One inspiring cue:
Draw your low back toward your legs and feel the length in your front body.
Why?
When you draw your low back in and towards your legs, you aid in keeping your back long and neutral – one of the things we strive for in many of the yoga poses. In addition, when you use this cue, you activate your back muscles, helping to strengthen the entire back.
One inspiring tip:
If you can’t straighten your legs, try wrapping a strap around the soles of both feet. Hold the strap with both hands so that the strap is taut. Press your feet against the strap as you left and lengthen your legs.
One inspiring song:
One inspiring quote:
“If you spend your times chasing butterflies, they will fly away. If you spend your time making your garden beautiful, the butterflies will come to you.” @lucky
Nutrition nugget:
THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF MCT OIL
Someone reached out to me recently and asked if I take MCT oil and what I thought about it. As with any food, vitamin or mineral, there is rarely a simple answer. What’s good for one person may not be good for another. This week, I’ll cover what I think most people use MCT oil for – burning fat and increasing cognitive function. Does it really work and what does the science say? Let’s dive in and see!
First, MCT is an acronym for medium-chain-triglycerides. Without getting into too much detail, I can tell you that medium-chain-triglycerides are easier to digest than long-chain-triglycerides (LCT).
Here are some possible benefits WebMD states for the use of MCT oil. “MCT can help your body make ketones, an energy source for your brain that doesn’t have carbs. Some say drinking it will make your mind sharper. But if you don’t have a cognitive disorder, you aren’t likely to get a long-lasting brain boost just by adding some MCT oil.”
“Many proponents claim the because MCTs are metabolized more efficiently than LCTs, the fats result in a quick burst of energy that can power up a workout and put more pep in your step. This is another claim to file under ‘plausible but unproven’. Preliminary research conducted in test tubes and on animals suggests that MCTs may set off cellular changes that could heighten physical endurance, but scant research on people means it’s too soon to say whether the theory holds up in real life.” – WebMD
As a side note, I came across a study that is currently underway that is using MCT oil (organic coconut oil) in Alzheimer’s patients. The lead doctor’s husband has Alzheimer’s and after doing her own research on him and coming across possible brain boosting benefits, she put together a much larger study.
WebMD also states that “your body makes ketones when you break down fat on a very low-carb diet. This can lower your insulin levels and help you burn fat. MCT helps you make more ketones than LCT. This may help you get to the fat-burning phase faster, but we don’t know for sure.”
To read the full WebMD article, click here or on the image below.
All in all, it seems that most of the studies have been small and to prove MCT’s benefits, larger studies need to be done. Also, keep in mind MCT oil is high in calories and saturated fat, so your diet and nutritional needs will determine if you’d like to add it in and how much. As usual, you may want to check with your healthcare provider if you have any health issues.
GENTLE WARNING: MCT can be hard on some people’s stomachs. So, if you’re trying it, start low and go slow (maybe once a week to start and work your way up to the general dosage).
In my next newsletter, I’ll cover more research on MCT oil as well as the impact it may or may not have on cholesterol and heart health. Until then, try this week’s pose and cue and begin to consider MCT oil as part of your personal nutrition regimen.