Want to lose calories as if you did in high school? “Then add creamy MCT oil to your diet,” urges Naomi Whittel, CNC, author of Glow15: A Science-Based Plan to Lose Weight, Revitalize Your Skin, and Invigorate Your Life (Buy on Amazon, $15.49).
MCT – a fat extracted from coconut – has shown power to “improve blood sugar levels, eliminate cravings, lift brain fog, fire up metabolism, as well as target belly fat,” Whittel says. It basically reverses all the fattening problems triggered by age-related hormonal changes, so we drop pounds easily. “At age 55, I lost 30 pounds in three weeks – it's the fastest I've ever lost weight in my life,” marvels New York homemaker Fran Bronski. “MCT oil even proved helpful in my 77-year-old mother, Sadie. Everybody needs to do this stuff!”
MCTs – short for medium-chain triglycerides – first got Whittel's attention after her pal used them to slim down. Combing through an ever-growing pile of studies on the subject, Whittel was motivated to use MCT oil herself and recommend it to countless women like Fran and Sadie. And she's not the only excited expert. While filming a documentary called The Real Skinny on Fat, “I had the privilege of interviewing 80 different doctors and clinical researchers, and everyone wanted to talk about the power MCTs,” Whittel recalls. “The science is that compelling – and the answers are that amazing. Plus, it's easy to use, and it is delicious!”
How does MCT oil work its magic? Add 2 to 3 tablespoons MCTs each day to a nutritious diet, and this is what you can expect.
Hunger vanishes.
All fats are highly satisfying, but MCTs also reduce the production of hormones which make us want to overeat. Says University of Pittsburgh nutrition specialist Joe Maroon, MD, “Even the biggest appetites shrink dramatically.”
Metabolism soars.
MCTs are small compared to other fats and digest quickly, creating a blast of heat that torches calories. Italian scientists discovered that after consuming MCTs, we incinerate 3 times more calories for six hours!
Dr. Maroon says that as MCTs are divided, they trigger the rapid discharge of special compounds that enhance fat loss, sharpen our brain, making our energy soar. Despite the fact that researchers aren't quite sure why, a Columbia University study discovered that women within their fifties given MCTs lost 600 percent more belly fat compared to those given essential olive oil.
You age backwards.
“MCT oil has been shown to promote autophagy, a natural process the body uses to heal wear and tear to the cells,” says Whittel. Autophagy even makes malfunctioning cells self-destruct, replacing them with powerful new ones. “Your skin, your metabolism, your immunity – every cell and product is refreshed!”
Easy MCT Oil Meals That Triple Your Metabolism
Even one tablespoon of MCT oil per day will help with weight loss. But for fastest results, Whittel recommends 2 to 3 tablespoons daily along with a diet that emphasizes healthy fats, protein, and veggies. (Save any healthy starch for your evening meal, when research has shown you're best in a position to burn them back.) Always get your doctor's Alright to consider using a new diet strategy.
MCT oil could cause digestive discomfort at first; Whittel says utilizing an emulsified or creamy MCT oil usually prevents this. You can find MCT oils in health food and supplement stores, in addition to online. We love to that one from Whittel herself, Simply GoodFats Organic MCT Oil (Buy on NaomiWittel.com, $39).
BREAKFAST: Blend half a cup almond milk, one tablespoon MCT oil, one scoop collagen peptides (protein power with anti-aging benefits, found in health food stores), one tablespoon chia, one-half avocado, and half a cup of frozen berries.
LUNCH: Slather low-carb bread with nut butter and sugar-free jam. To create your own bread with metabolism-revving MCT oil, check out the recipe at SimplyGOODFATS.com.
SNACK: To make “mayo,” beat two egg yolks and two teaspoons Dijon; slowly add one-third cup of MCT oil. When thick, add one teaspoon vinegar, one teaspoon fresh lemon juice, and two-thirds cup MCT oil. Use a quarter cup to devil six hard-cooked eggs.
DINNER: Peel and slice one jicama; steam eight minutes. Cool and pat dry. Toss with two tablespoons MCT oil and season with salt. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Enjoy with a grass-fed burger.
