What can I use instead of MCT oil?
Use coconut oil instead of MCT oil. Although it won’t have the same level of benefit but it is the closest option you can get to MCT oil, as coconut oil is made up of 55% Medium-Chain Triglycerides – which should still be enough to work with.
If you think you just need a higher quality MCT oil, check out our Best MCT Oil page.
Why would you use Coconut Oil instead of MCT Oil?
There are two main reasons why you could choose coconut oil over MCT oil as an alternative:
- Cooking
- Skin Care
Or quite simply because you don’t have any MCT oil, and you need a substitute. From a nutrition point of view though, MCT oil is far superior.
MCT oil is a concentrated source of Medium-Chain Triglycerides and is 100% MCTs, which carries a range of benefits for your brain, body and general health. Coconut oil only has around 55% MCTs, this is considerably less, and has just over half the benefit.
The other problem with coconut oil is that it also uses extra MCTs such as Caproic Acid (C6) and Lauric Acid (C12) both of which don’t have much health benefits for your body – and on average 42% of coconut oil is Lauric Acid – the type that isn’t so effective. The main acids you want are Caprylic Acid (C8) and Capric Acid (C10).
MCT oil with being just C8 and C10, it’s fantastic for ketone production and weight loss, and that’s typically a 60 / 40 split between those two acids. It’s 100% of the acids that you want in there.
Using a MCT Oil Alternative for Cooking
MCT oil by it’s nature is flavorless, coconut oil on the other hand has flavor which could help for cooking and enhance your dish.
Not only that coconut oil actually has a higher smoke point than MCT oil. Coconut oil’s smoke point is 350°F (177°C), whereas MCT oil is 302°F (150°C).
Using a MCT oil Alternative for Skin Care
Although the lauric acid in coconut oil isn’t as nutritious for your body, it is good for skin care. It has effective antibacterial benefits which can help treat acne via how it supports your skin cells.
There’s also some evidence that coconut oil can help with eczema (atopic dermatitis). When applied to the affected area, it can help to reduce redness and irritability that sometimes breaks out from the condition.
It’s also good for hydrating your skin, which can help with xerosis and generally dry skin.
MCT Oil, Coconut Oil and Other Alternatives: Things you should know
If you’re looking to use MCT oil because it upsets your stomach, you should be aware that coconut oil may not be a better choice.
Most people tolerate MCT oil well, but for the those who can’t handle it may look elsewhere to still get the same benefits.
The problems usually arise from taking large amounts of either, which results in stomach discomfort, diarrhea, bloating and other issues.
As a guideline, most sources recommend that for safe and effective use of MCT oil, you should start at 1 teaspoon if you’ve never taken it before, and try to work your way up to having 1 tablespoon of it a day over the course of a week.
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- What is MCT Oil Made From?
- Why does MCT Oil cause Diarrhea?
- What does MCT Oil do to your body?
- How much MCT oil should I take daily?
- What are the side effects of MCT Oil?
- Does MCT Oil Go Bad?
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Hi, I’m Pablo Garduno. I am a biohacking enthusiast, and Head Writer of SanDiegoHealth.org. I write the majority of the content on this site, and appreciate you taking the time to read my work.