much acidity in the body can cause illness. Discovering greens and Alkalizing is the beginning of your journey to understanding the truth about living longer and healthier.
What Is The Alkaline Diet?
The alkaline diet, also known as the alkaline ash diet is becoming more popular and has celebrity followers like Victoria Beckham, Jennifer Aniston, and Kate Hudson.
The alkaline diet is based on the claim that eating foods that are more alkaline, will help reduce your risk of chronic diseases like cancer. Followers of the alkaline diet say that too much acid in your body depletes your body’s oxygen and this impacts every aspect of your body. Decreasing your energy and wellness. If this goes on for too long, the excess acid is stored in the joints, causing inflammation and damage. Thistriggers the loss of calcium from the bones and magnesium from muscles. As the body attempts to restore balance. This imbalance is said to increase susceptibility to illness.
Fortunately, It’s Easy To Alkalise The Body With Changes In Diet.
Your diet can alter the pH value (the measurement of acidity or alkalinity) of your body.
We need to eat foods that provide us with energy. By choosing more alkaline foods, you can “alkalize” your body and thus improve your health. Greens provide you with the energy that your cells need.
There Are 3 Food Groups That Are Considered Acidic, Alkaline, Or Neutral:
The pH scale goes from 0-14. 0 being most acidic and 14 being most alkaline. Acidic foods take energy away from us and make our bodies work harder through digestion and removing toxins and waste. Alkaline foods have a positive effect on all of our bodily functions.
pH levels vary within our body. Some parts are acidic like the stomach which highly acidic and full of hydrochloric acid, giving it a pH of 2–3.5. This acidity is necessary to break down food.
On the other hand, human blood is always slightly alkaline, with a pH of 7.36–7.44. When your blood pH falls out of the normal range, it can be fatal if left untreated. However, this only happens with a certain diseases, such as ketoacidosis caused by diabetes, starvation, or alcohol intake.
All green leafy vegetables and grasses are high in calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin c, plus many B Vitamins.
Many people turn to a vegetarian diet to become healthier, however rather than living vegetables, low sugar fruits, and high energy green foods, more often vegetarian diets consist of large amounts of grains, rice, flours, simple carbohydrates, sugars, high sugar fruits, dairy products, and processed meat substitutes.
The depletion of minerals and nutrients in today’s soil makes a concentrated greens product an excellent supplement for everyone. The key ingredients of a greens product should be green leafy vegetables and grasses
If you are interested in healthy and balanced life, Ayurveda, and natural ways to age healthier you have probably heard about collagen, collagen protein, and collagen powder. Do you know exactly what it does and how it works? There have been many names for collagen, the most used one is ‘the fountain of youth’ claiming it is a natural way to a wrinkle-free and youthful skin and healthy gut.
What is Collagen and Why Does it Matter?
This article will provide you with an all-encompassing rundown of collagen, including why is it important, how to use it, and the benefits of collagen powder. It is important to know the basics and what to look out for as misuse won’t bring any benefits.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies Pureagen® provides a detailed explanation in their blog “What is Collagen powder? Collagen is formed through chains of amino acids that act as building blocks. The amino acids involved are called glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. As the collagen moves through the gastrointestinal tract, it also helps break down protein and carbohydrates.
What Does Collagen Do in the Body?
It is the most important structural protein in our skin, nails, and hair and its most important role is to connect tissues, joints and provide firmness and elasticity to our skin. It is also required for the replacement and restoration of dead skin cells. Additionally, collagen production is needed when new muscle cells are generated. Overall collagen is very important for repairing damage in our bodies.
There are said to be at least sixteen up to twenty-eight different collagen types. The leading are type I, type II, type III, and type V.
Collagen type I makes around 90% of the collagen found in mammals making it the most abundant. This type is made of densely packed fibres. It provides structure to skin, bones, tendons, fibrous cartilage, connective tissue, and teeth. It is mostly known as collagen for the skin.
Collagen type II is made of more loosely packed fibres and is found in elastic cartilages which cushion our joints. It is very important for skeletal health.
