If you’re curious about how & why to use MCT Oil, if you should at all, wondering about the difference between MCT powder or pills and oil, whether it’s different from the coconut oil in your kitchen, etc… then you’re in the right place. 😉
This all started when I got sick. In a desperate moment I reached for a packet of MCT Oil to put in my coffee, just to get by. It happened to be a Premium C8/C10 blend.
I was shocked by the INSTANT results – which had me very intrigued…
Talking about the results I experienced sparked some interesting conversations around the web, including personal experiences from others and some GREAT questions, which sent me down a rabbit hole of fascinating research!
Here’s what you’ll find in today’s post:
* My Story: Why I Tried It & What I Experienced
* What Is MCT Oil? Coconut Oil vs MCT Oil
* Health Benefits of MCT C8 & C10 Oil: How It Works
* Should You Use MCT Oil? (When & Why)
* How To Choose The Right MCT Supplement For YOU
* MCT Oil vs MCT Powder vs MCT Softgels (NOT All The Same)
* MCT Oil Comparison Charts: Best Quality, Lowest Price!
* Creative Ways To Use MCT Oil (Even If You Don’t Drink Coffee)
I’ll say upfront: I am NOT a fan of traditional BPC, or Bulletproof Coffee (butter, coconut oil & heavy cream). It’s never been necessary in the 8+ years I’ve been eating a ketogenic low carb diet as far as weight loss or meeting fat macros. I lost all of my weight just eating naturally high fat foods and very low carb.
Eating high fat is the norm as your energy source when you’re in ketosis, but some fats have a lot more health benefits than others. 😉
The one time I did test drinking BPC as my morning coffee for a full week, I actually gained weight. 😛 It also got icky if I didn’t drink it fast enough – and it made me feel weird (lightheaded or something). Plus it was a MESS and a hassle to make. 🙄
Given that experience, adding oil to my coffee or using an MCT supplement never occurred to me as necessary OR appealing. Until now…
Should YOU use MCT Oil?
By the end of this post you’ll know if it’s right for you, and if so: what type of MCT Supplement to choose (based on YOUR needs) so you don’t waste any money – or any time, because I’ve done all the research & comparisons for you! ✔️
It’s not just for coffee, btw. There are so many other great ways to enjoy the benefits of MCT oil! You’ll find my delicious “MCT Candy” ideas in this post too…
Why I Tried MCT Oil & My Results
I first tried MCT Oil in a coffee when I got sick back in March. I had NO appetite, the IDEA of food made me feel sick, everything I ate just made me feel worse – plus I also had IBS and other miserable things going on. My digestive system was a WRECK.
Honestly, the thought of “drinking oil” worried me. I was scared to death it would just upset my stomach even more or make the IBS even worse. 😳
But I was desperate for something (anything!) to just keep me going. I was feeling wimpy. I had that packet of MCT C8/C10 Oil on hand, so I took the risk.
The first thing I noticed is that it totally satisfied me, and held me over until lunch.
But more importantly: my aching gut (from spasms), indigestion, reflux, etc immediately settled down. It had an INSTANT soothing effect!
Those positive and instant results really intrigued me…
I described it like a Pepto-Bismol commercial because I could actually FEEL it working, right away (while I was still drinking my coffee), like it was coating my digestive tract and alleviating the burning & spasms all the way down.
I had no idea why or how it worked, but it got me through a pretty rough spell… so I decided to research it…
Just some of the benefits of MCT C8/C10 Oil include:
* reduces gut / intestinal inflammation
* causes an almost immediate increase in ketone production
* aids in smoother digestion
* fights infection (powerful antibacterial)
* kills yeast, fungi & Candida that can cause miserable digestive issues
* helps balance gut flora and support immune health
* suppresses hunger
* may improve insulin sensitivity
* bypasses the liver and is burned as energy immediately
* improves cholesterol and antioxidant levels
* increases the body’s ability to burn fat and calories
That explains why it had an instant soothing effect.
I could literally FEEL a difference within minutes – reflux settled, then stopped, gut relaxed – it kept me out of gut wrenching misery for hours.
It was pretty impressive actually.
I learned that MCT C8 almost *instantly* turns into ketones when ingested – so it DOES work fast, meaning it’s great for quick stable energy. You’ll also notice a “mental clarity” effect within minutes after you drink it…
No wonder it worked so fast and so well! I thought for sure that was all in my head. 🤣 I mean, how could something so simple give me instant relief?!
I love the fact that it kept me satisfied for HOURS after having it in my first morning coffee too, so I’ve continued to use it in place of breakfast most days, which is the most INconvenient meal for me. 😛
The result? I feel GREAT and I started losing weight again after a long stall!
