Ketogenic Clarity: MCT Oil's Edge Over Traditional Strategies

If you follow a ketogenic diet (keto), you've probably heard that MCTs (Medium Chain Triglycerides) and keto are an excellent match. But what are MCTs, and how do they help someone stay in ketosis? And why exogenous ketone nootropics may not be your best bet.

Don't know what any of this stuff means? Don't worry—we have you covered.

First things first: what exactly is the ketogenic diet?

The keto diet is a low-carb diet known to help kick sugar cravings to the curb and burn body fat.

Now, the whole concept behind the keto diet is getting your body into 'ketosis'—a state in which you burn fat instead of carbs for energy. And making it stay there (which is not as easy as it may sound).

In a world filled with carbohydrates and refined sugars, many keto followers can struggle. Not to mention that a low-carb diet may also have some lasting effects on your three brains (head, heart, and gut).*

However, according to studies, the potential benefits of a low-carb diet (this includes keto) can be enhanced even further by supplementing with quality MCT oil, making 'ketosis' easier and more effective.*

So, are ketones good for my brain health and function?

The ketogenic diet is one of the few ways to 'force' your body to produce (more) ketones, a chemical your liver makes when it breaks down fats.

Your brain uses these chemicals for energy, typically during fasting, long periods of exercise, or when you don't have as many carbohydrates. Ketones may also help curb food cravings and increase your metabolic rate.*

But when you cut something your brain needs (like carbs), you must add something in place, right?

Well, people following the keto diet typically make up for the loss of carbs by adding more healthy fats to their diet. Foods like butter, cheese, eggs, meat, nuts, oils, seafood, and seeds are the foundation of this type of diet.

MCT oil can play a pretty significant role, too. But more about that later.

The '130 grams of carbs' myth.

You may have heard that your brain needs 130 grams of carbs daily to function properly. However, this notion is not just a misunderstanding of nutritional requirements. It's a myth.

According to a report from the National Academy of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board published in 2005:

"The lower limit of dietary carbohydrates compatible with life apparently is zero, provided that adequate amounts of protein and fat are consumed"¹.

The claim that a zero-carb diet is unhealthy 100% of the time simply overlooks the fact that with proper intake of proteins and fats, your three brains can still function efficiently without conventional carbs.

Exogenous ketone nootropics may offer unrealistic expectations.*

The keto diet is quite restrictive... more so than many other diets. It's why so many struggle to stick to the diet and, in the end, fail to achieve ketosis.

Exogenous ketones are dietary supplements (and nootropics) that could help a person achieve ketosis while being slightly less strict regarding what they eat.

These supplements (and nootropics) may offer that extra little 'boost' in mental clarity and energy, without dietary restrictions.* (This may be especially useful during the first months of the keto diet when cravings are most intense.)

Now, don't get us wrong. It can be a needed boost, that's for sure. Your head-brain can't run entirely on ketones; it also needs some glucose.

But here's the kicker: it is unrealistic for a person to think that they can eat whatever they want while using exogenous ketones to maintain ketosis. Exogenous ketones are unlikely to induce or sustain ketosis if you can't stick to the restrictive diet.*

MCT oil not only provides a direct energy source but also encourages your body to produce ketones.*

MCT oil can be a powerful 'support nutrient' when following a low-carb, high-fat diet. While it's a type of healthy fat and not technically an exogenous ketone, MCTs have similar benefits... but with fewer potential drawbacks.*

MCTs are quickly absorbed and metabolized. Following this absorption, the liver converts the MCTs into ketones. But here's the fundamental difference between MCTs and exogenous ketone nootropics: MCTs stimulate the body's natural ketone production process.*²

This means that instead of simply adding ketones to the body externally, MCT oil encourages the body to produce its own. It's an important distinction because it supports a more sustainable form of ketosis.*³

When the body generates its own ketones, it can quickly adapt to utilize fat as a primary energy source, enhancing metabolic flexibility and efficiency.*⁴

Moreover, MCT oil's ability to be quickly converted into ketones by the liver also means it may provide an almost immediate energy boost, enhanced cognitive function, and reduced brain fog.* (All quite beneficial for those following a ketogenic diet, as it can help mitigate the initial energy slump often experienced during the early stages of the diet.)*

One last thing.

This is why, when you’re ready to take it up a notch, using quality nootropics (like our HCF® that takes full advantage of our cutting-edge capsules filled with MCT oil and microbeads) to support your ketogenic journey can be helpful.*