Collagen type III is commonly found in the body’s reticular fibres, connective tissue and it supports the structure of muscles, organs, and arteries. It is also important for healthy hair and is mostly known as collagen for hair.
Collagen type V usually co-distributes with type I in bones, corneal stroma, and interstitial matrix of smooth muscles, skeletal muscles, livers, lungs, and placentas.
What Can I Do to Minimize the Decline of natural collagen?
Our collagen production declines over the years. It is believed that the decline starts after we reach 25 years of age and scientists say that we produce 1% of collagen less each year after that. Additionally for women, the production is 30% lower when they hit menopause than it was in their twenties. There are some ways to help maintain the natural production of collagen in your body. Because collagen is a protein, increasing your protein intake can do the trick. Between 60 to 80 grams of protein would be the most beneficial amount to consume daily.
Collagen cannot be produced without vitamin C. The body uses vitamin C and protein to produce tiny molecules called pro-collagen. These molecules stick together and create clumps or pro-collagen called fibrils. When the fibrils are fully formed they start to look like a net and this is what we call collagen.
Copper is required for the production of red blood cells, bone, and connective tissue and is additionally essential for collagen production. It is a mineral that can be obtained only through diet.
Zinc also helps protect the collagen, It protects it against any damage.
It is important to also be aware of behaviours that can damage collagen production. The first behaviour is eating too much-processed sugar and processed carbs which interfere with collagen’s ability to repair itself. Sugar prevents the collagen to have much effect on your body. Secondly getting too much sun. While getting some vitamin D is good for your bones the extensive ultraviolet radiation can reduce collagen production. Smoking also reduces collagen production. It also impairs wound healing and therefore leads to wrinkles and skin imperfections. While these behaviours do not prevent the production of collagen, the collagen that is produced is of poor quality and there is very little of it. This causes wrinkly skin, loosened muscles, and overall increases the negative effects of agility and lessens the function of our bodies.
The History of Collagen
Collagen has only recently become popular (around 2017) within the wellness and health community. It has however been used as a natural healing remedy for thousands of years. The first form of collagen was the bone broth that was used by cavemen for nutritional and healing properties. Bone broth is quite a broad term in this situation as they usually just broke up the bones and ate the nutrients inside such as bone marrow. Eventually, it became a practice of simmering the bones in water. Interestingly, the use of bone broth has started as prevention of wasting food.
Terms to Know
Amino acids: small molecules, that build a protein.
Gastrointestinal tract: digestive tract, consisting of all digestive organs, from mouth to anus.
Processed sugar is a form of sugar that has been extracted from natural sources such as sugar cane, sugar beets, or corn. It does not hold many nutrient properties and it digests quickly, causing more spikes in blood sugar.
Processed carbs: These are foods that have had most of their nutrients removed and are made with white highly processed grains such as white flour, white rice, and processed sugar.
Collagen peptides: are small messenger molecules that turn into amino acids, building a protein that acts as stimulators in collagen production.
What’s the best source of collagen?
Our bodies produce quite a large amount of collagen on their own. But the reason they produce so much is that collagen is needed for such important roles in our bodies. The fact that our natural collagen production starts to decline when we reach 25 years of age is worrying. Because of that, supplements or a careful diet are advised. The lost collagen has to be replaced somehow. There are natural foods that can encourage natural collagen production.
Algae prevent oxidation from taking away the elasticity of your skin. They also protect the collagen.
Hemp is high in protein and amino acids which are essential in building collagen. Berries are high in vitamin C that is necessary for collagen production.
Flax Seeds contain omega-3 that regulates the skin’s oil production and improves hydration.
Nettle is high in calcium, silica, and sulphur which are great sources to boost collagen receptors.
You can also include chicken broth, gelatine, chicken skin, and pork skin into your diet if that is something that you like. There are however a lot of collagen supplements. There are collagen proteins, collagen peptides, collagen powders, hydrolysed collagen, and collagen pills. Additionally, there are a lot of different types. Some of them are bovine, porcine, chicken, and marine.
