Now, if anyone is a living, breathing, workout-crushing embodiment of the maxim that ‘you get back what you put in’ when it comes to wellness, it’s Kate Hudson.
The actress, businesswoman and mum-of-three works hard on her wellbeing. And, happily for us, she loves to let her millions of followers in on her healthy habits.
Earlier this week, she took to TikTok to share exactly how she builds her favourite smoothie blend. And, let’s just say, this isn’t the sort of smoothie you could pick up in Pret.
Sporting a seriously cosy looking blue and black knitted jumper, Kate, 42, pours a concoction of healthy looking stuff into a formidable looking blender (our guess is it’s a Vitamix) to a background track of Lil Jon yelling. Such is the chaos of this app – please enjoy.
@thekatehudson Smooths ??
Kate Hudson’s Exact Morning Smoothie Recipe
So, let’s talk ingredients.
Three components are products from her own supplement line, In Bloom. One, a protein powder with greens; another containing multivitamins and essential daily nutrients; one more aimed at boosting cognition and brain power.
Kate then adds almond milk, what looks like a bag of frozen fruits – we definitely spy some banana.
One blended, it’s time for the addition of one more ingredient, and this one really caught our eye: MCT oil, derived from (according to the label) 100% organic coconut, which she free pours into blended mix.
What is MCT Oil: Kate Hudson’s Smoothie-Booster of Choice?
So, er, what is this stuff? And do you need it on our radar? Put simply, MCT oil is a supplement made from medium-chain triglycerides: a specific type of fat.
‘It’s a type of dietary saturated fat which is quickly absorbed in the gut and transported into the bloodstream,’ explains registered dietician and Women’s Health Collective expert insider, Tai Ibitoye (@taitalksnutrition).
But it’s not the same as coconut oil.
‘MCT oil contains pure MCT, which is extracted from dietary sources such as palm oil, coconut oil or some dairy products,’ she clarifies. ‘Whereas coconut oil is processed from the flesh of coconuts.’
‘Although coconut oil is a source of MCT, it also contains long chain triglyceride (LCT) and a small amount of unsaturated fats,’ Tai adds.
Its benefits are borne out in scientific research – from increasing two hormones associated with fullness in the body (peptide YY and leptin) to reducing lactate build up in muscles among athletes.
People following the ketogenic diet sometimes take MCT oil as it can help the body remain in fat-burning state – ketosis – for longer.
Should you Make Like Kate and Add MCT Oil to your Smoothies?
Of course, Kate is clearly super health-focused and appears to make decisions that work for her and her lifestyle. For most of us, however, the answer is: probably not. Because, while MCT oil may have some benefits, it’s ultimately a source of saturated fat and is highly calorific, making it probably not something that’s needed in the majority of diets eaten by people in the UK.
‘Ultimately, MCT oil is a source of saturated fat (like coconut oil) and should be consumed in very small amounts as regular and excessive intakes of saturated fats in [your] diet can increase cholesterol levels,’ warns Tai.
And a reminder that high cholesterol levels can lead to you developing fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits can grow, making it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries. And, worst-case scenario, those deposits can break suddenly and form a clot that causes a heart attack or stroke – both of which can be fatal.
Should I know Anything Else About MCT Oil?
Quite apart from your arteries, if you are struggling to lose body fat or maintain a healthy weight, Tai cautions that adding MCT oil can make your efforts a WHOLE lot harder.
That’s because just a tablespoon of the stuff contains 120 kcals and 14g of saturated fat. And you’d triple that if following K-Hud’s free-pour trekkers.
Tai also flags that MCT oil can trigger some unideal gastrointestinal symptoms, too: ‘it may cause nausea, diarrhoea and stomach discomfort for some people.’
She also offers a reminder that anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding or has underlying medical conditions should consult their GP if they are thinking about adding MCT oil to their diet.
As you were.
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