Can I take MCT oil at night?
MCT oil – like Performance Lab MCT – is quickly becoming one of the most widely-used supplements in the world. As people become more health conscious generally, they are gravitating towards nutritional supplements that do more than just help them lose weight or gain muscle; they now want supplements like the best MCT oil which can actually improve health and performance in a deep, lasting way.
However, the best way to use MCT oils for optimal benefits isn’t always clear. After all, this is a very new supplement product. MCTs are partially synthetic products; they are not found in nature in large quantities.
It isn’t at all obvious how to best use MCT oils – should they be used immediatly before training, or first thing in the morning? Can you take them at night? Can you take them at any time of day?
Let’s try to answer this question once and for all in a little detail. First, we’ll explain how MCT oils work.
What do MCT oils do?
MCT oil is an oil consisting entirely of medium chain triglycerides. These are fatty acids with a medium chain length, hence the name.
The particular structure of MCTs gives them some unique physiological properties.
For example, MCTs provide readily accessible fuel for the brain in the form of ketone bodies. When consumed, MCTs are transported directly to the liver where they are quickly turned into ketone bodies. These ketone bodies are then taken to the brain, which uses them as fuel. All of this happens without spiking your insulin levels; this makes MCT oil an ideal supplement for increasing brain energy during a fast (hence why people take MCT oil for intermittent fasting).
Another proven benefit of MCT oil supplementation is that it stimulates the production of mitochondria. People who consume MCTs display an increase in mitochondria density. This means more efficient energy metabolism. This is particularly useful for caloric restriction, as you get more energy from the food you eat.
These are extremely exciting benefits to get from a simple oil supplement.
But how do you maximize the benefits of MCT oil supplementation? When is the best time to take MCT oil? Can you take MCT before bed?
Taking MCT oil at night
Can you take MCT oil before bed? Should you take it at night rather than in the morning?
The answer is yes, you can absolutely take MCT oil at night. It really doesn’t matter when you take MCT oil. The purpose of MCT oil is to provide you with extra brain fuel during periods of fasting or periods of low caloric consumption.
An example might be before a session of fasted cardio; you don’t want to eat any carbs or protein as you want to stay in ketosis. But you know you’ll need extra mental and physical energy to get through the session. MCT oils represent a great solution to this problem.
So you should take MCT oils when you need extra mental and physical energy (and to promote energy levels going forward). It doesn’t mater what time of day this is.
However, we will say that taking MCT oil at night is probably not the optimal way to use this product. It is unlikely that you’ll need a mental energy boost right before bed, and it is highly unlikely that you’ll need extra physical energy late at night. So taking MCTs at night might be a waste of money – you wont be getting the most bang for your buck.
For optimal results, we recommend taking MCT oil first thing in the morning, either with breakfast or just with hot black coffee if you’re “fasting”/trying to stay in ketosis.
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