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Gain Weight And Add Muscle SizeGain Weight And Add Muscle Size Every bodybuilders dream is a supplement that can allow you to gain weight and add muscle without being stored as fat. There is just that supplement that aids muscular gains and it's called a medium chain fatty acid (MCFA). MCFAs were first introduced in the 1950's for the treatment of patients with problems absorbing conventional fats. Ever since then, MCT oil has been used in hospitals feeding programs. Ever since this caught the fancy of all bodybuilders that were looking to gain weight and add muscle. Therefore, now it is sold in food stores as a performance enhancing supplement for athletes, body builders and other active people. MCFA'S are lipids, refined from coconut through a special extraction process. Since, these are extracted from coconut, they are cholesterol free and do not have any of the adverse qualities associated with tropical oils. The molecular structure of MCFAs is quite different from conventional fats such as margarine, butter, and vegetable oils, giving them some very unique properties. These are ideal for athletes looking to gain weight and add muscle. Fat Metabolism Understanding the function of fats in the body is important to fathom the differences between MCFAs and other fats. Conventional fat and body fat are called long-chain triglycerides (LCTs) as they are constructed of long fatty acid groups of 12 or more carbon atoms. On the other hand, MCFAs contain fatty acid groups with chains of 6, 8, or 10 carbon atoms. Therefore, MFAs have a shorter molecular structure, because of which they are metabolized in an entirely different manner than conventional fats. These are ideal when seeking to gain weight and add muscle. LCTs being oily substances are not very water soluble and not suitable for muscular gains. Therefore, they have to go through an elaborate and slow moving process in the body before being used for energy. They are dissolved in the small intestine by the action of enzymes and bile acids into tiny fat droplets. These droplets are then wrapped in special protein blankets by the cells in the intestinal walls. After this, they are transported to the Lymphatic system which later joins the bloodstream. From there, the fat goes to the liver for further breakdown. From the liver, these enter the bloodstream and are either burnt as fuel or stored as body fat in fat cells. These therefore, do not contribute to gain weight and add muscle. On the other hand, fat that is stored exits the fat cell, travels through the bloodstream and enters the liver - from there it gets converted back to a fatty acid. It then reenters the bloodstream to undergo the chemical reactions involved in energy production. However, MCFAs do not require such a complicated digestive process. Because MFAs are more water soluble when compared to LCTs - they are better suited to gain weight and add muscle. MCFAs can be absorbed intact and do not require to be dissolved by enzymes or wrapped in protein blankets. They are transported directly to the liver by the portal vein. Therefore, MFAs do not require to through the lymphatic system. As a thumb rule, MCFAs have very little tendency to be stored as body fat and are therefore an ideal gaining mass supplement for bodybuilders and athletes who are looking to gain weight and add muscle. |