Healthy shopping: The MCT oil edit

Here’s what to look for when buying metabolism-boosting MCT oil, says Joanna Evans

In “Biohack Your Weight Loss,” metabolic health expert Ben Azadi recommends MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) oil to boost metabolism and help you lose weight. In particular, he advocates C8 MCT oil, which is high in caprylic acid, an MCT that’s rapidly absorbed and converted into ketones (a process that enhances metabolic rate and supports weight management).

If you want to try it for yourself, look for MCT oil with high C8 purity—denoted by the percentage of caprylic acid in the oil (95–100 percent is ideal for metabolic benefits).

Also opt for an oil that’s:

• Certified organic
• Free of artificial ingredients and unnecessary additives
• Third-party tested for purity
• Cold-pressed or steam-distilled (also look for “hexane-free” or “solvent-free”)
• Non-GMO
• Sustainably sourced (coconuts are considered a better source than palm oil)
• Packaged in a glass bottle rather than plastic to prevent microplastics leaching into the oil

Products to try

Here are a few products that fit the bill. All contain just one ingredient: 100 percent organic MCT oil from coconuts.

Hunter and Gather

Thrive Fuel® Pure C8 MCT Oil, $30.55/£23 (17 oz/500 mL)
US: healf.com; UK: hunterandgatherfoods.com

Supplying over 98 percent caprylic acid (C8), this oil is triple steam-distilled from hand-picked coconuts and contains no hexanes or solvents. It’s third-party tested and comes in a clear glass bottle.

KIKI Health

Organic C8 MCT oil, $34/£25 (17 oz/500 mL)
kiki-health.com
International shipping available

Containing a minimum of 96 percent C8, this lab-tested MCT oil is made from cold-pressed, non-GMO coconuts and comes in an amber glass bottle. It’s also hexane- and solvent-free.

Natural Force

Organic Pure C8 MCT Oil, $59.99/£72.08 (32 oz/946 mL)
US: naturalforce.com; UK: ninelife.uk

This 100 percent pure C8 oil is lab-tested for potency, purity and freshness and sourced from USDA organic, non-GMO and sustainably harvested coconuts. It’s produced using steam distillation rather than chemicals and comes in a triple-sealed clear glass bottle.

Other options

Other good brands to try for organic C8 MCT oil include US brand Sports Research (sportsresearch.com) and UK brand Stirling Nutrition (sterlingnutrition.co.uk), although their MCT oils don’t come in a glass bottle.

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