MCT Oil vs. Butter: Which Is Better for Your Coffee?

Overview of MCT Oil

Medium-chain triglycerides oil, medium-chain fatty acid oil, or simply MCT oil has been demonstrated to be the best oil compared to alternatives because its absorption into the bloodstream is much faster compared to other oils.

MCT oil is extracted from coconut oil and then converted into MCT oil through concentration. MCT oils are of two types – caprylic acid (C8) and capric acid (C10). These two are considered the most powerful MCT oils.

Incorporating MCT oil or powder into your coffee is the best way of supercharging your body ready for the day’s tasks. Apart from its ability to boost energy levels, MCT oil also creates a creamy consistency that changes your daily cup of coffee into a frothy enjoyable drink.

According to a publication in the American College of Nutrition, MCT oil can be added to the weight loss regimen without having to worry about adverse metabolic risk factors.

Potential Benefits Of MCT Oil In Coffee

Adding MCT oil to your coffee has plenty of health benefits. It has been demonstrated to support various aspects of health such as the ones discussed below:

• Increased Satiety: MCTs can help reduce hunger strikes by making you feel fuller for a long. The satiety feeling reduces opportunities for calorie intake thus supporting weight loss. In one research study, supplementation of MCTs was able to suppress appetite and reduce hunger feelings in participants.
• Better Cognitive Function: MCT oil can help improve cognitive function in people with mild cognitive function like Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive-related disorders by improving mitochondria functions normally interrupted by neurogenerative diseases and aging. Cognitive decline symptoms MCT oil claims to improve include memory, concentration, and focus.
• Healthy Blood Sugar Support: MCT oil has been shown to play a crucial role in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels already within a normal range. It improves insulin-mediated glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, crucial for regulating blood sugar spikes. Maintaining blood sugar levels is not just crucial for type 2 diabetic patients but also for individuals struggling with obesity.
• Brain Boost: MCT oil has been demonstrated to be a great source of energy for the brain due to its ability to absorb quickly into the bloodstream. They can be easily converted into ketones, making the ideal compound for brain support. There is also evidence that MCT oil possesses neuroprotective properties that can effectively protect the brain.
• Weight Management: MCT has demonstrated the potential of helping with weight management through different mechanisms such as encouraging fat burning, initiating energy expenditure, and promoting exercise endurance. It also helps with post-meal thermogenesis, the burning of calories after meals. This means that MCT oil has the potential to support healthy weight loss.

Overview of Butter and Option to Add to Your Coffee

While most people think that butter is a rich source of butyric acid, a great short-chain fatty acid, it is actually not. Butter does not contain much butryic acid as many people think but just a small percentage (about 3-4%) which is not much and may not have any significant impact on your health.

Another thing you need to know about butter is that it is primarily obtained from A1 cows. It means that even if you buy grass-fed butter, it is till from A1 cow and usually contains case in A1, a protein that most people are likely to react to.

The best butter is that from A2 cows which is slowly gaining popularity in the United States as the best option because, unlike butter from A1 cows, the A2 one does not lead to gut issues as it is easy to digest. A good source of A2 butter is said to come from Southern European countries like Switzerland, Italy, and France because it is exclusively from A2 cows. So, if you must use butter, its origin should be from such countries.

However, various studies have investigated the correlation between cardiovascular issues and butter consumption. There are claims that you are not doing justice to your heart by consuming butter regularly.
If you’re looking for ways to support your heart, you can check our best supplements for heart health for options that may help maintain optimal cardiovascular function.

One research study concluded that adding butter to coffee can lead to weight gain while another research study concluded that adding butter or MCT oil to coffee has no adverse changes in cholesterol levels although its long-term effect on health is not conclusive.

Generally, regular use of MCT oil, MCT creamers, or other oils like olive oil, makes a wonderful healthy addition to your daily cup of coffee which has plenty of health benefits. According to health experts, olive oil is one of the best health oils worth adding to your daily health regimen and may deliver the best health benefits if combined with MCT oil.

Which Is Better For Your Coffee: MCT Oil Or Butter?

When it comes to which one is worth incorporating into your daily health regimen, MCT oil or butter, both have been demonstrated to have potential health benefits. So, regardless of which one you choose, you should be assured of achieving your desired results.

