Many of the keto diet benefits are the same benefits you will receive from taking a CBD regimen. For those looking to boost their overall health, adding CBD to their keto diet can be a helpful tool to their success for weight loss, reduction of inflammation, and neuroprotective properties.
When you cross-reference the perks of the keto diet and the benefits of CBD, you will see several of the same results. This means when the two are used together, it is likely keto will enhance the benefits of CBD and CBD will enhance the keto diet. Let’s learn more!
What is the Keto diet?
The ketogenic or keto diet has become a hot topic in the health and wellness world. The keto diet is a very low-carb, high-fat diet. Basically, you drastically reduce your carbohydrate intake and replace it with fat. This change places your body in ketosis, making your body burn fat cells for energy.
What are the benefits of the Keto diet?
The metabolic state of ketosis helps your body become incredibly efficient at burning off fat for energy use. It also helps turn fat in to keytones in the liver, this can aid in supplying much-needed energy to the brain. Many studies and research shows that the keto diet can aid tremendously with weight loss and help improve health in many ways. Ketogenic diets can also cause significant reductions in blood sugar levels. Following the keto diet involves limiting carbohydrates consumption at approximately 20 – 50 carbs per day, and filling up on healthy fats such as meats, eggs, nuts, and cooking with healthy oils.
Keto Diet Health Benefits
The keto diet originated as a tool for treating neurological disorders, such as seizure disorders. However, through much research, and many studies, it has been found to aid with many ailments.
Heart Disease
The keto diet can help reduce body weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar. Reducing all of these things can aid in reducing heart disease.
Epilepsy
Research has shown the keto diet can aid in a significant reduction in seizure activity, especially in epileptic children. The keto diet forces the body to burn fat instead of carbohydrates for energy, this produces ketones. It is thought that having a high level of ketones in their blood helps reduce the amount and severity of their seizures.
Parkinson’s Disease
One study concluded that the keto diet helped improve or lessen the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Among the symptoms that improved were resting tremor, freezing, balance, gait, mood, and energy level.
However, keep in mind the research into these medical areas is far from conclusive. Research and studies can take many years to conclude this diet is beneficial in a medical manner.
Good Foods for the Keto Diet
It is best to base your keto diet around whole, single-ingredient foods. Processed foods are often unhealthy and add unwanted carbs and unhealthy fats to your daily diet.
Meats
Steak, ham, bacon, turkey, and chicken are all great options for the keto diet, or even fatty fish such as tuna, mackerel, trout, and salmon. These options are all low or no-carb meats, with the addition of healthy fats.
Dairy
Eggs, grass-fed butter, heavy cream, and unprocessed cheese such as cheddar, mozzarella, blue, and goat cheese are all low-carb, high-fat options for the keto diet. Add them to your favorite meat or side for more flavor, or use them as a snack in between meals.
Nuts and Seeds
There is a variety of nuts and seeds that are a great snack option for the keto diet. Pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, almonds, walnuts, etc. are high fat, low, or no-carb options. You can add them to an entree or simply snack on them between meals.
Healthy Oils
Cooking and frying with healthy oils is always a benefit to your health. Some oils have the potential to aid in weight loss. Extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil are two great choices for cooking.
Low Carb Veggies
Tomatoes, onions, peppers, and green vegetables such as spinach, kale, green beans, and broccoli are all healthy choices to add to your keto diet. These veggies add fiber and micronutrients to your diet.
Foods to Avoid While on the Keto Diet
Sugary foods
Sugary foods such as fruit juice, soda, cake, ice cream, and candy should be avoided while on a keto diet. While most of these items are high fat, they contain a large amount of sugar. sugar slows metabolism and can zap energy from the body.
Grains, starch, beans, and lentils
High carb items such as rice, pasta, bread peas, kidney beans, lentils, etc are foods you should reduce or avoid while on the keto diet. Even in small amounts, carbohydrates are high in these foods. Root vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and carrots are also high-carb foods that should be avoided.
Vegetable oil and unhealthy fats
Vegetable oil and shortening are unhealthy fats that are easily oxidized omega 6 fatty acids. These are bad for metabolism, weight regulation, and can cause inflammation in the body.
You can eat a wide variety of nutritious and tasty meals on a keto diet. It is not all meats and fats, vegetables play an important role in the diet as well. Most seasoning, salt, pepper, and other herbs do not contain carbs, so you can season your food the way you wish. It’s all about limiting carbohydrate intake.
What is CBD?
CBD is one of the many compounds, known as cannabinoids, that occur naturally in the cannabis or hemp plant. Many people use CBD for its reported medical and recreational uses. It stands out from the rest of the cannabinoids because it delivers many potential benefits without fears of psychoactive effects, unlike THC, which is the psychoactive cannabinoid that’s responsible for the “high” experienced by marijuana users.
CBD comes in many forms, including oils, gummies, soft gels, and topical preparations for use on the skin. If you’re hoping to reduce inflammation or relieve muscle and joint pain, a topical CBD-infused oil, lotion, or cream – or even a bath bomb — may be the best option. Alternatively, a CBD oil designed to be placed under the tongue allows CBD to directly enter the bloodstream. CBD oil offers more of a widespread relief for more ailments.
CBD is currently available in many different forms, all of which offer similar effects. Many users of CBD products find that they help promote better sleep and reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety. They can also help with pain relief, among many other potential benefits.
Adding CBD to the Keto Diet
For those people looking to take charge of their health and wellness, adding CBD to the keto diet can be a helpful tool. When you look at the perks of the keto diet and CBD oil benefits, there are some interesting finds that show keto may enhance CBD and likewise, CBD may enhance keto.
Does CBD Boost Metabolism
CBD may also help increase the body’s metabolism. An increase in your metabolism can help your body burn more calories and fat than how much food you consume. When you ingest CBD for some time, changes start happening inside your body starting with your endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is responsible for performing many metabolic functions such as storing energy. When you take CBD, you trigger the receptors to perform various functions such as reducing appetite, influencing the conversion of white fat to brown fat, and reducing the likelihood of metabolic disorders.
CBD Plus the Keto Diet for Common Ailments
CBD, Keto, and Weight Management
Weight loss is the most common reason to start a keto diet. CBD has also been linked to weight management. CBD can help prepare your fat cells to store energy. The keto diet helps your body burn fat cells instead of carbs for energy. So, in turn, taking CBD while on a keto diet may aid in burning fat cells quicker, to help you reach your weight goal in a shorter amount of time.
CBD and Keto for Inflammation
Inflammation is a natural immune response. Inflammation can be caused by injury, but it can also be caused by the foods we eat. The keto diet eliminates the foods that cause inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation of any type can cause physical pain, limiting exercise and physical activity. People who are on a keto diet with the addition of CBD report reduced discomforts and inflammation, and aid in the elimination of physical pain.
Neuroprotective properties of CBD and the Keto Diet
Research shows the keto diet and CBD show promise for helping reduce the symptoms of neurological conditions such as Epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. Both keto and CBD help protect against cell death. The neurological side of CBD and Keto can take months to years to be noticeable, but their lasting benefits are worth it in the long run.
Keto and CBD: The Bottom Line
A ketogenic diet can be great for people who are overweight, have diabetes, or are looking to improve their metabolic health and wellness. It may be less suitable for elite athletes or those wishing to add large amounts of muscle or weight.
It may also not be sustainable for some people’s lifestyles and preferences. Speak with your doctor about your eating plan and goals to decide if a keto eating plan is right for you. And always consult a doctor to add CBD to your daily medication regimen.
