Want a hot bod? Oil up
To play action hero Lara Croft in the new “Tomb Raider” blockbuster, Alicia Vikander needed a strong physique to go with her badass attitude. A key part of her prep reportedly was a high-fat, highprotein diet.
She took in no more than 25 grams of veggies daily, and got most of her protein from seafood. But the cornerstone of the diet was the fat: MCT oil, coconut oil and avocados, her nutritionist Magnus Lygdback told PopSugar.
Popular with keto diet fans, MCT oil — an abbreviation of mediumchain triglyceride — is derived from coconuts or palm kernels. Added to coffee, it’s thought to improve focus and stamina better than a sugary breakfast or snack.
Because of its chemical structure, the oil can be digested faster than other fats, such as olive oil, says Danielle DeSimone, a nutrition coach and personal trainer based in Brooklyn.
“MCT oil . . . helps give us fast, long-lasting energy,” says DeSimone, who has her clients add a teaspoon of the oil to their coffee or other foods twice a day to curb cravings for sweets and carbs that cause insulin to spike.
Although some preliminary research has suggested that MCT oil can be satiating, no study has definitively shown that it helps people lose weight or increases brain function. And some experts remain skeptical, especially since the oil contains saturated fat, which has been linked to increased risk of heart disease.
Dietitian Maya Feller tells her clients to skip the MCT trend or talk to a doc before trying it.
“People think it’s kind of this savior, but the science is not completely conclusive,” says Feller, whose practice is based in Brooklyn. She says that if you have a known increased risk of cardiovascular disease — or if you’ve already had a heart attack — you should be especially wary of adding MCT oil to your diet until further research is done.
“I want to see people getting a wider range of vitamins and minerals than just a cup of coffee with MCT oil in the mornings,” she says. “By limiting your diet in general you have to be aware of what’s missing.”