It was especially helpful when I couldn’t eat, but super convenient and beneficial for so many other reasons too. The more I learn, the more I’m glad I love it so much!
I’m excited to share everything I learned with you here in this post. 🙂
This is the MCT C8/C10 oil I had on hand and have been using since then:
This is a Premium C8 & C10 Liquid MCT Oil, all natural, perfectly portioned & conveniently portable, and made by FBOMB: the same company that makes the Keto Nut Butter Packs I love so much. ❤ -My coupon code is LOWCARBTRAVELER for 20% off FBOMB products.
(There are more options below too, including a price & quality comparison, and which MCT Oil you should pick to use at home.)
I probably never would have tried it given I don’t normally do BPC or “fatty coffee” but I got seriously desperate when I felt so sick.
I was honestly just looking for something to “get by on” because I was getting wimpy 😛 but I was surprised and impressed at how different I felt within the first few sips of my coffee with this MCT Oil in it!
It’s literally similar to the immediate effects you would experience from of a shot of vodka, but a “morning feel-good energy shot” instead. 😉
What Is MCT Oil? Coconut Oil vs MCT Oil
Coconut Oil is great for low carb cooking and baking, it has multiple health benefits, and of course it has endless other fabulous uses including hair & skincare.
It’s a great thing to keep in your keto pantry!
You want to get organic unrefined coconut oil. No bleach or chemicals are used to “refine” or treat the oil and it retains more of the natural compounds and nutrients. It’s also made from fresh coconut, where refined oil is not.
Both refined and unrefined coconut oil have the same MCT profile: 76% lauric acid (C12), 1% caproic acid (C6), 12% caprylic acid (C8), and 10% capric acid (C10).
The MCT Profile is key, so let’s break this down into simple terms…
MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides.
Triglyceride is simply the technical term for fat.
MCT, or medium-chain triglycerides, are metabolized differently than the long-chain triglycerides (or the fat) found in most other foods.
Triglycerides (or fats) are either burned for energy, or stored as body fat.
Coconut oil is only 55% MCTs and has large amounts (76%) of lauric acid (MCT C12) which slows down the digestion and the results of the MCT C8 and C10 oil that naturally occur in coconuts.
MCT Oil is made by extracting those C8 and C10 oils individually, as both MCT C8 & C10 bypass the liver and go straight into your system where they immediately produce ketones and are burned as energy – giving you a noticeable energy boost.
That also means your body doesn’t store MCT C8 & C10 Oil as fat, because it is burned immediately by the brain & body for energy.
This is KEY, especially for people that are concerned with calories. It’s the difference between calories stored and calories burned. You want the latter. 😉
So the main difference between Coconut Oil and MCT Oil is that Coconut Oil contains a large amount of lauric acid, which DOES go through your liver first, and can be stored as body fat. It is not immediately used as or burned off as energy, and you will not notice an INSTANT energy boost with Coconut Oil like you will with MCT Oil.
^ That explanation is a bit deceiving though, or rather some MCT Oil is very deceptive I discovered, as some brands/types contain the MCT C12 or lauric acid – which basically just makes it a dressed up overpriced version of regular coconut oil.
I’ll show you some examples of that in my product quality/value comparisons below so you can make an educated decision when choosing a brand or type to use…
Health Benefits of MCT Oil (How It Works)
Since a pure MCT C8 or MCT C8/C10 Oil is immediately used for energy by your body, and causes your body to produce ketones almost immediately, it is GREAT for a variety of benefits & reasons:
* a QUICK energy boost
* noticeable mental clarity
* meal replacement / fasting
* fast relief from digestive issues
* improve metabolism & reduce stored body fat
* pre-workout energy source
* improved workout & athletic performance
* appetite reduction and weight loss
“MCTs provide an amazing source of energy for workouts, especially high intensity training. Supplementing your pre or post-workout meal with a tablespoon of MCT oil is guaranteed to improve both training intensity and recovery.”
Coconut Oil and MCT Oil both also have a variety of known long-term health benefits when used daily, but the above list are things you can expect to experience almost instantly from a pure MCT C8 or MCT C8/C10 Oil.
“MCT is a clean fuel which can improve your mitochondrial function, reducing your risk for diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative disease and epilepsy.”
This is a great video to watch real quick to get a better understanding of the difference between Coconut Oil and MCT Oil, and why it matters. Plus the health & fat burning benefits of MCT C8 and C10 oils:
“Your body processes MCTs differently from the long-chain fats in your diet. Normally, a fat taken into your body must be mixed with bile released from your gallbladder and acted on by pancreatic enzymes to break it down in your digestive system.
