Our secret shopper asked a health food store employee: Why should I choose MCT oil instead of coconut oil?

Store: MCT oil is more concentrated than coconut oil. It’s standardized for the medium-chain triglycerides. It doesn’t really have much flavor; it’s also very concentrated, and that’s why it’s liquid.

How did this retailer do? 

Our expert educator: Carl Germano, RD, CNS, CDN, a registered, certified/licensed clinical nutritionist who serves on the NY State Board of Dietetics and Nutrition

This is a good start, but not complete. Whether to go with MCTs or coconut oil is a simple matter. While MCTs are easily digested and useful for people with digestive disorders, coconut oil contains about 15 percent MCTs and is rich in lauric acid, and that has numerous health benefits including immune support. 

According to several studies, MCTs may help enhance exercise ability by increasing energy metabolism during both high- and medium-intensity exercise. In addition, MCTs have been shown to reduce body fat and improve body composition and increase energy expenditure. They also have shown benefit for special situations such as with Alzheimer’s disease, where the MCTs mimic the effect of ketogenic diets.

So, because coconut oil is rich in MCTs and has additional health benefits, coconut oil is the right choice for every need.