Why Put MCT Oil in Your Coffee?

If you follow food bloggers or the latest café trends, you might have heard of caffeinated concoctions like “butter coffee” or “bulletproof coffee” in the past few months. The concept is simple: revving up your morning cup of joe by adding fat like butter, coconut oil, or MCT oil.

For dairy-free consumers like many of us at Coconut Cloud, adding butter to our coffee might not be an option. But why are people swearing by this buffed up coffee, and why should you add MCT Oil to your coffee?

Coffee + MCT Oil = A Boost That Doesn’t Leave You Feeling Empty

MCT, otherwise known as medium-chain triglycerides, is a form of fat that is structurally different from long-chain triglycerides (LCTs). LCTs like butter, olive oil, and canola oil are the predominant form of fat in the American diet, but LCTs and MCTs are processed differently by the human body, sparking research into its potential health benefits.

For one thing, MCT Oil may make you feel fuller after eating. One study found that the consumption of MCT led not only to increased fullness over the three hours after breakfast but also decreased consumption during lunch and dinner. MCT oil has even been shown to increase the release of two hormones, peptide YY and leptin, that promote the feeling of fullness.

Because MCTs are shorter in molecular chain length than LCTs, they do not require bile (and the subsequent time necessary) to break down to be used for energy. As a result, MCTs can easily enter body cells without being broken down, thus claiming its reputation as an immediate source of energy.

While on a ketogenic diet, MCTs are easily broken down into ketones in the liver, which may supply immediate energy for the brain.

When we discovered the added boost of MCT to our coffee, we readily incorporated it into our Coconut Cloud Original Creamer formula. Not only is it 100% plant-based and dairy-free, but our non-dairy, vegan coconut creamer conveniently combines the creamy goodness of coconut milk with the addition of MCT. It’s one way to take your coffee if you’re dairy-free and curious about trying bulletproof.