CBD and Keto Diet: The Perfect Combination
“Low carb, high fat” may give you the gist of it, but if you’re looking to safely and effectively enhance your keto regiment with compounds like CBD, it’s helpful to take a closer look at the science.
“Keto” refers to the state of ketosis, in which the body (most essentially, the liver) trains itself in the absence of carbohydrates to derive energy from compounds called ketones, which it metabolizes from fat.
Because there are many intermediary steps involved in this process, not every low-carb, high-fat food source may “play well” with keto, as some additives can impair the liver’s ability to convert the fat to ketones.
In the case of CBD (cannabidiol) and keto, the science is giving a measured, yet definitive thumbs up for a number of reasons – here’s why.
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Macro Trackers, Rejoice!
We’ll tackle the most obvious point first: cannabidiol and the carrier oils it is commonly delivered in (MCT oil, coconut oil, and extra virgin olive oil to name a few) are typically very low in carbohydrates and rich in fat.
And not just any fat, mind you; extra virgin olive oil especially is loaded with healthy monounsaturated fat, which delivers a host of health benefits even outside the keto potential.
Medium-chain-triglyceride oil (MCT) is also a keto mainstay, as MCT molecules are smaller and thereby easier to digest in a shorter amount of time than most of the fats we eat.
But we can’t let carrier oils hog all the glory when it comes to keeping the weight off and the muscle on, because CBD itself has shown some “anti-obesity” properties through its interactions with cannabinoid receptors (particularly, CB1), as indicated by this Frontiers In Endocrinology study and many others.
Enhance Your Keto “Gains” (Fat Loss) With CBD
A reasonable consideration when one has put down the pasta fork in exchange for a diet of avocados, butter, and other fatty delights is whether or not the weight loss benefits of ketosis will be able to outpace all the extra fat you’re now eating.
Aside from the all-important influence of exercise (seriously, it’s the difference maker), strategic supplementation with low-carb options like CBD can help the fat burning furnace run hotter.
This is thanks to the fascinating ability of cannabidiol to induce “browning in 3T3-L1 adipocytes [a type of fat cell],” claims this study from Daegu University in Korea.
Where white fat cells like 3T3-L1 adipocytes are much more content to park on your frame than to burn themselves off, brown adipocytes are much more readily broken down, which is why this tendency of CBD is good news for both keto dieters and, really, anyone looking to drop a few.
Keto and CBD: Brain Health Wonder Twins
Dieting isn’t the only arena in which the keto diet and CBD can team up for synergistic benefits, as the brain stands to potentially benefit from this pairing as well.
For decades, keto diets or similar permutations have been used to manage epilepsy because of the proven association between (low) carbohydrate intake and (decreased) seizure frequency.
Ketosis can also provide neuroprotective benefits to those with Alzheimer’s disease, suggests this study in Biological Aging, as the recorded concentrations of a compound (beta-hydroxybutyrate) resulting from MCT oil metabolism was shown to improve memory.
In saunters CBD, boasting a similar suite of brain-boosting benefits, thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties behooving not only the above populations, but everyone else as well.
Put them together, and the CBD/keto combination yields a bounty of pro-brain-health compounds that can facilitate healthy brain development, reduce the impact of stressors and/or inflammation, and even go toe-to-toe with major neurological disorders.
A Note To First-Timers
It’s official: keto loves CBD, and CBD loves keto.
In all seriousness, we always recommend consulting with your physician about either or both of these topics if you intend to try them or if you have any questions.
With consistency, exercise, and the right CBD product you can find using our CBD Near Me page, you can turn good results into great results.