MCTs don’t need bile or pancreatic enzymes. Once they reach your intestine, they diffuse through your intestinal membrane into your bloodstream and are transported directly to your liver, which naturally converts the oil into ketones.
Your liver then releases the ketones back into your bloodstream, where they are transported throughout your body. They can even pass the blood-brain barrier to supply your brain with energy.
MCTs also have a thermogenic effect, which has a positive effect on your metabolism.
For these reasons, MCTs are readily used by your body for energy rather than being stored as fat.
MCTs are also helpful for ridding your gut of harmful microorganisms like pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Like coconut oil, MCTs also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
MCT oil is often more easily digested by those struggling to digest other types of fat, such as those with malabsorption, leaky gut, Crohn’s disease or gallbladder impairment.” –source
Studies on MCT for Weight Loss
“One three-month-long, double-blind and controlled study found that long-term consumption of MCTs helped otherwise healthy adults lose significantly more subcutaneous body fat than those who took LCTs.
All subjects consumed 60 grams of total fat per day. The difference was the type of fat (MCT versus LCT). The energy, protein and carbohydrate levels were otherwise similar.
A 2015 meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials found that, compared to LCTs, MCTs more effectively decreased body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, total body fat, total subcutaneous fat and visceral fat.” –source
Should You Use MCT Oil? (When & Why)
You don’t NEED to drink BPC (Bullet Proof Coffee) or use MCT Oil on a ketogenic low carb diet. If you’re just starting out, I recommend keeping it simple: just focus on eating 20 net carbs max per day and enjoying a variety of low carb foods.
While both Coconut Oil and a more pure MCT Oil have tons of benefits, you can easily achieve weight loss and better health without them. (I did!)
Never jump on a bandwagon without a reason. That’s my philosophy on everything in life, though: know your WHY.
Before you choose to add coconut oil or MCT oil/powder to your diet, ask yourself what you most want to accomplish?
Knowing your objective (WHY you want or feel you need to use these products/ingredients) is the key to choosing the right one for YOU.
Do your research and know the benefits of various MCT’s for your situation/needs – fasting, meal replacement, metabolic issues, heart health concerns, energy boost, weight loss, leaky gut, chron’s, cognitive function, epilepsy, gut health, etc.
For me it was instant relief for digestive issues (IBS and indigestion) when I got sick. After I experienced immediate and prolonged satisfaction too, I started using it almost daily in my morning coffee as a meal replacement.
Since then I’ve experienced improved energy, less bloating, better digestion and improved mood – and those are just short term benefits I’ve experienced so far!
It’s also VERY convenient and inexpensive as a meal replacement at home OR on the go. I use two full tablespoons of a pure MCT C8/C10 Oil in my morning coffee which is 250 calories, yet it keeps me completely satisfied until well after my normal lunch hour.
note: you’re meant to start with one teaspoon and work your way up gradually to increase your tolerance level.
Another thing to consider:
Since MCT’s produce ketones, you can potentially increase the number of healthy carbs you eat and still maintain a state of nutritional ketosis. This is something you’d have to test of course, to find your “sweet spot” with carbs/ketosis.
Does “MCT Coffee” or MCT Oil Break A Fast?
Interestingly, this is one of the top questions I’ve been asked in our discussions around the web lately.
The answer is: it depends on WHY you’re fasting.
For weight loss, MCT C8/C10 is great for fasting: providing quick stable energy with nothing to spike your blood glucose levels, keeping you satisfied without food, producing ketones & increasing metabolism, etc.
For medical fasting, follow your doctor’s instructions.
I love it for skipping breakfast (which is the most INconvenient meal of the day for me usually) or for having something on hand if I need or want to skip a meal, like when I’m traveling – or anytime really.
If I were doing extended fasts, I would personally just have MCT C8 or MCT C8/C10 Oil 2-3x a day. But everyone does fasting differently and for different reasons. 😉
How To Choose The Right MCT Supplement For YOU
Don’t just pick up any brand you see without analyzing it first. Make sure you’re getting the highest quality for the best value, based on YOUR specific needs and preferences.
Factors to consider include:
* Type/Form (liquid, softgels, powder)
* Quality (purity)
* Value (price)
* Results
* Source
* Packaging (portable/travel size, large bottles, pump-style top)
Quality is a must, but I’m often willing to pay a little bit more for a product that comes from a company I know, like and trust – than to save a few dollars supporting a company that has no real passion for the product they’re creating, or that’s just capitalizing on the “keto craze.”
