Is CBD keto friendly? Whatever your reasons for taking CBD oil, you don’t need to worry about it ruining your keto diet. Here we will take you through everything you need to know about CDB and keto, including some studies that actually suggest that they may complement one another, read on to find out why.
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The Benefits Of CBD Oil On Keto
If you are here, you are no doubt already aware of the amazing health benefits of the keto diet, so we will not go through these any further here.
However, there are a number of health benefits that can be realized with CBD (cannabidiol) that may help and complement your keto journey.
CBD is a compound made from the cannabis plant, your body already naturally produces a level of cannabinoids. Don’t worry CBD oil does not have the psychoactive effects that are associated with ‘weed’ i.e. the leaf of the cannabis plant.
Here are some of the main health benefits of CBD that complement keto.
Reduced Inflammation
There have been several studies that have linked the use of CBD oil with the reduction in inflammation in the joints. This is also one of the documented side effects of the keto diet.
If you are somebody who suffers from inflammation, you will be well aware of the discomfort and in some cases, severe pain and sometimes chronic pain that this can cause.
Not only is there a physical response to pain, but there is also an emotional response.
When we are in pain, we are not normally in a mental state to look after ourselves, be it through what we eat or what we do.
If CBD and keto combined can assist by having an anti-inflammatory effect on our bodies, the possibilities become so much greater as to what we can achieve.
Here are some of the potential benefits of CBD and the keto diet, similar benefits will be true if you are eating a low-carb, high-fat diet.
Increased Mobility
With reduced inflammation and less pain potentially comes increased mobility. If you are in moving more you will be increasing your endorphins, which in turn will make you feel better in yourself.
We all know that when you feel better, you are more inclined to do more (move more) and are more likely to be interested in the food that you are putting into your body to fuel it.
What this means is that you are more likely to stick to the keto diet as the combination of CBD and keto will be working for you.
You may also feel up to exercising on keto, which will speed up your weight loss and health progress.
Improve Mood
As we have discussed above, if CBD and keto are helping to reduce inflammation in the joints and you are able to move more freely, your mood is going to be better.
CBD has also been linked with reducing stress. It impacts on your serotonin 5HT1A receptor. This helps your body control feeling such as anxiety and stress better.
Losing weight through the keto diet is also likely to improve your mood as you feel that you are in control of your life and health. This can be particularly prominent for those that have suffered with their weight their whole life.
When you are less stressed and feel in control you are more likely to be able to focus and succeed on your keto diet.
CBD And Keto To Improve Sleep
Both CBD and keto have been linked to improving the quality of REM sleep that individuals can get.
Feeling less stress and anxiety, as well as less pain, is likely to lead to you being able to fall asleep easier, meaning that you will get to sleep quicker and are less likely to wake up in pain, or out of stress.
More REM sleep means that your body has more opportunities to repair itself.
Again this is another way that CBD and keto can complement one another.
CBD Can Be A Good Source Of Fat
Depending on the carrier oil that is used in the production of CBD oil, it may be a good source of fat, which is of benefit for a keto diet.
As you can see there are a number of positive effects that can be attributed to CBD and keto.
Nutritional Value Of CBD Oil
The nutritional value of CBD oil per teaspoon (15 ml) is as follows;
- Carbs: 0 grams.
- Protein: 0 grams.
- Fat: 13.5 grams.
- Fiber: 0 grams.
- Sugar: 0 grams.
- Calories: 121 cal
As with all products, please read the label before purchasing, some CBD oils will add additional flavors which may alter these nutritional values and therefore alter their suitability for a keto diet.
Net Carbs In CBD Oil
CBD oil has zero carbs and zero fiber. This means that CBD oil has zero net carbs, which is good for a keto lifestyle.
CBD Oil Combined With Keto For Weight Loss
Although the science behind the effects of CBD and CBD combined with keto is relatively new, early indications are promising.
The combination of CBD and keto could be a productive one when it comes to weight loss.
A study in 2016 identified that CBD oil was found to increase markers associated with unhealthy white fat and convert them into healthier brown fats AND that the CBD increased the metabolism of fat cells.
There is also information to suggest that CBD oil may boost the metabolism and help regulate appetite, this is complementary to the keto diet, which does exactly the same.
The combination and CBD and keto could finally help people achieve their weight loss goals as well as having a number of potential health benefits.
CBD Can Reduce The Symptoms Of The Keto Flu
Anybody on keto will be aware of the keto flu and the side effects of this. In the early stages of transitioning into ketosis can see people having headaches, nausea, and other symptoms.
CBD oil can help reduce these symptoms, making transitioning into ketosis easier, and making people more likely to stick with the keto diet.
So, Is CBD Oil Keto Friendly?
Yes, CBD oil is keto friendly. CBD oil does not contain carbs or sugars, meaning that it will not kick you out of ketosis. There is even evidence to support that CBD oils may actually complement a keto diet.
If we go back to the core of the keto diet, it is that we eat a diet that follows the following macros;
- 70% Fat
- 25% Protein
- 5% Carbohydrates
The goal is to ensure that those 5% carbohydrates do not exceed 20 grams per day. If we are eating 20 grams of carbs a day or fewer, our body should reach a state of ketosis. At the point of ketosis, blood sugar and insulin level should be regulated.
For more on the basics of keto, check out our keto beginners guide.
Ketosis is where the metabolism switches from burning carbs as its fuel source, to burning fat for energy, as that is all that is available for the body as all of the glucose (carbohydrate) stores have been depleted.
This is when we will start to see the health benefits which are associated with the keto diet.
A discussed above, if you are intent on using CBD oil on the keto diet, you will need to be aware of the nutritional values of the CBD oil that you are using. Ensure that it is not full of sugars and ingredients that are likely to knock you out of ketosis and undo the hard work that you have done.
Frequently Asked Question about CBD and Keto
Final Thoughts
CBD oil can certainly be used in conjunction with the keto diet. For some, the combination of CBD and keto will be what they need for a quality of life that they have not been accustomed to in the past.
