NutraBio MCT Powder is a budget-friendly MCT Powder that’s used around the world by thousands of people – should you be using it too?
We’ve closely examined this product’s health claims and inspected the ingredients to being you our in-depth, unbiased review…
Table of Contents
About NutraBio MCT Powder
NutraBio MCT Powder is potentially useful for anyone following a ketogenic diet.
It’s a keto-friendly product with MCTs that have been shown to promote weight loss (in scientific studies).
This dietary supplement may also lower cholesterol and support brain health. People use MCT Powders for a variety of reasons, but their suggested use is to ‘provide quick energy’.
This makes them popular health and fitness supplements.
NutraBio MCT Powder is a popular value-for-money supplement that’s easy to purchase.
It’s sold in both physical stores and online shops globally; major chains like Walmart stock NutraBio MCT Powder.
Be aware, however, that the NutraBio MCT Powder formula seems to have undergone changes since its release.
With some older formulas including just 60% MCTs and 40% maltodextrin – so be careful which version you are buying.
This review looks at the official formula, as sold on the NutraBio website.
NutraBio MCT Powder Supplement Facts
Additional Ingredients: None
Directions for Use
Scoop up the powder using the plastic scoop provided and stir it into any drink.
Like all powders, it dissolves better in hot drinks – many people add it to their morning coffee.
NutraBio suggest adding the powder first, then the liquid to help it dissolve more quickly.
We do note that the NutraBio website recommends using a shaker cup for best results – in our experience, this sometimes means that it’s not easy to mix it well.
The powder itself is unflavored and (in this formula) isn’t sweetened with maltodextrin or sugar.
It isn’t very tasty on its own, so we’d suggest stirring it into a flavorful beverage like coffee or fruit juice.
You can also mix it into energy drinks and protein shakes, giving you a quick boost of energy once consumed.
MCT powders generally aren’t as adaptable as MCT Oil though, as oils can be mixed into foods as well as drinks.
However, NutraBio say that this powder can be used in baking mixes. This is a great way to include this supplement in your diet, especially if you don’t like the slightly gritty texture!
You can consume this MCT powder at any time of day. Use it first thing in the morning or just before bed; it’s your choice.
It takes around 15 minutes to be digested. If you’re using it as a fitness-aid, drink it around 15 minutes before you begin your workout to be fueled and focused when you need it most.
Ingredients
NutraBio have listed the ingredients included in NutraBio MCT Powder on the label… in a fashion.
You’ll need to check the entire tub label to learn exactly how many MCTs are included in each serving of NutraBio MCT Powder. As this information isn’t included in the main ingredients table.
We’re not sure why. You need to look at this table instead:
Bear with us while we do the math for a moment. We know there are 9g of powder per serving, and a total of 6.7g of MCTs within it.
Which means it’s made up of approximately 74.5% MCTs. Of these, 3.7g are C8 and 1.9g C10, considered the most ‘useful’ MCTs.
You also have 1.1g of ‘other MCTs’, but it hasn’t specified which ones. Of course, there are only two other MCTs – C6 and C12.
C6 can be useful but most experts believe C12 has very limited uses and disagree on whether it’s even an MCT.
We’re assuming the 1.1g is a mix of the two or else NutraBio would surely have promoted its C6 as well.
Powders are never as ‘pure’ as MCT oils; typical powder ratios can vary between 50-80% so the 74.5% MCTs in NutraBio MCT Powder is near the top end of the scale.
It does still mean that you’re sacrificing your MCTs, however, just to enjoy them in powder form.
As an example, if you opted for a quality MCT oil instead – such as Performance Lab MCT – you would be getting 12.2g of MCTs per serving, a significant difference.
The rest of this formula is made up of soluble corn fiber, sodium caseinate, sunflower lecithin and sodium dioxide.
It’s impossible to keep MCTs in a powdered form without adding some other ingredients to the product.
NutraBio use soluble corn fiber as a low-sugar, high-fiber bulking agent. It’s fairly low in carbohydrates and won’t affect the MCTs.