But that’s just me – we all have different priorities.
Another thing to consider is: if MCT products from two different brands are similar in purity AND value, which has other products I also like or buy? I usually save money restocking from a single website than ordering from multiple sites or stores.
I’d be more likely to order MCT Oil from Company A if I also buy their bars or collagen powder, than to order from Company B if that’s the only product they carry that I would use – all else being equal between the products.
Check your labels closely!
I’ve noticed that some of them do not breakdown the amount or type of each MCT, or they have additional ingredients included.
You want pure MCT Oil only, and only MCT C8 or MCT C8 & C10.
Avoid cheaper versions containing MCT C6. Even a small amount in the product, like 1-2% of C6, can contribute to intestinal distress and also give the oil a bad taste.
There are quite a few brands that include MCT C12 which is lauric acid – a cheaper and less effective MCT used to dilute their product to cut costs.
The addition of MCT 12 or lauric acid means you will NOT feel the fast effects that come from pure C8 and/or C10 MCT’s. It also means that product will not bypass your liver and be burned immediately for energy, so may be stored as body fat.
Any product labeled as “MCT Oil” that includes MCT 12 / Lauric Acid is basically just plain coconut oil in a fancy overpriced bottle.
If it doesn’t specifically say what the MCT Breakdown is, or you can’t easily identify ALL the ingredients… PASS.
Coconut Oil is great of course and has a host of health benefits. It does contain both MCT 8 and MCT 10, but you can’t get enough of either of those potent fast-acting MCT’s from Coconut Oil alone because it is 76% lauric acid (MCT 12).
MCT powder vs MCT Softgels vs MCT Oil
MCT C8 or MCT C8/10 Oil comes in three forms: liquid, powder or softgels.
While the powder or softgels might be your preference, they do contain additives or carriers. Oil is the purest form of MCT, and in my experience so far the oil form delivers the fastest results – a noticeable energy boost and appetite suppressant, literally within minutes.
This is where it gets tricky, and why I provided a detailed product/brand/type comparison for you below.
The Kiss My Keto MCT Softgels are a good, clean option for MCT C8/C10 Oil you can take without having to add oil or powder to a liquid (broth, coffee, tea, keto shakes, etc). They’re also convenient on the go. However…
You’re meant to swallow 3 capsules to start and increase up to 6 capsules PER SERVING – up to three times a day. That’s 18 softgels a day!
That means their 300 Count Bottle would last you a little over two weeks (16-17 days), if you were taking 18 softgels day. So the “100 servings per container” is a little misleading.
You really have to analyze all of the MCT labels. They all switch between measurements: grams, milligrams, tbsps, etc – and the serving size and macros are different on them all.
Also, taking 6 softgels as a single serving would provide you with 6,000mg of MCT C8/C10, or 6 grams. That means it is also only 6 grams of fat per serving. Easier viewed as one gram of MCT and one gram of fat per capsule.
In comparison, taking a 1 TBSP serving of KetoLogic MCT C8/C10 Oil of the same purity provides you with 14 grams of MCT and 14 grams of fat. So a single TBSP of this oil is more than double the dose of MCT from swallowing 6 large softgel capsules.
What about calories? Kiss My Keto Softgels = 25 calories for 3 capsules, KetoLogic C8/C10 Oil = 130 calories for 1 TBSP.
Softgels are not a substantial source of dietary fat.
MCT Softgels are a better option for people on a low calorie diet that want the energy/ketone/health benfits of MCT Oil. And that don’t mind to swallow A LOT of large capsules to get WAY less MCT.
They are not a substantial source of healthy fats for a ketogenic diet like liquid MCT Oil – which can easily help you reach your fat macros, and introduce a pure fat into your system that helps you burn more body fat – more quickly.
That means softgels are hardly contributing to your keto macros and they are NOT good for a meal replacement like the oil.
The bottom line is that softgels will cost you more, and deliver less MCT (and less results) per serving than an MCT oil.
Going back to my comparison between the softgel/oil options above comes out to 3 grams of MCT in a serving of softgels vs 14 grams of MCT in a serving of the oil.
There’s also the comparison of your personal preference between adding MCT to your coffee, tea or broth (or taking a liquid TBSP straight) versus swallowing 3-6 large capsules at a time.
If you don’t like the idea of “drinking oil” I’ll share some GREAT alternatives with you below – including candy, fat bombs or a “nut butter bite” you might prefer.
MCT Powder vs MCT Oil
There are many MCT Oil Powder options available now for people who don’t like oil. Just like liquid MCT Oil, the MCT Powders have no smell or taste, so they are ideal for adding to your drinks too (low carb smoothies, protein shakes, broth, coffee, tea, almond milk, etc).
