CBD and Keto: Do They Work Well Together?

There are a couple of ways you can consume CBD oil. CBD gummies, capsules, and tinctures are efficient CBD consumption methods that work differently. For example, CBD tinctures take 10-15 minutes to kick in, while CBD gummies and capsules take 30-45 minutes. CBD gummies and capsules take longer to begin working because the gut must process them. However, they can last for 2-6 hours, making them efficient and cost-effective

CBD can be infused in foods and drinks such as cocktails. In recent years, many people have begun exploring how CBD can be used with keto and its effectiveness. A ketogenic diet is said to have various wellness benefits on your overall health. In this article, we shall take a closer look at the ketogenic diet, how CBD works together with the keto diet, whether CBD is keto-friendly, as well as the benefits and possible risks of a ketogenic diet

What Is the Keto Diet?

A keto diet consists of a diet that has high fats and low carbohydrates. The keto diet helps the body enter a state where it continually burns fats. This state is known as ketosis. During this state, your body is deprived of glucose (sugar), the body's primary energy source. When glucose is limited, your body can burn more fat efficiently. This helps in producing energy molecules known as ketones.

Carbohydrates are normally restricted to 50g per day. The keto diet is used for the short term but works effectively for the body because it helps burn fast and rejuvenates the muscles and digestive system.

It is important to remember that ketosis may also lead to increased hunger levels and weight loss.

Low Carbohydrate Foods Used During Keto

• Nuts
• Eggs
• Avocadoes
• Fish
• Dark chocolate
• Cheese
• Red and white meat

Understanding CBD

CBD is a non-psychoactive chemical compound found in hemp. It is a cannabinoid, among several other cannabinoids in hemp. Additionally, cannabis also has another plant strain known as marijuana. Hemp and marijuana have varying levels of similar cannabinoids. For example, marijuana has higher THC levels, while hemp has higher amounts of CBD.

CBD is known to have various therapeutic properties. CBD has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce muscle pain and inflammation. Atalay, Jarocka-Karpowicz,  & Skrzydlewska (2020) suggested that CBD has anti-oxidant properties that reduce fine lines and wrinkles on the skin by stabilizing free radicals, which cause skin damage.

Why CBD Oil and Keto Work Well Together

As mentioned, CBD oil and keto help the body in various ways due to their medicinal and therapeutic properties. Keto and CBD oil also share some therapeutic effects, and when used together, they exhibit a synergic effect that boosts the therapeutic properties of CBD oil and keto. Therefore, as CBD oil enhances the effects of keto, keto also enhances the effects of CBD.

Reducing Inflammation

According to Watt & Karl (2017), CBD has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce muscle pain and inflammation. Both CBD and keto reduce inflammation, although in different ways. CBD oil interacts with the endocannabinoid receptors, such as CB1 receptors in the brain and the spine. They regulate sleep, mood, emotional response, pain control, and immune response.

Storoni & Plant (2015) suggested that ketogenic diets also help reduce inflammation because the ketones that emerge from the high fat, low car diet inhibit the immune response that causes inflammation.

Neuroprotective Properties

Campos et al. (2017) suggested that CBD oil helps reduce symptoms of neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. CBD oil also helps in the treatment of epilepsy.

A keto diet also works hand in hand with CBD to reduce symptoms of neurological diseases. The diet works efficiently because it produces enough energy while reducing fat. Also, the diet has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant effects, and protection against cell death

CBD also works similarly because it has anti-inflammatory properties. It binds with CB1 receptors, which leads to the transmission of impulses that reduce inflammation in the body.

Reducing Weight

Being overweight can cause several diseases and disorders: diabetes, cancer, kidney failure, coronary heart disease, and osteoarthritis, among other diseases.

Losing weight is not much of an easy task. However, that does not mean that you cannot simplify your process in a manner that encourages you to live a healthier lifestyle.

A ketonic diet helps in burning out fats and increasing energy levels. On the other hand, CBD is known to have anti-obesity effects, which help strip the body of excess fats.

There are two types of fat cells in the body:

Brown Fat Cells

They are ready to be burnt off but contain large amounts of energy. It is easier to lose weight if your body has many brown fat cells.

White Fat Cells

These cells store energy and provide insulation to parts of your body against extreme weather conditions and other external factors.

The process of converting white fat cells into brown fat cells is called browning. Therefore, CBD is known to help with browning fat cells, making it easier for a person to lose weight.

During ketosis, the body has depleted the carbohydrates it would burn to yield energy. Therefore, the body opts to use fat and convert it into energy. CBD helps in increasing brown fat cells, which helps reduce weight faster.

CBD oil and a keto diet also benefit those with type 2 diabetes. This is because excess body fat is connected to blood sugar imbalance. Therefore, using CBD oil and a keto diet to lose weight helps strip these excess fasts and restore blood sugar.

Possible Risks of a Keto Diet

Eliminating certain food groups while aiming to strip away fats by prioritizing carbohydrates has various side effects. They include:

• Brain fog
• Bad breath
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Irritability
• Headaches

Summary

More people find new, innovative ways to incorporate CBD into their diets. CBD can be infused in foods and drinks such as cocktails. Moreover, CBD can be used together with a keto diet. They certainly could be a good match, given that they complement each other perfectly and have similar therapeutic properties. For example, CBD and keto diets have anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce muscle pains and inflammation. Additionally, CBD and keto diets help alleviate symptoms of neurological disorders like Alzheimer's. Also, they help in reducing weight. This is more convenient for people who have type 2 diabetes because using a CBD oil and keto diet helps in stripping off excess fats which cause blood sugar imbalance

References

Atalay, S., Jarocka-Karpowicz, I., & Skrzydlewska, E. (2020). Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of cannabidiol. Antioxidants, 9(1), 21.

Campos, A. C., Fogaça, M. V., Scarante, F. F., Joca, S. R., Sales, A. J., Gomes, F. V., ... & Guimarães, F. S. (2017). Plastic and neuroprotective mechanisms involved in the therapeutic effects of cannabidiol in psychiatric disorders. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 269.

Storoni, M., & Plant, G. T. (2015). The therapeutic potential of the ketogenic diet in treating progressive multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis international, 2015.

Watt, G., & Karl, T. (2017). In vivo evidence for therapeutic properties of cannabidiol (CBD) for Alzheimer's disease. Frontiers in pharmacology, 8, 20.