What Are The Best MCT Oils for Keto?

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Two real coconuts cut open with coconut oil around them
What Are the Best MCT Oils for Ketosis?
Reviewed by the BioHackers Lab Team | Last updated: January 2, 2023

The best MCT oil supplement brands are:

  1. Natural Force MCT Oil – Good Organic MCT Oils in Glass Bottles
  2. Bulletproof Brain Octane Oil – Good Pure C8 Oils Sizes including Travel-Friendly
  3. Onnit MCT Oil
  4. Sports Research MCT Oil
  5. Left Coast Performance MCT Oil
  6. Viva Naturals MCT Oil
  7. Kiss My Keto MCT Oil

Taking a good MCT oil in your hot or cold drinks, or pouring it on food, can help you raise your exogenous ketone levels when on a ketogenic diet.

I was interested to find out what are some of the best MCT oil products to use for me to review.

So, I went out researching online for what are the top rated & most recommended brands who make good medium chain triglyceride oil products that are available to buy online.

The Best MCT Oils in 2024

Here is the list of MCT Oils on the market we reviewed for you to compare.


1. Natural Force MCT Oil

Bottle of Natural Force C8 Mct oil
Overview
  • Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
  • Calories per Serving: 125 kcal
  • Bottle Sizes Available: 32 ounce only
  • Total MCT content: 14 grams
  • MCT composition: Caprylic acid
  • C8 Carpylic Acid MCT Levels: 13 g

Natural Force has a collection of MCT oils, which include the pure C8 MCT oil, but also a general MCT oil and flavored MCT oil options. The Natural Force MCT oils are made from 100% organic, non-GMO, cold-pressed coconut oil and contain no palm kernel oil. It comes in a glass bottle so is plastic-free. Each MCT oil batch is 3rd party lab tested for purity, potency, heavy metals, gluten, and more. What makes Natural Force different here is that the lab results are publicly available to view from the Natural Force website. They also ship the bottles with biodegradable protective packaging made from 100% recycled paper to prevent leaks or breakage during transit. Lastly, the Natural Force MCT oils are certified USDA Organic, Vegan, Project Non-GMO Verified, Keto, Paleo, Kosher, and Halal.

Use the Natural Force promo code – biohackerslab – at the Natural Force website here to get a nice discount on their MCT oil products.
Click to buy product on Natural Force

Click to buy product on Amazon


2. Bulletproof Brain Octane Oil

Bottle of Bulletproof Brain Octane C8 MCT oil
Overview
  • Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
  • Calories per serving: 130 kcal
  • Bottle sizes available: 3-ounce, 16-ounce, 32-ounce
  • Total MCT content: 14 grams
  • MCT composition: Caprylic acid
  • C8 Carpylic Acid MCT Levels: 14 g

The Bulletproof Brain Octane Oil is a pure C8 MCT oil to get help raise your ketones higher and faster than the regular Bulletproof XCT oil option. The MCT oil is sourced from 100% coconut oil and has no palm kernel oil. You will get the most options in sizes available including travel-friendly MCT oil options.

Most might just think of Bulletproof coffee when thinking of the brand. However, they sell numerous coffee, tea & food products. The company even has several coffee shops located on the US west coast. In addition to coffee, they sell protein (like collagen & collagelatin) and other supplements (like unfair advantage), including MCT oil they call XCT oil. Their product line is even more wide-ranged, including vibration plates, biohacking supplements, books, accessories and clothing. You can find Bulletproof coupon codes here that could also help you get the best price.

Use the Bulletproof promo code – biohackerslab10 – at the Bulletproof website here to get a nice discount on their Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil product.
Click to buy product on Bulletproof

Click to buy product on Amazon


3. Onnit MCT Oil

Onnit MCT Oil

Overview
  • Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
  • Calories per Serving: 125 kcal
  • Bottle Sizes Available: 24-ounce
  • Total MCT content: 13.7 grams
  • MCT composition: Caprylic acid, capric acid and lauric acid
  • C8 Carpylic Acid MCT Levels: 5.2 g
  • C10 Capric Acid MCT Levels: 3.4 g
  • C12 Lauric Acid MCT Levels: 3.8 g

The Onnit MCT oil product range is a great option when looking to go keto. Onnit make regular MCT Oil, Emulsified MCT Oil and even different Savory MCT Oils to put in soups and on salads. There is just one size of bottle and there is no pure C8 MCT oil option.