Do Collagen supplements work?
The collagen supplements consist of the same amino acids as natural collagen therefore are easily absorbed by our body. Most collagen peptides come in powder form. It is important to understand that collagen peptides in collagen supplements are not a replacement for lost collagen but are thought of as messengers to stimulate the body to produce more collagen once its natural production declines. Collagen powders deliver the collagen in the most potent amount, meaning that most of what you consume will actually reach your bloodstream.
Is powdered collagen safe?
Before buying collagen supplements you need to make sure you are buying them from a quality source and that the ingredients are all-natural. Some collagens have chemical additives, artificial flavours or colours, chemical preservatives, gluten, and even GMOs. If you are buying the bovine collagen also make sure that the packing states the animals were grass-fed and pasture-raised, and on marine collagen look for sustainably, wild-caught cod phrases. If you find collagen with added vitamin C it is going to be even more beneficial. Vitamin C is the most important ingredient when it comes to collagen production and will lift the effectiveness of your collagen supplement even more.
What are the Benefits of Collagen Powder?
The research on collagen supplements and their benefits is still new and not widely examined. However, the existing studies show promising results and little to no side effects. In 2012 a study was published in the journal Clinical Interventions regarding the ageing and the effects of collagen peptides on the dryness of the skin and wrinkles. The study did show some positive effects, but due to the fact only 1 gram of collagen was taken, no larger improvements were seen. Another study (2014) selected around 50 women between 35 and 55 years of age to take a hydrolysed collagen supplement. Around 30 other women took a placebo.
The women who took the collagen supplement did show improvement in the elasticity of their skin within 4 weeks and a reduction in wrinkles was noticed after 8 weeks. Collagen presents almost 80% of our skin, so the shortage of it will naturally lead to dry and droopy skin. Skin elasticity was also examined in regards to collagen supplements. A study in 2019 compared collagen supplements and placebo and results showed improvements in skin appearance such as minimization of wrinkles and lines and improved elasticity of the skin. A study published in 2019 showed that the use of collagen peptide supplements in combination with strength training increased muscle mass and strength more than strength training on its own.
With ageing, our joints degenerate and have less ability to heal themselves. A study in 2017 looked at collagen supplements and their effect on mice with post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). The effects of the supplements indicated positive benefits, such as protecting the body from developing and progressing with the disease. Similar a study from 2012 looked at patients with progressing osteoarthritis (OA). The regular use of collagen for seventy days significantly reduced the pain in their joints, and it even improved their physical activity. Similar to joints, our bones loose strength with age, they became more brittle and with a deficiency in collagen, the recovery from an injury is more difficult and long term. A study was done in 2014 with postmenopausal women with osteopenia. Regular use of collagen supplements in combination with a calcium supplement reduced bone depletion.
Collagen is also important in muscle recovers and regeneration. A study in 2019 showed that collagen supplements significantly improved muscle soreness and sped up the recovery after physical activity. With age, our muscles also weaken and lose mass. Collagen supplements taken regularly alongside regular exercise can reduce muscle loss in our ageing process. Collagen also promotes liver health. It contains three amino acids (proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline) which help break down fats. The stomach has a hard time processing food if there is not enough bile salt in it. Collagen prevents the lack of amino acids, enables easier digestion, and even reduces liver inflammation. Last but not least, collagen helps to keep our hearts healthy. Arterial walls consist of type I collagen up to almost 70%. Because they carry blood around our whole body and to our heart they must be very strong. Weak arteries can cause heart diseases. Collagen additionally boosts the production of the ‘good’ cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart conditions even more.
What are the Side Effects of Taking Collagen?
Can collagen be bad for you? Overall scientists believe that there are no negative side effects of taking collagen supplements but they do note that a personalised approach is still the best way to go. Doing some research and trying things that fit you personally will provide more benefits than blindly following something that a celebrity recommends. Additionally, even though there are no severe or well-known side effects of taking collagen supplements, it is important that you discuss it with your doctor. For example, the amino acid hydroxyproline can be converted into oxalate and travels through the kidney into the urine. That can trigger the formation of kidney stones. Some individuals are even allergic to collagen and the allergic reactions can cause itching, tingling in the mouth, swelling of the tongue, wheezing, abdominal pain, and nausea and/or vomiting. Therefore it is advised to do your research, be aware of any pre-existing issues that you have and figure out what is best for you. Collagen is not one fits all so adapt it to your needs and gain its benefits without any harm to yourself.