They also use sunflower lecithin to instantize the MCT powder whereas other companies use soy. This ensures NutraBio MCT powder is soy-free.
NutraBio MCT Powder Benefits
The benefits of this MCT powder tend to be generic to MCTs as a whole. For example:
Weight Loss
MCT powders and oils are commonly used as a natural weight-loss supplement.
Despite being high in calories, they could promote weight loss and help you achieve your fitness.
Many people swear by MCTs when dieting but they’re not a shortcut to a slimmer body.
To effectively lose weight, you should be consuming slightly fewer calories than your body is using. You should ideally be working out too.
MCTs can aid weight loss, but they won’t cause the pounds to drop off without these healthy lifestyle changes.
There have been various scientific studies into MCTs and weight loss. One study found that participants lost, on average, -1.7kg of body weight.
The participants were consuming a fairly high dose of MCTs daily, around 20g. This is equivalent to 3 scoops of NutraBio Powder MCT.
You might be wondering how MCTs can promote weight loss.
Here’s a quick look at three different scientifically-backed explanations of how taking an MCT powder or oil could help you get in shape:
Decreased Appetite
Various studies have shown that taking MCTs increases the levels of leptin and peptide YY in your blood, two hormones that regulate our appetite.
Taking NutraBio MCT Powder could help you to curb your appetite, causing you to eat less and lose weight naturally.
The Thermogenic Effect
The chemical processes inside our cells generate heat, enough to keep our core body temperature stable at 98.6°F (37°C).
Breaking down food in the digestive system creates most of this heat – this is called the thermogenic effect and it’s directly linked to your metabolism.
MCTs are considered a thermogenic supplement, as they can increase your metabolism and potentially help you lose weight.
Fewer Calories than Long-Chain Fatty Acids
Fats are high in calories and MCTs are no exception. One scoop of powder contains 60 calories which may seem counterintuitive to losing weight.
However, MCT Powders are lower in calories than other fats like coconut oil.
Our bodies have evolved to store fat. It keeps our internal organs protected and keeps us alive when food isn’t available.
In modern times, we don’t need to store as much fat yet many of us are still overweight – around 40% of Americans are currently overweight or obese.
Taking an MCT powder, as an alternative to other fats, could help you lose weight.
Health Benefits
MCT Powders are associated with a multitude of different health benefits.
Although they are often taken to aid weight loss, they can improve other aspects of your health as well. Such as:
Lower Cholesterol
MCTs could improve your heart health. In various studies, MCTs have been shown to decrease levels of cholesterol in our blood.
Having too much cholesterol can damage blood vessels by making them fatty and inefficient. This is directly linked to your risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD).
More research is needed to confirm these results, but they certainly look promising to us.
Lower Blood Sugars
Studies have also shown that MCTs can lower blood sugars, even in insulin-resistant diabetics.
Many overweight people have high blood sugar levels – this puts a strain on your blood vessels and can cause a range of health problems like heart disease and kidney disease.
MCTs could mitigate this risk and potentially increase insulin sensitivity too.
If you do have diabetes, talk to your physician before taking NutraBio MCT Powder.
May Improve Brain Function
Taking MCT Powder could prevent neurodegeneration from occurring in Alzheimer’s patients, but research into this is currently limited.
Nobody knows for sure if MCTs can improve brain function in otherwise healthy people – we should know for sure in the next few years so watch this space!
Improve Physical Performance
Yes, you read that right. MCTs could help you exercise more efficiently and reach your fitness goals sooner.
A study, published in a leading journal, found that MCTs increased mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism in people.
In plain English, this means that taking MCTs could increase the number of mitochondria in your cells.
These are tiny biological power stations that create a type of energy used in muscle contractions and other important processes.
Taking NutraBio MCT Powder could improve the speed and efficiency of these muscle contractions, helping you run faster, lift heavier and just work out better.
NutraBio MCT Powder Formula Analysis
NutraBio is vegetarian and according to their website, free from BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or mad cow disease).
Their website doesn’t state where they source their ingredients from, but we can’t understand how a cow-related product could be used in a vegetarian supplement.