For an alternative, MCT powder can easily be added to coffee as well. It provides similar benefits to MCT oil but in a more convenient form that dissolves easily. Gundry MD MCT Wellness is a great example of a high-quality MCT powder that delivers these benefits with added convenience.

Both MCT oil and butter are safe when used in moderation, but if you’re unsure about their effects, it’s always best to consult a healthcare provider to ensure they align with your health goals.

How About Coconut Oil and Butter In Coffee?

Unfortunately, coconut oil cannot be swapped for MCT oil. Coconut oil is made up of lauric acid which is a longer-chain MCT left behind by MCT oil after processing.

MCT on the other hand, is made of medium-chain triglycerides, which are easy for the body to digest and convert into energy compared to coconut oil.

The way the body digests and metabolizes lauric acid is different from MCTs, meaning that it does not have similar potential benefits.

Is MCT and Butter in Coffee Good for Us?

MCT oil fuels brain function and mental clarity

Taking MCT and Butter Coffee every day in moderation cannot harm your health but instead yield great benefits. Also, MCT oil can offer short-term therapeutic benefits.

MCT oil and butter in coffee is better than compared to conventional sugar and cream because they can help in regulating blood sugar levels among other benefits.

Conclusion

As analyzed above, it is clear that MCT oil has potential unique health benefits as well as considerations.

It has been demonstrated to support various aspects of body health without posing health risks to the body. Butter, on the other hand, has potential health risks so it is best when you don’t use it in your daily coffee.

While we have seen what MCT oils can do, discussing your health status and goals with your healthcare provider is highly recommended to give more insights about your dietary decision.

Take a step today and add MCT oil to your daily health regimen and begin your journey to a healthy body and overall wellness.

It is time to say goodbye to issues like brain fatigue, cognitive decline, weight gain, and blood sugar spikes and say hello to improved cognitive function, healthy brain, weight, and blood sugar levels.

16 Sources

We review published medical research in respected scientific journals to arrive at our conclusions about a product or health topic. This ensures the highest standard of scientific accuracy.

[1] Weight-loss diet that includes the consumption of medium-chain triacylglycerol oil leads to a greater rate of weight and fat mass loss than olive oil2 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2874190/
[2] Medium-chain Chain Triglycerides enhance exercise endurance through increased mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism tips: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5805166/
[3] Effect of Different Medium-Chain Triglycerides on Glucose Metabolism in High-Fat-Diet Induced Obese Rats https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10815142/
[4] Value of VLCD supplementation with medium chain triglycerides https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11571605/
[5] Dietary substitution of medium-chain triglycerides improves insulin-mediated glucose metabolism in NIDDM subjects https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1568535/
[6] Potential benefits of medium chain fatty acids in aging and neurodegenerative disease https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10481710/
[7] Ketogenic Medium Chain Triglycerides Increase Brain Energy Metabolism in Alzheimer's Disease https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29914035/
[8] Use of medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil in subjects with Alzheimer's disease: A randomized, double?blind, placebo?controlled, crossover study, with an open?label extension https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8919247/
[9] Applications of Medium-Chain Triglycerides in Foods https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9203050/
[10] Medium Chain Triglyceride Oil Consumption as Part of a Weight Loss Diet Does Not Lead to an Adverse Metabolic Profile When Compared to Olive Oil https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2874191/
[11] The Effects of Medium-Chain Triglyceride Oil and Butter on Lipid Profiles https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11254513/
[12] Effects of medium chain triglycerides supplementation on insulin sensitivity and beta cell function: A feasibility study https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6927614/
[13] Investigating the Effects of a High-fat Coffee Beverage Containing Medium-Chain Triglyceride Oil and Ghee on Cognitive Function and Measures of Satiety https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8181361/
[14] Changes in Coffee Intake, Added Sugar and Long-Term Weight Gain - Results from Three Large Prospective US Cohort Studies https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10739774/
[15] Effects of milk containing only A2 beta casein versus milk containing both A1 and A2 beta casein proteins on gastrointestinal physiology, symptoms of discomfort, and cognitive behavior of people with self-reported intolerance to traditional cows’ milk https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4818854/
[16] Development and Method Validation of Butyric Acid and Milk Fat Analysis in Butter Blends and Blended Milk Products by GC-FID https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9689190

Anush Mkrtchyan, MBA, RDN, BSND

Anush Mkrtchyan is a US-based consultant registered dietitian, writer, and editor. She has worked with more than 300 athletes as a spor Read Full Bio