MCT oil breaks a fast. It is pure fat with around 100 calories per tablespoon, so it ends a calorie or autophagy fast, even though it does not raise insulin or break ketosis.
| Calories | ~100-115 kcal per tbsp |
|---|---|
| Breaks a weight-loss fast? | Yes |
| Breaks ketosis? | No |
| Breaks autophagy? | Yes |
| Insulin impact | None |
MCT oil is concentrated fat, about 100 to 115 calories per tablespoon. It has no carbohydrate or protein, so it does not raise insulin or break ketosis, which is why it is popular on keto. But those are still calories, so MCT oil breaks a fast defined by calorie restriction and it shuts down autophagy.
Adding MCT oil or butter to coffee, sometimes called a fat fast, can keep you in ketosis and curb hunger, but it is not a true fast. If your goal is appetite control while staying in ketosis, it works. If your goal is autophagy or calorie restriction, MCT oil breaks the fast.
There is no calorie-free amount of MCT oil; a tablespoon adds about 100 calories, which breaks a calorie or autophagy fast.
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