What Should I Eat with CBD?
Have you ever wondered what should I eat with CBD? If so, this post’s for you. We consider CBD to be a supplement. And that means you can take it on an empty stomach. But that might not be your best choice.
Like vitamins, our body’s have to absorb CBD in order to process its active ingredients. And to experience the cannabinoid’s effects in your body. That’s why, just as certain vitamins are better absorbed with a meal, the same now is true with CBD.
But are there specific foods to eat with CBD that help absorption? The answer is, yes! And, today, we’re going to walk you through the best things to eat with your daily CBD dose.
Best Foods to Eat with CBD
If you’re taking CBD as part of a healthy life style, you may be avoiding high fat foods. Yet, as it turns out, that’s not the right move. Because, according to a study from the University of Minnesota,[i] fatty foods can help your body absorb more of the cannabidiol in your broad-spectrum CBD products.
To get to these findings, researchers looked at two models: people who ate fatty foods with CBD. And those who fasted before taking the supplement.
Now, a quick note: here at 12Twenty, we produce broad-spectrum, THC free CBD products. That means when you take our CBD, you experience the entourage effect (maximizing each ingredient’s effects in your body.) But you don’t have to worry about getting high or failing a drug test.
For this study, though, researchers worked with epilepsy patients who were taking a medication containing 99% pure CBD. (Also called CBD isolate.) To observe how their bodies absorbed CBD, participants took their supplements after fasting or after eating a breakfast that was high in fat. And the results give us a great idea about what to eat with CBD.
Fat and CBD Absorption
Study participants who ate a fatty meal before taking CBD showed up to 14 times higher cannabidiol concentrations in their bodies, compared to people who fasted first. Clearly, fatty foods help your body absorb more CBD. But, warns study co-author Angela Birnbaum, "The type of food can make a large difference in the amount of CBD that gets absorbed into the body. Although fatty foods can increase the absorption of CBD, it can also increase the variability, as not all meals contain the same amount of fat."
Plus, as people who are devoted to holistic health, we also know that not all fats are created equally. We’d hate to see you hitting the drive-thru for a breakfast burger in the name of absorbing more of your CBD dose. Because doing so would sacrifice other areas of your health. Especially when it comes to things like your weight and your heart.
Instead, we hope you’ll choose healthy fats to eat with your CBD dose each day. (Healthy fats are known as unsaturated, instead of the less beneficial, often harmful saturated and trans fats.)[ii] Not sure where to start? Think an avocado toast at breakfast. A salad with an olive-oil based dressing before a lunch time CBD dose. (Try this hemp leaf salad recipe for a bonus boost of CBD!) Or grill some salmon and take your nightly CBD with those fantastic Omega 3 fatty acids. If you lean towards high-quality fats, the benefits will multiply. In terms of your overall wellness, sure. But also when you think about buying CBD and your bottom line.
Getting the Most out of CBD
When your body absorbs more CBD, that means you enjoy maximum effects from smaller doses. That’s why study co-author Ilo Leppik noted their findings could lead to lower medication costs for the epileptics they observed.
Of course, the same principle applies to everyone. Whether you’re taking CBD to boost your workout recovery, to stave off seasonal changes in mood, or just to get through your hectic daily routine. No matter what your reason for taking CBD, it’s a great thing to experience more results from lower doses.
That’s why we’re so excited about this study. Because we offer premium CBD products, that come at a price point which reflects their quality. So, if there’s a way we can help our customers maximize the benefits of their product use, that’s something we’re going to get loud about.
Want to help us spread the word? Share this post, often and everywhere. And reach out to us with any of your burning CBD questions. Because we’re here to help. With CBD absorption, or with anything else that comes up along the road of your CBD journey.
[i] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/epi.16093 [ii] https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fat/art-20045550