Those looking to use CBD oil whilst intermittent fasting may be concerned about it breaking their fast. We take a look at what it is and why CBD could work.
Will CBD Break My Fast? CBD and Intermittent Fasting
An eating routine that could be benefitted by CBD.
You may have heard of intermittent fasting (IF) before, but for those who are unaware, it has quickly grown as one of the most popular ways for people to help get in shape. Not just that but there are supposed benefits to your general well-being, making it a top choice for those looking to improve their wellness.
Naturally, anything to help enhance your well-being is often complimented with CBD, or it can make newcomers more interested to try CBD as part of their wellness. But are there any benefits to using CBD whilst intermittent fasting? And can you use CBD while fasting?
What is intermittent fasting?
A simple eating pattern that has been used throughout the ages and across many religions and traditions, intermittent fasting has recently become a popular way for people to diet for weight loss and overall wellness. It focuses on maximising the benefits of a restricted calorie intake by limiting the hours when you eat. Doing this can help encourage our bodies to burn through recently consumed calories and stored fat as a source of energy during the fasting periods.
The key aspect of intermittent fasting is what is commonly known as the ‘eating window’ – your scheduled time to eat. Making sure this works for your lifestyle is important, someone who works evenings, for example, may have a different time and length of eating window compared to your average 9 to 5 person. What’s great about IF is that is really versatile with several ways you can do it.
Intermittent fasting has a variety of methods to choose from but the most popular are the 5:2 method (2 days of fasting, 5 days of regular eating), the 16:8 method (16 hours of fasting a day with 8 hours scheduled for eating within) and the alternative-day fasting (one day on-off of fasting).
The 16:8 method is perhaps one of the most popular due to its simplicity and ease of introducing into your routine. Most incorporate their 16 hours fast into their sleep schedule meaning that you sleep for around half of the fasting time. For example, someone may choose to eat from 12 pm to 8 pm or early birds may prefer 8 am to 4 pm, the beauty is you can decide when to slot in your 8 hours window for eating depending on your lifestyle. This method helps to restrict snacking which is often a problem for those conscious of their weight.
Alternatively, the 5:2 method works for those who prefer to have whole days of fasting if this suits their routine more. This usually requires limiting your calorie intake to 500 calories for these 2 days and then eating as usual for the other five days.
Will CBD break my fast?
The great news is that generally, CBD will not break a fast, but only so long as you are sure what is in your CBD products and you avoid high doses. During fasting sessions, most IF followers tend to keep to a 40-50 calorie consumption so anything like black coffee or tea won’t impact this. Doses of CBD oral drops that consist of CBD and MCT carrier oil taken under the tongue are unlikely to impact on your fast. It’s important to check whether your CBD contains any calorific additives such as sugar as this could potentially break your fast.
Cali Greens CBD oral drops contain stevia allowing for a slightly sweeter taste without the calories.
Of course, this does reduce the useability of some types of CBD products while intermittent fasting. For example, if you predominantly use CBD gummies, these will likely break your fast due to the calories and sugar content.
Vaping CBD could be another potential option for those looking to still enjoy the benefits of CBD while doing IF. As CBD vapes contain no calories through inhalation, not only will you benefit from faster delivery of CBD but a stronger dosage.
Why you might try CBD with intermittent fasting
CBD is incredibly versatile, and users enjoy finding new ways to add CBD to their routines and reap the benefits. Although there has been little to no research on the topic of CBD and intermittent fasting, there is potentially a reason you may want to give it a try.
We know that CBD works with our endocannabinoid system, and there are interactions between the two. Some users of CBD note that whilst taking CBD, they feel less hungry and have an improved mood among other potential benefits. There are some claims that CBD may maximise the benefits of intermittent fasting which is why some IF followers are introducing it into their routine.
More research is needed to confirm these notions but what has been done so far seems promising. But, as with many things, it’s important to take it with a pinch of salt as CBD can be subjective with some users finding no real benefits from taking CBD.
If you wish to try taking CBD as part of your intermittent fasting, then we suggest taking CBD oral drops, first thing on a morning and last thing in the evening. Take notes of how your day feels and whether you notice any benefits after a week or so. You may need to up your dosage or strength, but if you don’t see any real changes within a month then possibly CBD may not be for you.
