CBD and Keto Diet: Is CBD Keto Diet Friendly?

Both CBD and keto diet have been recently hot conversational topics. With an equal share of supporters and non-believers, these subjects have also polarized our society and became the focal point of multiple articles. With more and more people joining these popular trends, taking a closer look at them seems like a worthwhile affair. One aspect especially worthy of our attention is the effect of CBD-infused products on the keto diet. Are they harmful or beneficial? Do they support a strict eating pattern or completely destroy it? If you wish to find out answers to these questions and more, read on.

What Are CBD and Keto Diet?

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive component of cannabis that is a renowned anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It is often used to treat various ailments such as chronic pain, anxiety, sleep disorders, and depression. These properties are believed to be the result of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) activation caused by CBD in the human body.

The ECS has been proven to have an extensive influence on our overall health as it is responsible for regulating various physiological processes in the human body. These processes include appetite, digestion, immunity, sleep cycles, memory, and mood. What’s more, CBD can also affect the ECS directly by stimulating cannabinoid receptors – CB1 and CB2. If you think that CBD can help treat your ailments you can Contact PrimaBee.com and get a full list of all their wonderful products.

On the other hand, the keto diet is a nutrition regimen that focuses on restricting carbohydrates and consuming foods high in fat and protein. The name comes from the process of producing ketones in the liver, which is a mechanism of burning fat instead of carbohydrates. This process is known as ketosis.

Can CBD Help You Reach Ketosis?

Before we focus on the effects of CBD and keto diet on each other, let’s see if taking CBD products actually helps one achieve ketosis easier. CBD is known to inhibit the enzyme responsible for breaking down fatty acids into glycerol and free fatty acids (β-oxidation), it may support ketone production, however, proof of this theory is still lacking. It was found that CBD interfered with the breakdown of triglycerides into their molecular components. This way the compound protected the liver from toxic effects of lipids and decreased oxidation in the liver directly. However, this procedure has nothing in common with the ketogenic diet as it does not involve burning fats for fuel.

A study conducted at California Pacific Medical Center found that CBD helped increase the level of ketone bodies in the blood plasma significantly. More specifically, it increased beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels by 5–10 times more compared to the control group. However, it is important to emphasize that this effect occurred only when administered prior to a meal. As such, this fact has little bearing on keto diet followers who do not consume their daily meals in a regimented manner.

Another study conducted at Vanderbilt University revealed that CBD slowed down glucose metabolism in mice subjects who were fed a high-fat diet rich in calories and carbohydrates. This way it was able to prevent weight gain in these rodents by inhibiting insulin secretion and increasing insulin sensitivity. This means that CBD can help you lower your insulin levels and lose weight if taken with a high-calorie meal rich in carbs and fat. However, this effect depends on how much CBD you consume at once, so there is no guarantee that it will work for you if you are already following a strict keto diet.

CBD can also activate the CB2 receptors in the ECS which are responsible for regulating glucose metabolism in humans. As a result, they can lower the amount of glucose produced by the liver and enhance insulin sensitivity. Therefore, they can reduce the chances of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity caused by insulin resistance. But again, this effect only occurs when taken after a meal and does not have any bearing on CBD’s influence on keto dieters.

So far, there is no substantial evidence to prove that taking CBD-infused products helps one enter ketosis easier or faster than without them. Although there are some studies that have shown positive results, most of them failed to prove direct links between CBD and ketone development in humans.

How Does CBD Work With Keto Diet?

Now that we have established the fact that CBD will not help you lose weight easily, nor help you enter ketosis by itself, let’s focus on its influence on the keto diet. As stated before, taking CBD-infused products after a meal helps slow down glucose metabolism and prevent weight gain in those who consume a lot of calories and carbs. It also helps block the breakdown of triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids in the liver, which lowers their toxic effects on this organ. Finally, it can increase insulin sensitivity and help patients regulate their blood sugar levels as well as reduce the chances of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity.

All these facts make CBD a great addition to the keto diet but they do not guarantee that you will notice any weight loss or other benefits faster than without it. The reason for this is simple – CBD does not directly affect the ECS and ketone production in the human body. What it does is help one reach the desired level of ketosis safely by maintaining a healthy weight, lowering glucose levels after a meal, and improving insulin sensitivity. However, it does not directly stimulate ketone production or reduce appetite as it is believed to do with other diets.

CBD and Keto Diet: An Ultimate Combination?

So far, we have established that CBD will help you on the keto diet by regulating your blood glucose levels and reducing fat accumulation in the liver while also increasing insulin sensitivity. These are all essential factors if you want to achieve ketosis without drastically changing your lifestyle. However, there are some things that you should know before consuming CBD products on the keto diet.

First of all, CBD can interact with certain medications, so consulting your doctor is a must before starting a new regimen. It can also cause side effects such as dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, and dry mouth. Moreover, you should never mix CBD products with alcohol or other drugs – especially those that lower one’s blood pressure or epileptic medications.

Finally, remember that CBD works best when taken with a high-fat meal and has no effect on its own. Therefore, you should take your dose only after your breakfast and lunch and avoid eating too much fat or carb-rich snacks until then.

Summing Up

In conclusion, CBD does not work for everyone so always consult with your doctor before starting any new regimen. It can also interact with various medications so be careful about what you take. Finally, remember that CBD may seem ineffective if taken alone. This means that it works best when taken with a high-fat meal or right before a high-calorie meal rich in carbs and fat.

Is CBD Keto Diet Friendly? The Verdict Is Out!

So far, there is no substantial proof that CBD helps with keto dieting. If taken on its own, this drug will do little to help you lose weight or enter ketosis. This way it is not the best choice for keto dieters despite its numerous health benefits. If you are someone who suffers from anxiety, depression, inflammation, or any kind of pain CBD can help you with those ailments as well and might be worth checking out.