Onnit is a fitness-focused company that was created in 2010 and has since become a multimillion dollar establishment. Their premier product, Alpha BRAIN, is a supplement that supports memory and focus. Aside from MCT oil, they sell a variety of performance, sleep and nutrition supplements as well as snacks, protein powder, coffee and tea. Their mission is to help people achieve what they call “Total Human Optimization”. You can find Onnit coupon codes here that could also help you get the best price.

  • Contains lauric acid, which is thought to be particularly good for gut health due to its antibacterial properties
  • Is dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan
  • Does not contain palm oil
The Onnit MCT Oils are available to buy directly on the Onnit website PLUS if you use the code BIOHACKERSLAB at checkout you will get a discounted price off the RRP price.
Click to buy product on Onnit

Click to buy product on Amazon


4. Sports Research MCT Oil

Sports Research MCT Oil

Overview
  • Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
  • Calories per serving: 125 kcal
  • Bottle sizes available: 16-ounce, 32-ounce
  • Total MCT content: 13.7 grams
  • MCT composition: Caprylic acid, capric acid and lauric acid

The Sports Research MCT Oil on Amazon say they provide third party testing so you can view the certificate of analysis to do your due diligence. This is great for people who like to know their supplements, this food supplement, is being tested.

Sports Research makes supplements and oils for performance enhancement and general health. They also offer the Sweet Sweat line of workout enhancers and waist trimmers. Sports Research has a commitment to quality, and all of their products are GMP-certified. They also offer a database of recipes in which their products can be used. (ref)

  • Contains lauric acid, which is thought to be particularly good for gut health due to its antibacterial properties
  • There are two bottle sizes available
  • This product is vegan, non-GMO, keto-certified, GMP-certified and paleo-certified
  • Calorie content is relatively low
  • Does not contain palm oil
  • They have a huge database of recipes in which MCT oil can be used

Click to buy product on Amazon


5. Left Coast Performance MCT Oil

Left Coast Performance MCT Oil

Overview
  • Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
  • Calories per serving: 126 kcal
  • Bottle sizes available: 32-ounce
  • Total MCT content: 14 grams
  • MCT composition: caprylic acid and capric acid

The Left Coast Performance MCT Oil on Amazon says that they only use organic coconut oil and no palm kernel oil.

Left Coast Performance is a small company that markets MCT, keto and bone broth supplements. Their MCT oil is comprised of caprylic acid and capric acid. Their website contains a useful FAQ section on each product, but does not contain much else. (ref)

  • This product is vegan and non-GMO
  • MCT content is higher than average
  • Calorie content is relatively low
  • Made in USA

Click to buy product on Amazon


6. Viva Naturals MCT Oil

Viva Naturals MCT Oil

Overview
  • Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
  • Calories per serving: 130 kcal
  • Bottle sizes available: 32-ounce
  • Total MCT content: 13 g
  • MCT composition: Caprylic acid, capric acid and lauric acid
  • C8 Carpylic Acid MCT Levels: 7.3 g
  • C10 Capric Acid MCT Levels: 5.0 g
  • C12 Lauric Acid MCT Levels: 0.7 g

The Viva Naturals company has been around since 2011 offering organic foods, supplements, essential oils and beauty products. The Viva Naturals MCT oil is made from certified organic, coconut oil which is sourced from Singapore. The MCT oil is said to be third-party certified for purity, but we couldn’t find the public lab report link. Their oil is also certified to be non-GMO, paleo and keto-friendly. (ref)

Click to buy product on Amazon


7. Kiss My Keto MCT Oil

Kiss My Keto C8 MCT Oil

Overview
  • Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
  • Calories per serving: 130 kcal
  • Bottle sizes available: 32-ounce
  • Total MCT content: 15 g
  • MCT composition: Caprylic acid
  • C8 Carpylic Acid MCT Levels: 15.0 g
  • C10 Capric Acid MCT Levels: 0.0 g
  • C12 Lauric Acid MCT Levels: 0.0 g

Kiss My Keto is a MCT oil brand who has specialises in making keto-friendly products.

We like that their MCT oil is a pure C8 MCT oil version made from coconuts and comes in a glass bottle that is BPA free. The pump dispenser can help you avoid making an oily mess by not needing to pour the MCT oil out of the bottle.


MCT Oil Buyers Guide

I know you were looking for what are the best options, but here is some more detail as to why we would want to consider using medium chain triglyceride oils on a low carb or ketogenic diet.

What to Consider When Buying a MCT Oil

FeatureDescription
Type of MCT OilDo you want a refined C8 MCT Oil or general C8-12 MCT Oil
Bottle MaterialGlass bottles are more preferred for storing MCT oil
PriceDifferent brands will sell MCT oil from budget to premium pricing
Flavored or UnflavoredSome MCT Oils can be flavored to make them taste like a syrup
SourceCoconut oil sources are preferred over palm oil sources of MCT oil

What is MCT Oil?

