Let me start this off by telling that MCT stands for medium chain triglyceride. It is one of the highly trusted supplements out there and is available in mainly two forms– powder and oil. However, the fact is that most of the people are extremely confused when it comes to making the real choice between these two.
This is the reason that this article focuses on letting you know the key differences between these two and how you can decide the one for you. Before we get into further discussion, if you want to buy these MCT supplements, it is recommended to check this buyer's guide.
Having said that, let's get started.
#1. Easy of carrying
When it comes to carrying these MCT products, you need to deal with the cases like spillage. It is quite obvious to understand that MCT oil is more prone to such hazards as compared to MCT powder. Although, this doesn't make much of a difference when you're keeping them on your kitchen shelf but can tend to play a role when you're traveling.
#2. Effect on the digestive system
In some cases, MCT oil can lead to side conditions like diarrhea, irritability, and intestinal discomfort. If you're about to blame MCT oil for this, let this be very clear that research has shown that these cases usually occur when it is taken inappropriately. These health issues are a direct result of consuming too much MCT oil at once or taking it on an empty stomach. Also, in certain situations, the real culprit is the sensitive digestive tract that can lead to these ailments.
However, in the case of MCT powder, such conditions rarely occur and thus it could be termed "safer" than MCT oil. However, it is always recommended to consult with your dietician before you start consuming these supplements.
#3. Ease of cooking
Because of the fact that MCT oil has a low smoke point, you need to take care of the amount of food you can cook with it. Having a low smoke point limits this amount along with preventing its use in the dishes that require an immense amount of heat in order to be cooked. MCT powder, on the other hand, can be easily added to even baked food items like cookies and muffins. You can replace MCT oil with MCT powder but doing the reverse turns out to be a whole lot trickier.
#4. Texture
This is yet another deciding factor when the battle is between MCT oil and powder. If you're someone who's a fond of having an oily texture in the drinks, MCT oil does that for you without being asked. However, if you don't want your coffee to be oily in nature, you can always go with MCT powder. Apart from this, the presence of a creamy texture in the case of MCT powder enables it to be used as a creamer.
#5. Contamination
Studies have shown that the chances of contamination are far less in the case of MCT oil. In order to prepare MCT powder, a carrier material is to be added to MCT oil so that it can be converted into the powdered form. At this point, manufacturers can decide to choose low-quality carriers. This can degrade the overall quality of MCT powder you'll consume. However, by opting for a trusted brand to buy from, you can avoid the risk of consuming a low-quality product.
#6. Combining ability