It’s not vegan – so it may contain an animal product, although we’re not sure how this is possible as there are no animal-based products listed in the ingredients.
It may simply be a marketing ploy to make the product sound better, though if so, mentioning it at all is a bit confusing.
According to their website, NutraBio MCT Powder contains ‘Zero net carbs’.
They’ve decided that the 1g of fiber per serving counteracts the 1g of carbs, meaning, there are in effect, no carbohydrates in this product.
They’re legally allowed to make this claim but it’s not entirely true, as this product does contain carbohydrates.
It’s only available in one size – a big 1lb (545g) tub. It contains 45 servings which are enough to last most people a month or two.
We’d like to see this product available in smaller sizes to give people more choice over their powder size.
Some other reviewers of this product have made a few complaints about this product, saying it’s hard to blend (even in hot drinks!) and tastes gritty.
Which is probably why the manufacturer recommends using a shaker to mix it.
Who Takes It?
MCT powders are popular supplements among athletes and bodybuilders.
This is because they are relatively high in calories so can be used to provide energy during exercise.
Pregnant women and anyone with serious digestive problems should consult their physician before taking an MCT powder.
Want to see the best MCT Oils?
Click here now
Any Potential Side Effects with NutraBio MCT Powder?
MCT Powders are generally well tolerated by the body, although minor side effects can occur, digestive problems like diarrhea, for instance.
This is because NutraBio MCT Powder is high in MTCs as well as dietary fiber, containing 1g of the stuff per scoop.
Side effects are more apparent when large amounts of MCT powder are consumed.
If you’re only using one or two scoops daily, you’re unlikely to experience any major side effects.
None of the ingredients in this product are known to cause serious problems.
Compared with other fitness supplements on the market, like fat burners and energy boosters, MCTs are relatively safe.
They’re well tolerated by the body as we’ve evolved to consume and digest different triglycerides (fats).
NutraBio MCT Powder Summary
Pros:
- Good value for money
- Contains both C8 and C10 MCTs
- Made from coconuts
- Easy to purchase worldwide
- Strong plastic container
Cons:
- Too many additional ingredients
- Not vegan-friendly (but suitable for vegetarians)
- Only available in one size
- No flavour options
- No single sachets for easier use
- MCT content rounded out by the ‘lesser MCTs’
Pricing & Where to Buy
You can get your hands on a 1lb (454g) tub of NutraBio MCT Powder for around $25.00.
If you buy this product directly from the manufacturer, expect to pay slightly more.
Many online retailers sell this supplement – it’s refreshing how easy it is to buy NutraBio MCT Powder.
As we mentioned earlier, however, there is another version of this supplement available.
Avoid buying from GNC, for instance, as this version of the formula contains 60% MCTs and 40% maltodextrin – meaning you get slightly less MCTs per serving. (Assuming their literature is correct)
NutraBio MCT Powder Review
In our opinion, NutraBio MCT Powder is a good product, but it isn’t without its flaws.
The packaging could be clearer when describing the amount of each ingredient included.
It delivers a good dose of MCTs per scoop but contains less MCTs than some other supplement powders and much less than quality MCT oils like the Performance Lab MCT mentioned before.
At this price though, you can’t moan. This is a decent MCT powder for the everyday Joe – it’s cheap and contains good quality MCTs.
Because of the additional ingredients used to bulk out this powder, it may not be a good supplement for pro-athletes or anyone on a strict diet.
We give credit to NutraBio for producing its supplements in an FDA inspected facility and for earning a cGMP certificate.
Props too for being gluten-free, GMO-free, containing no maltodextrin or sugar, and for agreeing to publicly release 3rd party lab test results on its supplements.
You can find these by visiting CheckMySupps.com and putting in your product lot number. We would, of course, prefer these test results to be free for everyone before buying the product.
If you’re looking to purchase an MCT powder, this is an affordable and accessible supplement that could benefit a wide range of people.
If you’re looking for more MCTs for your buck, however, you’d be better off considering an MCT oil.
As mentioned above, our favourite is Performance Lab MCT which is tripled filtered to only contain 100% MCTs – C8 and C10, and nothing else.
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