Note: use an MCT powder where the ONLY other ingredient is Acacia Fiber.
Just like softgels vs liquid though, you want to do a fair comparison on the amount of MCT you’re getting from a serving of powder – and the amount of fat if that’s part of your goal (increasing healthy fats that promote fat-burning).
I made a nice “chocolate milk” for example using unsweetened almond milk and 2 scoops of Perfect Keto Chocolate MCT Oil Powder. It didn’t mix as well as I would have liked, so you’d want to use a frother or hand mixer to blend it rather than just stir it in. Anyway…
2 scoops (two 1 scoop servings) = 20 grams of MCT, 14 grams of fat and 140 calories. That’s according to the label, which doesn’t add up to me. 20 grams of MCT should equal 20 grams of fat… right? 🤔 (I’ll have to figure that out!)
Interestingly I did not get the same results as I do when I put 2 TBSP of liquid FBOMB MCT C8/C10 Oil in my coffee. Where that gives me a noticeable energy boost and immediate appetite suppressant that lasts for HOURS, I felt hungry during and after drinking the “chocolate milk” made with MCT Powder.
I also went straight to bed after I drank it and fell into a great sleep, so there was no noticeable energy boost.
The FBOMB packet I use is 2 TBSP (1 ounce, 29.6 ml) while a 1 Scoop Serving of the MCT Powder is 12.6 grams, meaning the 2 Scoop (double serving) of the powder is almost equal to (very close: 25.2) the 29.6 ml of oil.
HOWEVER, the FBOMB liquid oil has 30 grams of MCT and the double serving of that powder has 20 grams of MCT. The oil is 250 calories, and the equivalent amount of powder is 140 calories.
Could the difference in the amount of MCT’s and/or the number of calories makes THAT big of a difference in terms of noticeable energy & appetite suppressant results?
I’m not sure, and I haven’t done enough personal testing to see if I can duplicate the same fabulous-feeling and appetite-suppressing results with the powder. (yet)
That makes me curious about the absorption rate between powder/softgel/oil too, but haven’t found any scientific studies or definitive results on that.
As you can see, there’s a lot to consider between the three forms MCT C8 & C10 comes in – and there’s a lot to consider between the different brands as well…
Which MCT Oil Supplement Is Best? Comparisons…
Now that you know WHY you want a pure C8 or C8/C10 oil without any additional ingredients (and what to look for), you still have to wade through endless brands online or on the shelves, and read countless labels to make sure you’re not getting ingredients you don’t want.
I’ve done the work for you though! 🙂
To make this the best and fairest product comparison possible, I sourced the list of brands/options from my community on both Instagram and Facebook so I could compare what I have tested/used personally with what other people are using.
I started with a LONG list of MCT Oil products/brands, recalculated their measurements to equal servings, then analyzed both the QUALITY and VALUE to determine the absolute best product for the lowest price or best value.
You can see my MCT Supplement Comparison Spreadsheet above where I broke all of this data down.
I researched 12+ more that I’ve since removed from that list because I just kept running into more “MCT Oil” products with big claims, but that were diluted with A LOT of unnecessary ingredients – so I finally had to stop. 😛
Many manufacturers don’t even openly disclose their ingredients or the MCT breakdown (what exactly is in it and how much of each), which is something you want to be cautious about. Several took me 4+ pages of digging through small print to mark them off based on poor quality / undesirable ingredients.
I separated the remaining list of options on the left in that spreadsheet by: portable/single serving, liquid, powder and softgels. The price per serving column reflects a discount using my LOWCARBTRAVELER coupon code.
MCT Oil Supplement Comparison & Product Breakdown
I first used (and loved!) the FBOMB packets with GREAT results. Being on the go a lot (aka @lowcarbtraveler) I need single-serve MCT options that will pass through airport security, and that I can take on road trips & keep in my bag.
I’m not interested in softgels because I would have to take entirely too many (!!) capsules to equal the same amount of MCT in one coffee or shake.
These are the top three single-serve MCT options:
Of the three best options for a portable/compact single-serve MCT Oil Travel Packet, Bulletproof Brain Octane Oil is the highest quality and FBOMB Premium C8/C10 is the best price for a top quality MCT oil.
I also have a 20% off discount code for FBOMB products.
The main difference between these two single-serve oils is that Bulletproof packets are a 1 TBSP serving and FBOMB packets are a 2 TBSP serving. Bulletproof is also a C8 oil where FBOMB is a C8/C10 oil.