What is the Best Collagen Powder?
Marine collagen is most often called the beauty-boosting collagen and it is derived from the skin and cells of fish. It is bioavailable, which means when it comes in contact with a liquid it breaks down into tiny pieces and is easily digested. Marine collagen is absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestinal barrier. It moves through the body as amino acids. These amino acids then stimulate the body to produce more collagen. It helps maintain healthy hair, nails and skin, strengthens the connective tissues, and helps the gut. Marine collagen is usually wild-caught and is the safest and healthiest as there is the least amount of contamination compared to others. This option is also pescatarians diet-friendly.
Bovine collagen is produced from the hides of cows and it is beneficial for your skin, hair, nails, and internal connective tissues. But when it comes to this type it is important to know where it comes from as there is more chance of cross-contamination so buying from a sustainable, organic supplier with no additives is advised.
Multi collagen powder that contains a mix of 5 different types of collagen. In our multi collagen powder there are Hydrolysed bovine collagen peptides (providing type 1 and type 3 collagen peptides. They promote healthy nails, hair, and skin. Hydrolysed fish collagen peptides (type 1 collagen) are rich in amino acids that improve the hydration of the skin. Hydrolysed avian eggshell membrane collagen (contains type 1, type 5, and type 10 collagen) is good for the skin and even has pain relief properties. Peptan® ll M Hydrolysed type II collagen (derived from chicken or cow cartilage) benefits joints and reduces inflammation.
Vegan Collagen Powder
When it comes to a vegan and vegetarian diet, collagen is necessary too, but most supplements are an animal by-product. There are vegan collagens but rather than containing actual collagen peptides, they consist of collagen-boosting supplements. Collagen boosting supplements include all the natural elements that are necessary for collagen production. Amino acids, Vitamin C, Vitamin B, and antioxidant complex. This makes it suitable for vegans and vegetarians as there is no animal product involved.
The use of collagen powder Collagen powder is very easily incorporated into foods as most of the powdered collagens have no taste and no smell. The peptides also mix well into smoothies, soups, baked goods, sauces, hot drinks, so there is no risk of affecting the texture of the food. Daily use of collagen may show improvements in your skin in around 4 to 12 weeks of regular consumption. Reduction of wrinkles and increased hydration and elasticity are the most common first changes. In around 12 to 24 weeks your nails and hair might show increased growth, nails might be stronger, hair shinier, and less dry. A small study also noted an increase in muscle mass in men who took collagen supplements regularly for around 3 months and an enhanced bone density in postmenopausal women in around 12 months of regular use. A more long-term change might happen in around 24 weeks. Reduced joint pain, increased ability to move, and reduced recovery time after an injury. One of the improvements that you might notice is also gut health. As one of the main amino acids supports digestive health by being fuel for its cells in the intestine, the gut works actively, keeping your digestion regular.
How to use Collagen Powder
Should I Use it Every Day?
Scientists have shown that the amount of collagen taken on a regular basis can differently affect the body. It is beneficial to stay consistent and take it daily, but taking it every now and then will not be less effective it may just take more time for you to see improvements. Between 2.5 and 10 grams of collagen taken daily for eight to twelve weeks showed improvements in the skin. For joint pain such as osteoarthritis, a 10 grams dose (half a teaspoon) taken daily for three to five months showed some relief. A larger dose of 1 teaspoon can improve bone density and metabolism as well as improve muscle mass and body composition. In general taking between 2.5 to 15 grams of collagen daily should suffice. The easiest way how to use collagen powders and how to include them in your daily life is to mix them in your drinks. While making coffee just add a teaspoon of the powder once the coffee is not boiling hot anymore. You can also add it to your tea, hot chocolate, or any other warm drink. Most collagen powders are easily mixed so adding them to a cold drink works too, such as lemonade, ice tea or fruit juice, even smoothies. If you like cooking you can easily add collagen to your sauces such as pesto, tomato sauce. Our collagen powder has no taste and smell, therefore, is easy to add to sweet or sour recipes. If you like baking just add collagen to the flour before mixing.
