There are many MCT oils on the market these days as they have become a popular product in the fitness and wellness world. With so many it’s difficult to tell which of them are quality. One such product is the MCT Wellness powder from Gundry MD.
Founded in 2015 by Dr. Steven Gundry, Gundry MD has a wide range of products focused on the journey of weight loss. The MCT Wellness powder is intended to provide energy, mental clarity, and aid in weight loss. But how does it stack up?
MCT Wellness Powder – Our Product Review
Rating:
- Price – 3/5
- Flavor Options – 3/5
- Benefits – 5/5
- Quality – 5/5
- Overall – 4/5
Product Overview
Gundry MD MCT Wellness powder is a MCT powder that is made from caprylic acid, a medium chain fatty acid that is quickly metabolized and turned into ketones for energy. MCT oils typically come in liquid form, but this particular MCT oil comes in powder form to easily dissolve.
This product is one of many products in a line from MD Gundry, a world famous heart surgeon. The company focuses on heart health through weight management, their MCT Wellness product being a good source of energy while aiding in the burning of fat. They are also known for their other supplements such as their Lectin Shield, Probiotics as well as their Polyphenol Rich Olive Oil.
We really enjoy their wide range of products and the fact that they focus so much on heart health. It gives us confidence in their MCT product since they have a well rounded philosophy and vision of health.
The MCT Wellness powder comes in two interesting flavors that are not common in the MCT oil world. Most MCT oils are unflavored, which make them a great addition to coffee or smoothies, or come in flavors like vanilla or caramel to replace coffee creamer. This particular powder comes in two flavors: Watermelon Lemonade and Raspberry Medley.
How Does it Work?
Many people consume MCT oil in the morning in order to achieve a great energy boost while fasting. MCT, also referred to as medium chain triglyceride, oil is a fat and is composed of medium chain fatty acids (MDFAs).
There are four common MDFAs and their combinations will vary depending on the MCT oil brand. The four MDFAs are caproic acid (C6), caprylic acid (C8), capric acid (C10), and lauric acid (C12).
The shorter the chain the easier it is for the body to digest. Caproic acid (C6), the shortest of the MDFAs, is rarely included in MCT oils because it has an unpleasant odor and flavor. Caprylic acid (C8), the second shortest of the MDFAs, on the other hand, is flavorless and odorless making it the most common to be included in MCT oils.
Capric and lauric acid (C10 and C12 respectively) are the longer of the medium chain fatty acids. Both have their benefits, but require more time to digest because they have longer chains.
The MCT Wellness powder from Gundry MD is made solely from caprylic acid (C8) so it is quick to be metabolized and turned into ketones. This makes it a great source of quick energy, and helps it to boost the burning of fat through the process of thermogenesis.
Pros and Cons of MCT Wellness Powder
What We Liked:
- Increased energy
- Increased mental clarity
- Flavor options
- Easily dissolves
- Added benefits
- Enjoy the pPowder form
What We Didn’t Like:
- No unflavored option
- Expensive
- Not transparent about ingredients
Benefits
The benefits of this MCT Wellness powder are many. In our use of the product we discovered:
- Mental clarity
- Satiated for longer
- Heightened energy
MCT oil is a common choice for early morning energy and we definitely felt it with this particular MCT product. We even found that we could add it to our morning glass of water and experienced a boost of energy. With the added addition of the currant extracts we also experienced mental clarity.
The most clear benefit we found with the MCT Wellness powder was its caffeine like boost. We just added it to water in replacement of our morning coffee, and still felt a perk that we would normally feel with a cup of coffee, but without the jitters.
Another great benefit we found is that even when we had it with a morning glass of water we felt satiated for a long period of time, and were energized without any food or coffee. Even when we added it to our smoothies we found it gave us great mental clarity.
Price
One aspect that we were not fond of with this particular MCT product was the price. At $57.95 on Amazon, and with only 30 servings, this product is far more expensive than many others out there.
The one consolation for such a high price is the fact that it is more than just an MCT powder. Since this product contains red grape extract as well as redcurrant and blackcurrant extract, you’re getting more than just the benefits of an MCT oil.
Those extracts contain vitamins C and K as well as plenty of antioxidants, bioflavonoids, and polyphenols. With all of these nutrients you are getting more support for your brain health, your mood, and energy levels. This may be one reason the price is so high compared to other MCT oils, but we still find it to be on the expensive side.
Ingredients
Something we don’t like about this MCT oil is that because it is a proprietary blend, there isn’t complete transparency about the ingredient amounts. However, we do know about the main ingredients and what they do for the body.
Caprylic Acid (C8)
The second shorted of the medium chain fatty acids, caprylic acid is quick to digest and metabolize into ketone without adding a foul flavor or scent to the MCT oil. This ingredient also has antimicrobial benefits.
There is even some research that claims this fatty acid can help prevent or manage high cholesterol, digestive issues, yeast infections, and certain skin conditions. The benefits do go beyond just weight management. As the main ingredient in this MCT oil powder, caprylic acid serves as the only triglyceride.