Both are clean/pure, top quality, will give you optimal/fast results and both are travel friendly single-serve packets:
* Bulletproof Brain Octane Oil
* FBOMB Premium C8/C10
coupon code: LOWCARBTRAVELER for 20% off
Larger bottles are a much better value for at home of course…
Bulletproof, Pefect Keto and Kiss My Keto all three offer 100% MCT C8 Oil (at those links) for a slightly higher price, but I’ve found the MCT C8/C10 blend to work exceptionally well – for a lower price. Perfect Keto and Kiss My Keto are comparable in price, but Bulletproof C8 is quite a bit more as you can see on my spreadsheet.
Liquid MCT C8/C10 Oil – 16 or 32oz Bottles
These are the best value for at-home use. The three highest quality bottles of MCT C8/C10 Oil are:
* KetoLogic 16oz Bottle
* Perfect Keto 32oz Bottle
* Kiss My Keto 32oz Bottle w/Pump
(coupon code LOWCARBTRAVELER works for all three sites)
Of the three, Kiss My Keto is the best value – and it comes with a pump top. It’s actually the only one that has a pump, so I ordered one myself. 🙂
Perfect Keto is the highest quality at the lowest price – except that right now Kiss Me Keto is on sale (marked down $6.00). My coupon code won’t work with the sales prices, but it still comes out cheaper per serving at the moment.
If you prefer MCT Oil Powder…
Some people prefer MCT Oil Powder over the oil for texture reasons. It does blend into liquids smoother and it is a more palatable option for people who can’t handle “oily coffee” (although I rather like the SMOOTH texture of my MCT oil-blended coffee, and how soft & shiny it makes my lips!).
Use caution when buying MCT Oil Powder because most of them are FULL of other ingredients (you don’t want), and because it has less MCT’s per serving for a much higher price than MCT Liquid Oil.
To give you one example to watch out for, the Quest MCT Oil Powder has the following ingredients. You can find this image on their Amazon page:
Quest also does NOT disclose WHICH medium chain triglycerides they use exactly, or in what amount – which is sketchy.
Viva Naturals also has an “MCT Oil Powder” and check out their ingredients below. Interesting to note is there are only 4 grams of MCT’s per serving, plus 4 carbs and a gram of sugar. What the heck?!
Compare that to the ingredients and quality of Perfect Keto MCT Oil Powder, which is a MCT C8 70% / MCT C10 30% pure blend. Very high quality MCT Oil Powder:
(I’m using their Collagen Powder which has the same quality MCT’s in it.)
My recommendation: Perfect Keto MCT Oil Powder
coupon code: LOWCARBTRAVELER
The Kiss My Keto “Keto Creamer” (unflavored) is also an MCT Oil Powder, but it does serve as a coffee creamer too so it has other ingredients.
That said it’s a quality product with good ingredients at a GREAT price – and delivers almost the same amount of MCT’s per serving:
* Kiss My Keto MCT Oil Powder “Keto Creamer”
coupon code: LOWCARBTRAVELER
I already use a coffee creamer I like, and I prefer my MCT Powder NOT to be a “creamer” so I can use for other purposes – like in a steamy cup of bone broth as one example.
I hope that helps you better choose an MCT Oil Powder if that’s your preference. Just be super cautious as there are A LOT of options and the ingredients or quality of ingredients isn’t always very obvious!
How do MCT Softgels stack up?
The top three MCT Softgels I found are from Bulletproof, Kiss My Keto and Perfect Keto. Bulletproof Softgels are a pure MCT C8 which is always a little more expensive, but it’s more than double the price of the other two brands of MCT C8/C10 softgels – a blend I’ve been using with GREAT results.
Between Kiss My Keto and Perfect Keto, they are very similiar in quality and price. Perfect Keto is slightly better ratio quality (higher in C8) and only slightly cheaper by one cent per serving – or one dollar per bottle.
* Perfect Keto MCT Softgels
coupon code: LOWCARBTRAVELER
* Kiss My Keto Softgels
coupon code: LOWCARBTRAVELER
Honestly I think they’re both great options for an MCT softgel. I use other Perfect Keto products (their bars, nut butter & collagen for example) so I’d be more likely to add that on to my order.
That’s IF softgels were something I would personally use, and they’re not.
The MCT Softgels give you way too low an amount of MCT per serving, require taking entirely too many a day, and are not a cost effective option for MCT Oil benefits.
For example, if I use 2 TBSP of the Perfect Keto MCT C8/C10 Oil that comes out to 94 cents (.47 per serving x 2) and 28 grams of MCT. I would have to take TWENTY EIGHT softgels at .26 per serving (total cost: $2.34) to get the same 28 grams of MCT Oil.