Tips and Reminders It is important to understand that collagen supplements are not a complete replacement for naturally produced collagen. They are only an aid to stimulate your body to produce more. The collagen supplements do not actively help muscle or tissue-building or losing fat. They do however produce a building component that produces collagen
MCT oil has become very popular in the past few years. A big reason for its popularity is the growing list of benefits of coconut oil. Coconut oil is one of the richest sources of MCT oils. Additionally, more and more people practice low carbohydrate diets and are changing their lifestyle with fasting. MCT oils are a very popular and fitting substitute for an energy source. Compared to saturated fats and trans fat the MCTs fats present a healthier energy source for your body and your brain.
MCT oil has therefore also gained the support of athletes and bodybuilders as they are usually practising strict diets but still need efficient energy sources for their workouts.
Let’s look at the reasons why MCTs are becoming quite a celebrity.
MCT Terms to Know
MCT’s are medium-chain triglycerides
Medium-chain triglycerides are a type of fat that is made out of 2 or 3 fatty acids, built in a chain of 6 to 12 carbon atoms.
Long-chain triglycerides are a type of fat that is built in a chain of 13 to 21 carbon atoms.
Fatty acids are building blocks of the fat in our bodies and in food.
LDL (the bad) cholesterol is a low-density lipoprotein, it can build up into plaques that can eventually close up your arteries and can cause heart disease and strokes.
HDL (the good) cholesterol is high-density lipoprotein that acts as an absorber of bad cholesterol. It carries the bad cholesterol to the liver where it gets eliminated from the body. High levels of HDL cholesterol can lower the risks of heart disease and strokes.
Ketones are fatty acids, broken down from MCTs, they are small enough to pass from the blood to the brain and act as an energy source.
Steatorrhea when your body is unable to process the number of fatty acids so there is an increase of fat excretion in your stools.
Type 1 diabetes is caused by inherited genes or environmental elements. It’s an autoimmune reaction when cells in your pancreases are attacked by your own immune system and cannot produce enough insulin.
Type 2 diabetes is connected to genetics and happens due to lifestyle or old age. Your body becomes resistant to the insulin it produces.
Ketoacidosis when your blood sugar levels are very high and your body cannot produce enough insulin. The ketones level is also very high while the insulin level is very low.
Acacia Fibre it is a dietary fibre that can dissolve in water. It is usually taken orally to reduce cholesterol levels and to help increase weight loss.
Silicon Dioxide is silicone used to prevent powders substances from taking on too much moisture and clumping together.
What is MCT and Why Does it Matter?
MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides. These are fats that are found in some of our food, such as coconut more specifically coconut oil. They are different from the long-chain triglycerides, which are the fats found in the majority of other foods.
Your body uses fat as energy fuel or stores it as body fat. The difference between medium-chain and long-chain fat is how it is metabolised within your body. The speciality of MCTs is that they are absorbed straight into the liver and are rarely stored as fat. They can travel from the blood to the brain and are used as an energy source. The processed MCT fatty acids that travel from the blood to the brain are called ketones. Ketones are mostly produced when your body is in carbohydrate deficiency and there is a lack of glucose to be used as an energy source.
As you may know, carbohydrates are the prime energy source in our bodies. When you lack those in your diet, for example, while on a keto diet, your body will produce ketones in order to provide enough energy for your brain. MCTs are in this case a great substitutions for glucose as they can be efficiently turned into energy. As mentioned above, the MCTs are rarely stored as body fat due to the fact they can be easily digested and used by the body. However, in the case of MCTs excess, they will be stored as fat eventually as your body will not know what to do with so many ketones.
