Medium Chain Triglyceride
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MCT Gold is 100% medium chain triglycerides oil. Many people think that well-developed muscles are evidence of physical fitness. Firm, toned muscles are considered esthetically pleasing, and hundreds of thousands of people spend untold hours to appear "muscular." Their appearance notwithstanding, muscles are specialized tissues that contract to produce body movement. Muscle cells require great energy to contract, especially during intense exercise and endurance training. Nature has evolved a sophisticated system to produce energy that the body needs for a hard workout. Energy is released when muscle cells break down carbohydrate, fat, and protein. The body utilizes these nutrients in rather specific amounts during physical activity. Carbohydrates are the body's most readily available source of nutrient energy. Carbohydrates are digested and metabolized to generate glucose, which serves as the immediate source of fuel. Excess glucose not directly used to yield energy is transported via the bloodstream to liver and muscle tissue, where it is stored in the form of glycogen. In contrast, fat is the body's richest source of food energy. Unlike glycogen, fat is stored in the fat cells and, therefore, is less readily available for energy production. In order for fat to be used as an energy source, it first must be broken down into fatty acids, which are then transported by the blood to the muscles to be burned. Protein is required for the repair and recovery of muscle tissue. Intense exercise on a regular basis can induce muscle fatigue, and it is widely recognized that carbohydrates are an essential factor in preventing muscle fatigue. Many carbohydrates, especially refined sugars, are not an ideal source of immediate energy needed to maintain an exercise regimen. Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), however, are an energy source that can help athletes develop stamina and endurance. Medium chain triglycerides are actually not carbohydrates. MCTs are important fatty acids that provide energy the same way carbohydrates do. Also known as caprylic and capric acids, MCTs function differently from conventional dietary fats, in that less fat is absorbed in the body. During intense exercise, MCTs prevent the breakdown of muscle tissue, since they produce ketones, which are used directly by the muscle to produce energy and reduce muscle loss. Conventional fats do not produce many ketones. In addition, MCTs are quickly absorbed and circulate in the bloodstream, and they do not produce fatigue, as is common with the consumption of simple sugars. MCTs are unique because, in the presence of carbohydrates, they can be turned into energy inside the mitochondria, the powerhouses of energy production in the cell. Conventional fats can be burned only after the carbohydrate reservoir of the cell has been depleted. This has important implications in that the burning of MCTs in the presence of carbohydrates spares glycogen and, hence, production of ketones. Both prolong endurance for training and stamina. Medium chain triglycerides also improve the absorption of amino acids, which is critical for muscle tissue repair. Furthermore, MCTs improve the absorption of calcium and magnesium. These minerals are needed for carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism to improve muscle contraction response time. MCTs are digested immediately after ingestion as they are hydrolyzed by the enzyme lipase, which is present in the saliva. Additionally, energy released by the digestion and metabolism of MCTs is converted in the body into heat by a process called thermogenesis, which favorably affects the basal rate of metabolism. When the body converts energy into heat, metabolism increases, and that, in turn, leads to fat loss. In short, MCTs are known as "carbo-lipid" for good reason, since they prevent muscle loss and increase lean body mass. MCTs, therefore are a nutrient with great value for those involved in endurance training and the "body culture." [product_disclaimer]