That’s more than double the price, and no way I’m swallowing that many pills a day. 😛
So… Which MCT Oil Supplement Should I Get?
I would love to try Bulletproof MCT Oil, especially the travel packets (for convenience), but you’re obviously going to pay a little more there for both the pure MCT C8 quality and for the brand/name.
The only powder I can personally recommend is the Perfect Keto MCT C8/C10 Powder. I would personally prefer unflavored. For coffee I can add my own creamer/sweetener, and unflavored is ideal for adding to broth or shakes – or to use in recipes.
Perfect Keto MCT Oil Powder
coupon code: LOWCARBTRAVELER
I like their unflavored Collagen Powder too, which has the same quality MCT’s in it. Plus their nut butter & bars are both great – and even better together!
For a high quality liquid MCT Oil, I recommend (and am using myself) FBOMB C8/C10 Travel Packs for on-the-go, and Perfect Keto C8/C10 Oil or Kiss My Keto C8/C10 Oil to use at home.
* FBOMB Premium C8/C10
coupon code: LOWCARBTRAVELER for 20% off
* Kiss My Keto MCT C8/C10 Oil w/Pump
coupon code: LOWCARBTRAVELER
* Perfect Keto MCT C8/C10 Oil
coupon code: LOWCARBTRAVELER
I currently have the Kiss My Keto oil at home but the Perfect Keto oil is also the same quality/price – and one I’ll probably order next myself when I restock bars, nut butter & collagen protein powder.
I might be interested in trying the Keto Creamer from Kiss My Keto but I’m not going to buy a huge tub of it not knowing if I’ll like it or not. And I DO NOT LIKE their bars – AT ALL – blech. 😛 Their Keto Chocolate Toasted Hazelnut bars are seriously delicious, but $25 for 4 chocolate bars. So the MCT Oil is probably the only thing I would order from Kiss My Keto regularly – and only if I decide I like the pump top style bottle best. Otherwise I’ll order the Perfect Keto MCT Oil for the same price/quality since I’ll be shopping there anyway.
This has been exhausting, interesting & surprising research!
When I first started compiling the list of MCT Oil options on my comparison spreadsheet, I thought for sure I already knew which one I would most recommend. I also had NO idea there was so much CRAP on the shelves and on Amazon being disguised as “MCT Oil.” 😳 Trickery!!
I wanted to like KetoLogic best, because I love the people behind the company. I have some here and I’ve been using it. It’s a great product, but just not comparable in price. It’s slightly more than Bulletproof MCT C8 Oil even, which is high for a C8/C10 blend. Perfect Keto and Kiss My Keto also have a slightly higher level of MCT C8 in their oils, at much lower prices. They both also offer bigger bottles (32oz), where KetoLogic doesn’t (16oz only).
I’m happy to find I still LOVE the FBOMB packets, both for quality AND value. 🙂
Over the weeks I’ve been compiling and comparing this data and writing this post for you, I’ve been ordering and testing/trying a variety of these products – and other things each company offers.
I’m particularly impressed with Perfect Keto from my own tests and comparisons at home. Their collagen protein powder is better for example than others I’ve tried (better texture, smoother, and NO funky odor/taste like some). Their bars are sweeter than I normally like, but I can’t stop eating them, and I really like their nut butter (note: it’s NOT sweet). All of their products are SUPER CLEAN – they use really good ingredients.
And of course I love everything FBOMB – all portable, all super clean, all delicious: avocado oil, nut butters, house blend & olive oil, MCT oil, the Keto Krunch cheese snacks – everything.
It had also been ages since I’d looked at the Bulletproof site, so seeing they have bars now intrigued me. They’re 9 net carbs per bar though, and they have chicory root fiber in them (Kiss My Keto bars do as well) – which is an ingredient that makes me MISERABLE. I literally feel completely lethargic within an hour of eating anything with chicory root fiber.
There are many other MCT Oil Options I left off the list…
Some of the more popular MCT Oil brands that people are buying locally like Slimfast, Sports Research, Keto Science, ONNIT, etc are basically the same as coconut oil. They contain lauric acid which has to go to the liver first, unlike a premium MCT C8/C10 oil that bypasses the liver and is burned for energy immediately. They are not a pure form of MCT oil but rather a dressed up over-priced version of plain old coconut oil.
Linda asked me about Pruvit 143 MCT, so I looked into that one as well. It has WAY too many ingredients in it (eek!). Also, 15 one tbsp servings is $49. That’s off the charts ridiculous in comparison to brands of much higher quality!