There are four different types of MCTs. There are C6, C8, C10 and C12. Out of all of them, the C8 and C10 are known to increase the ketone levels the most efficiently and are great for energy and brain health.
C8 is due to its length easily digestible and broken into fuel without spending much of its time processing in the liver. It provides an immediate energy source and improves the brain’s mental clarity. It also fights infections as it has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. It has shown some positive effects on treatments of yeast infection, improving skin conditions like psoriasis, dermatophilosis and even acne. It also helps improve gut health due to its anti-inflammatory properties that prevent the spread of bad bacteria that can cause Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Similarly, the C10 is also easily digestible and is known to help boost the immune system and support digestion. This fatty acid is also very successful in treating and preventing the fungus Candida albicans. It also goes straight to the liver, making digestion easier and faster. C10 also improves bile secretion and cholesterol metabolism which reduces the risk of a leaky gut. The immune system is also improved by the increased ability to fight infections.
Where can I find MCTs?
You can find naturally occurring MCTs in foods such as coconut oil, palm kernel oil, whole milk and butter. All these foods are quite high in natural MCTs but they do consist of other fatty acids as well, that can be stored as fat instead of used as energy.
MCT oil is on the other hand a man-made oil that consists mainly of MCTs. It is made with the process of extracting and isolating the medium-chain fatty acids from coconut or palm kernel oil. Coconut oil seems to be the vastest source of MCTs as it holds the biggest percentage of the MCTs.
For overall health, you can add coconut or palm kernel oil to your cooking. However, if you need bigger quantities, MCT oil is usually a better choice. It has no smell and no taste, it can be consumed as it is sold, or you can add it to your drinks and food.
You can also use MCT powders that have similar nutritional values as MCT oil but may be more convenient and are easy to use.
The difference between MCT oil and MCT Powder
The MCT powder is created by spray drying. This is converting MCTs from liquid to solid, powdered form. This form of MCT has only recently arrived on the market and it usually consists of 50% to 80% of dried MCT oil.
Compared to MCT oils, MCT powder is usually considered more convenient. It is lightweight and can be used on the go. It is usually very easily blended and mixed in any liquid from a smoothie to a protein shake and coffee. MCT oil has an oily texture, like your everyday plant-based oil.
A small advantage of taking MCT powder instead of MCT oil is the less stressful role it has on your digestive system. MCT oils can sometimes cause negative digestive issues such as diarrhoea, upset stomach or even nausea. If you do decide to take MCT oil it is very important to start from a small amount such as a teaspoon and work your way up to larger quantities. There have been fewer digestive problems reported when taking MCT powders, but a smaller quantity to start is still advised. Not only to get your body used to it but to also avoid an excess amount to be eliminated from your body and possibly distressing your body due to large ketone production.
A big plus of MCT powder is its creamy texture and a lot of people use it instead of the creamer or milk in their coffees or teas. It can also be easily added to baked goods.
When buying MCT powders you have to check the ingredients for any hidden filters or sweeteners that reduce the powder’s effectiveness. Our MCT oil powder only contains medium-chain triglycerides from coconut oil, Acacia Fibre and Silicon Dioxide. Acacia Fibre is a short-chain fatty acid beneficial for gut health. Silicon Dioxide is added to ensure the powder does not clump together and form a sticky substance. It is generally safe as a food additive and there is little to no risk to human health. Our Pureagen MCT oil powder is also 100% ketogenic which means it has no added carbs or glucose. There are no added synthetic ingredients, it is vegan, GM-free, gluten-free and Halal and Kosher friendly.
MCT Supplement Benefits
Research is still quite new and there had been mixed results but overall several studies showed that MCT powder might help with weight loss and increasing the body’s ability to burn more fat and calories. Additionally, a study also found that MCT powder might also promote the feeling of fullness by increasing peptide YY and leptin which both help reduce appetite.
MCT supplements may also enhance exercise performance due to providing the body with an energy source without the extra calories compared to carbohydrates. This is the reason a lot of athletes and bodybuilders are such fans of MCT oils and powders.