Extracts of Blackcurrant and Redcurrant
This extract is loaded with polyphenols, which are a kind of antioxidant that may help with inflammation, controlling blood sugar, heart disease risk reduction, and the reduction of the effects of cancer. This ingredient can also help to support your immunity.
Red Grape Extract
This ingredient works in conjunction with the effects of the caprylic acid by mimicking calorie restriction. It also can help to reduce inflammation, improve immunity, keep your heart rate and glucose levels among other things.
Since it’s a proprietary blend it’s hard to know the ingredient amounts and if they are an effective dosage. We wish there was a little more transparency surrounding that so we could know if the amounts can actually result in health benefits or if they are just enough to say the ingredient is included, but not enough to have any lasting effects.
Other Ingredients
Other ingredients included are:
- Acacia gum, which may help increase satiety and therefore lower levels of cholesterol
- Malic acid
- Citric acid
- Natural flavor
- Enzymatically modified stevia, the sweetener
- Fermented Rebaudioside-M, another sweetener
- Silica
Flavors
In terms of flavor options we felt a bit underwhelmed. Most MCT oils are limited to unflavored so we were grateful that the MCT Wellness powder had two flavor options: Raspberry Medley and Watermelon Lemonade. This made it a great addition to a glass of water in the morning. However, we found that it was limiting.
These two flavors were not a good addition to coffee and were limited on the flavor of smoothies that it could be added to. We wish that they had an unflavored option so that it could be added to anything without affecting the flavor of the beverage.
Powdered forms of MCT oil usually work as a great replacement for coffee creamer, and are flavored with vanilla, chocolate, or caramel. We really wish they had those options to expand the application, especially when adding it to protein shakes after or before a workout.
Bio Availability
What we really enjoyed about this MCT product was its bio availability. Since it uses caprylic acid (C8) it is quickly digested and turned into ketones. With other MCT oils that contain capric and lauric acids it can take a bit longer to digest and feel energized.
We enjoyed that this gave us energy so quickly and didn’t cause any stomach issues.
Another aspect we enjoyed was the powder form. A lot of MCT oils come in liquid form, which can be messy and makes it difficult to travel with. Because it comes as a powder, there is no risk of any mess and you can easily travel with it.
It can take a little longer to dissolve than the liquid form of MCT oil. Normally when added to a beverage, like water it can take 3 – 5 minutes to fully dissolve. If you add it to hot liquid it will dissolve faster, but it doesn’t do well in coffee due to the flavor. However, it can be added to plain hot water or an herbal tea blend and the flavor will accentuate it.
Quality
We loved the quality of this product. The fact that it is keto friendly as well as paleo, and goes through various quality controls was a huge plus for us. This MCT oil powder is made from pure coconut oil, which ensures a high quality MCT oil.
Other MCT oils are produced from palm kernel oil, which is not sustainable and comes from unethical harvesting practices. There are also other MCT oils that will cut their product with other oils and are not as pure.
We found this product to be especially great because of its quality and sourcing. We also were happy that there were no fillers or sugars in this MCT product. It’s harder to lose weight when there are unnecessary ingredients or sugar, and we were surprised that the product could be so flavorful without the use of anything else.
FAQs
Can MCT Wellness Help You Lose Weight?
Yes, MCT Wellness can help you lose weight. It helps to activate the metabolism to burn more fat through the process of thermogenesis. It’s important to remember that the consumption of MCT oil alone isn’t going to help you lose weight or fat. It should be partnered with a healthy diet as well as plenty of exercise.
The consumption of MCT oil without a healthy diet and exercise could in fact lead to weight gain since it is a fat, and must be burned through activity. When in conjunction with a good diet and exercise, the use of MCT oil can help to give energy and help burn subcutaneous fat, also known as the fat stored just under the skin.
When Will I Begin To See Results?
We felt the effects within the first week when it came to increased energy and mental clarity, however when it comes to weight loss it may take a bit longer. Expect to take the product consistently with a balanced diet and exercise to experience the benefits of weight loss.
Some effects may not be as clear since they are less noticeable, like the effects the antioxidants have on your overall health as well as the fatty acids effects on brain health. These are all effects that can be seen over the years with continued use of a product like MCT Wellness powder.
Are There Any Side Effects
No, there are no side effects as long as you consume MCT Wellness as directed and with a balanced diet and exercise. There are always possible side effects with MCT oil based on the individual. For instance, some people may have an allergy to MCT oil, which can result in itchy skin, rashes, or stomach issues.
The over consumption of MCT oil can be problematic as it can lead to digestive issues, bowel discomfort, and diarrhea. It’s important to take the suggested amount or if you are worried you may have adverse reactions, to start with a smaller amount and increase it as you become more comfortable.
Disclaimer: This article does not provide medical advice.
The information, including but not limited to text, graphics, images, and other material contained in this article, is for informational purposes only. No material within this article is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