Long story short: use one of the brands I recommended, or do your research and/or read the labels VERY carefully before choosing an MCT Oil if you want any REAL benefits from it.
I personally love MCT Oil in hot coffee – or cold, I discovered this works just as well with cold brew or iced coffee! I only like it in a shaker bottle though, or in a travel mug, something with a leak-proof lid so I can give it a shake and keep it blended nice and smooth from start-to-finish. 😉
* These are FBOMB Premium MCT C8/C10 Oil Packs
You can use code LOWCARBTRAVELER for 20% off
I make my coffee like I normally do (with sugar free hazelnut powdered creamer), then add the oil last and put on the lid and shake it up. That’s it! A shaker bottle or travel mug let’s you give it a shake so it stays smooth & creamy to the end. 😉
I tried this same thing with an iced coffee from Starbucks. The oil blended just fine (surprise! I was surprised at least -lol), but was definitely best in a shaker bottle or travel mug – just like hot coffee.
How To Use MCT Oil (Don’t Cook With It!)
If you LOVE the benefits of the liquid oil form but don’t like the idea of taking or drinking oil, I’ll give you creative ideas to make it easy & delicious to enjoy. 😉
It’s recommended to start with a one teaspoon serving and gradually work up to 1-3 TBSP/day. Some people report getting diarrhea or stomach distress when starting off with a full TBSP.
I started with two full TBSP my very first time, and didn’t experience any digestive issues, so I guess we’re all different! Use caution to start though.
You can add the MCT Oil or Powder to any liquid: coffee, tea, water, smoothies, shakes, broth, etc. It has no flavor or smell, so it will mix with practically anything.
You could also mix it in with sugar free syrup, salad dressing or any low carb condiment you’re using. I imagine it would easily mix well with low carb yogurt and sugar free pudding.
If you don’t want the oil in a whole mug of something, or want to “take it” quicker, just mix it with 1/4 cup of coffee or chicken broth for a “quick shot”.
Better yet, mix your MCT Oil with a TBSP of almond butter – and eat that. 😉
You aren’t supposed to cook with it at higher temperatures, so use regular coconut oil for baking or cooking. Oops! I didn’t know that and used it in place of coconut oil in my keto muffins recipe recently. They tasted fine (fabulous actually), but I’ll stick to coconut oil for baking at 350+ in the future for sure.
Fat Bombs: The Most DELICIOUS Way To Enjoy MCT Oil!
The great thing about using MCT Oil instead of coconut oil for making keto candy (or “fat bombs”) is that MCT Oil does NOT taste like coconut – so it doesn’t make everything you create taste like coconut candy. 😀
You can melt down sugar free chocolate chips and mix in your MCT Oil to make chocolate bites that will be way more enjoyable than taking a TSP of the oil straight.
Macadamia Crunch Peanut Butter Cups 😍 Keto Candy Recipe: Delicious Brain-Boosting MCT Oil Fat Bombs
I like to mix oil and nut butter 50/50 and freeze it in silicone molds for delicious little health bites. You may like it better if you mix it 2:1 or even 3:1 – so 1 TBSP of almond butter with 1 TSP of MCT Oil (3:1 ratio).
Of course you can get super creative with fat bombs or “keto freezer candy” recipes too. I’ve been playing with some myself, and the MCT Oil does work very well for those:
That solves the “I don’t like oil in my coffee” problem!;)
Apologies for writing a book about MCT Oil. 🤣 I have been SO impressed from the results I experienced with it myself, but didn’t know why until I started researching it.
Then the discussions around the web brought up A LOT of questions – and seriously questionable brands/options. 😛
Have you tried MCT Oil yet?
It took me months to get brave enough to try it (lol) and getting too sick to eat (ack!) to give it a whirl. Now I’m using it daily in my first morning coffee and thinking: what in the world was I afraid of??
It’s great, and the results are amazing! ❤
I’m curious to hear your experience with it too, and specifically which brand you use or which brands you’ve tried.
If you want me to analzye your brand (or ANY brand), or have questions about the other products from these companies, just leave a comment.
I’ve been placing a crazy number of orders to try & test other things they each carry so I can give you feedback on more than just their MCT Oil – and of course because I was curious for myself too! 😉 💕
Thoughts or questions?
This has all been nothing short of fascinating for me personally, from the RESULTS to the research, and even the comparisons were seriously enlightening…
Buyer beware, hey? Geez!
I hope it was helpful for you as well. 🙂
Best,
Lynn Terry,
aka @LowCarbTraveler
p.s. We’re also having a GREAT discussion about Collagen on Facebook right now:
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