Other benefits of the MCT supplements include lower cholesterol levels. In both human and animal studies the subjects who consumed MCT supplements showed reduced levels of LDL (the bad) cholesterol and an increase in HDL (the good) cholesterol levels. Improvements in cholesterol levels can lead to reduced risks of heart diseases.
However, some evidence is mixed and it should be understood that MCT supplements alone will not necessarily benefit your cholesterol levels. Other factors should be considered such as diet, daily exercise and daily lifestyle.
Another potential benefit of MCT supplements is also helping lower blood sugar levels and potentially improving diabetes risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes. All of the research, however, is old and should be re-examined in order to make more definite conclusions.
Brain function is another bodily function potentially benefiting from MCT supplements. As mentioned above, MCTs produce ketones, an alternative energy source. Ketones improve learning, brain processing and memory in people with cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Again, the research while positive is still outdated and done on a small sample. More research is needed to confirm any results more firmly.
On a daily basis, the MCT supplements can benefit liver disease, steatorrhea and diarrhoea. MCT supplements are also great in malnutrition cases. It has also been
used to help with conditions that cause food absorption issues such as coeliac disease, cystic fibrosis and gallbladder disease.
Another big well-known benefit of MCTs is the reduction of lactate build-up. Lactate acid build-up is a result of your muscles getting low on oxygen while working out. It can cause muscle pain, muscle cramps and muscular fatigue. MCTs have shown some promising results in lowering the levels of the acid in your body. This can improve your recovery time and minimise the Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). It is quite beneficial to take the MCT powder within one hour of finishing your workout for it to have the best effects on the lactate acid build-up.
MCT Oil and Powder Side Affects
There have been no reported negative interactions with any other medication and no serious side effects.
Some minor side effects such as nausea, vomiting or an upset stomach have been noted but those can easily be avoided by consuming small doses at the start and gradually increasing the amount you take. Like any major changes to your diet adding supplements to your daily routine should be discussed with your doctor and implementing regular monitoring of your cholesterol levels is also advised.
Contrary to the patients with type 2 diabetes, the patients with type 1 diabetes might be advised against taking MCT supplements. Ketones while overall beneficial in healthy individuals may cause a serious condition called ketoacidosis. The ketones lower the levels of insulin too low so your body cannot process high levels of glucose in your blood.
Are MCT supplements Vegan?
MCT oil supplements are a very popular as an alternative to diary and used in coffee by people that follow a vegan diet. However not all MCT supplements are completely vegan. Check the ingredients as some companied add milk protein.
How to use MCT Oil Powder?
MCT oil powder can be added to any drink or smoothie or even in recipes and home made chocolates. There is no fixed dosage or a defined tolerable amount, but if you have never used MCT oil before you should start with one tablespoon a day and increase the amount slowly. A maximum of 4 to 7 tablespoons have been suggested.
Tips and Reminders
When buying MCT supplements pay attention to the percentage of lauric acid which is saturated fat and not a MCT. Most commercially sold coconut oils have a high percentage of it, so make sure you read the ingredients.
Don’t forget, the field of MCT oils, powders and weight loss is still new and still needs to be researched more. While some studies showed no results at all, other studies did show that MCT supplements increase fat loss. Do keep that in mind and also know that there have been no real negative side effects so there should be no harm in you trying to incorporate the MCT powders or MCT oils into your diet.
The correlation between enhanced exercise performance and MCT supplements is weak as more studies with bigger samples are needed. Overall there is no harm in using MCT powder as a pre-workout drink.
You shouldn’t mix ketosis with Diabetic ketoacidosis. While Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious condition in patients with type 1 diabetes, ketosis is completely harmless and it’s the result of a KETO diet, a low carbohydrate diet.
While there are no dramatic effects of taking MCT supplements such as huge weight loss or complete fat loss, there is a lot of small benefits that you can experience. Therefore adding MCT oils and powders to your diet might be worth trying.
If you want to know more about the MCT oils and powders you can check out this blog (add blog from Pureagen) and follow us on our social media (add handles) for more fun and educational content.
