New To Fasting? MCT Oil Makes It Easier, Says A Functional Medicine Expert

If you've just begun to dip your toes into the intermittent fasting waters, here's something you likely already know: Fasting can be hard. Especially in the beginning, when your body adapts to your time-restricted eating window; you might experience those wretched hunger pangs as your body gets used to the new schedule. 

You should, of course, listen to your body and honor its signals—make sure you haven't chosen a plan that's too intense for you at the moment. But if you need a little extra support during the fasting period, functional medicine expert and mbg Collective member Will Cole, D.C., IFMCP, has you covered: The key, he says, is MCT oil.

To understand how MCT oil makes fasting easier, you'll first need to learn the science behind this healthy fat: MCT oil stands for medium-chain triglyceride oil, and it's typically extracted from coconut oil, kernel oil, and dairy fats—like grass-fed butter or ghee.

As its moniker suggests, MCT oil is a medium-chain saturated fat, as opposed to a long-chain saturated fat. "They're utilized and metabolized in the body completely differently," adds Cole. "That specific type of saturated fat behaves differently." 

According to Cole, MCTs are easily absorbed by the body1, which means "it's a good tool for people that are in a fast to work on satiety." In fact, research shows that MCTs help you feel fuller for longer2 by balancing your appetite-controlling hormones. 

"Your metabolism loves it," Cole adds. Specifically, MCTs can help your body's metabolism become a fat burner rather than sounding the alarm bells once the glucose from food is all burned up. Research has shown that lauric acid in particular—an MCT found in coconut oil—can create a more sustained ketosis3 (or when your metabolism burns fat for fuel instead of glucose), and another study shows they can even increase your metabolic rate4.

One of the most popular ways to consume MCT oil is to stir it in a cup of black coffee (which experts say has such minimal calories, that it shouldn't interfere with fasting's perks). Feel free to blend in some coconut oil, grass-fed butter, or ghee into your java (or purchase a bottle of straight MCT oil, which is often flavorless). You can also pour it into your tea—whatever you like to drink in the mornings.