We all have read about the endless benefits of CBD, which leads us to wonder, how do I maximize CBD effectiveness? One of the main questions following, should CBD be taken with food or on an empty stomach? There are several opinions, some are “go for it” folk, others feel there is no effect. As we look at CBD oil digestion things become a lot clearer. Soon, you will become part of “go for it” folk.

why food affects cbd effectiveness?

The effectiveness of CBD oil will increase when you use it in accordance with a meal by increasing the bioavailability. What is bioavailability you may ask? It is the rate at which the supplement is absorbed and then inserted into the bloodstream so that it can be pumped throughout the different parts of the body. In the liver, cytochrome (a family of enzymes) metabolizes the molecules and they are put into the bloodstream. With the help of food, the metabolization process is expedited and more CBD is absorbed within the food. [1]

Best foods to take CBD oil with:

• Meat

• Eggs

• Fish

• Avocado

• Nuts

• Dark chocolate

• Cheese

Notice a trend? The best foods to have CBD oil with are foods that contain a high amount of fat. It can also be mixed with other oils such as sesame oil, olive oil, coconut oil, soybean oil, etc. Fats are easily able to be metabolized which increases the amount of CBD to flow through the bloodstream.

“Researchers from the University of Nottingham backed the beneficial effects of taking CBD with fatty acids. In a recent study, they found that co-administering CBD with long-chain triglycerides bypassed some first pass metabolism, allowing significantly more CBD to be absorbed. [2] Another study by a separate team of researchers found the bioavailability of a cannabinoid product was four times higher when taken after a meal.” [3]

what happens if i don’t use with food?

Although it may help the bioavailability if you use CBD oil with your food, you do not have to. If you apply the oil to the bottom of your tongue, the CBD oil will be sent straight to the bloodstream through the mucus membranes in your mouth. “The bioavailability of other methods where the CBD goes directly into your bloodstream is much higher. Sublingual drops have 20-30% bioavailability, vaping is 30-40% and transdermal methods are more like 70%.” [4]