MCT Oil stands for Medium Chain Triglycerides oil. MCT’s are a type of healthy saturated fat not found in most foods. They are also sometimes called Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFA).

MCT’s are often used by people who are on keto diets for weight loss or wanting to be in nutritional ketosis, but it can have benefits for those eating a normal diet as well. (ref)

How Does MCT Oil Help Ketosis?

Consuming MCT oil will act as an exogenous ketone supplement and is different to when you make endogenous ketones by burning body fat.

Medium chain triglycerides are designed to bypass the bloodstream and go straight to the liver where they are directly metabolized into ketones. This increase in ketone levels will help you get into nutritonal ketosis.

The Types of Medium Chain Fatty Acids

Different types of MCFA’s are metabolized differently. The following is a list of the different types of MCFA’s your MCT oil might contain. (ref)

Most MCT oils are comprised of C8 and C10, but some also include C12. Lauric acid has been shown to have stronger antimicrobial properties than the other acids, but not all MCT oils include lauric acid.

Amount of Medium Chain Triglycerides in Food

Here is a breakdown of the MCT composition found in each common type of food. (ref)

Does MCT Oil Help Weight Loss?

Consuming 18-24 grams/day of MCT oil during a weight-loss plan of up to 16 weeks has been shown to help with fat loss when compared to consuming olive oil. (ref)

It is thought that MCTs aid in modest weight loss by increasing energy expenditure leading to better body composition. (ref)

When to Use MCT Oil to Help Improve Ketone Levels?

Since ketones are a primary source of fuel for both your brain and body, there are numerous use cases for wanting more beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in your blood.

Higher ketones might help people with the following health conditions.

What Are the Benefits of MCT Oil Supplements?

MCT oil supplements can have other benefits aside from being used to help to treat or manage health conditions.

Healthy individuals may see the following benefits when using MCT oils:

How to Take MCT Oils?

Here are some popular ways people like to use MCT Oil:

If you are travelling you may find using an MCT oil powder more convenient to take on the road.

MCT oil can also be taken by itself. Since it is tasteless and odorless, it can go well in almost any food.

How Much MCT Oil Should You Consume?

According to University of Virginia research the maximum tolerated daily dosage of MCT oil can be up to 4-7 tablespoons (60-100ml). (ref)

Most people first starting to take MCT oil will want to take 1 tablespoon (15ml) per day for 3-4 days to assess for any gastrointestinal comfort then take between 1-4 tablespoons per day thereafter. This is different for MCT Oil powders.

Possible Side-Effects

One of the most common side-effects is gastrointestinal discomfort, which can include the following symptoms.

Even if you are healthy, you may experience some side-effects when taking MCT oil.

To offset these potential side effects, start with a small dose of MCT oil and work up slowly to a larger dose. Also try taking the oil with food.

Is It Safe to Take MCT Oil?

MCTs are considered generally safe for most healthy people.

An exception is those with high cholesterol, specifically high triglyceride levels, since MCT oil might increase triglyceride levels.

When Not to Use MCT Oil?

MCT Oil vs Coconut Oil

MCT oil is considered superior to coconut oil for ketogenic diet supplementation due to its higher concentration of caprylic acid and capric acid. While coconut oil by itself only contains about 15% MCFAs, MCT oil is comprised of up to 100% MCFAs.

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the two.

Coconut OilMCT Oil
Contains 2 grams of MCTsContains up to 15 grams MCTs
Has antimicrobial propertiesMay or may not have antimicrobial properties
Has other health benefits asides from MCTsHas no other health benefits
Costs 45 to 60 cents per gram of MCTsCosts 2 to 3 cents per gram of MCTs

On the flipside, coconut oil has other properties that can have a wider range of health benefits. Which product you choose depends on what results you are looking for.

MCT Oil Frequently Asked Questions

How Much MCT Oil Should I Take Per Day?

You can take up to 4-7 tablespoons per day, but spread those amounts out to avoid GI discomfort. Most people put 1-2 tablespoons in their keto coffee like Bulletproof Coffee.

What Is the Best Time of Day to Take MCT Oil

The best time to take MCT oil is in the morning, or to use it mixed in with your lunchtime meal.

Can MCT Oils Help Boost Your Metabolism?

Yes, MCT oils help to support your ATP production which in turn can help support your metabolism.

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