CBD and Fasting: Here's why you should definitely try it

Fasting, once primarily a religious practice, is experiencing a remarkable comeback today. Most people are primarily concerned with improving their health and well-being. Whether it's intermittent fasting, therapeutic fasting, or temporarily abstaining from certain indulgences: more and more people are discovering the benefits of temporary abstinence.

But how well do CBD and fasting go together? Do I have to give up my CBD during a fast? Can CBD help me get through the fasting period more relaxed? And: Do CBD and fasting influence each other's effects?

In this article, we delve into these and other questions and reveal why CBD and fasting actually go together really well!

Please note: We are primarily discussing forms of zero-calorie fasting here, i.e., types of fasting in which you abstain from food for a certain period. Abstaining from indulgences or fasting in other areas (television, social media) are not covered here.

Depending on the fasting method, the periods during which you consume no food vary. While therapeutic fasting (e.g., according to the Buchinger method) usually involves complete abstinence from solid food for a few days, the breaks in intermittent fasting (16/8 method) are only a few hours long. In a basic fasting cure, only certain foods are eaten (primarily fruits and vegetables, to regenerate the acid-base balance). Religious fasting (e.g., during Ramadan) follows the specific rules of the respective tradition.

Now, many people wonder if they can also take CBD during a fasting period without breaking their fast. The short answer: No, CBD does not break a fast; provided it is consumed as a pure oil or capsule.

The goal of many forms of fasting is to prevent the body from receiving energy for a certain period. This is intended to encourage the body, among other things, to mobilize its energy reserves (primary goal: weight loss) and to initiate a kind of spring cleaning for the cells with so-called autophagy (goal: reduce inflammation, activate the body's self-healing powers). (More on this below.)

While CBD oil usually contains a carrier substance (e.g., MCT oil or hemp oil), with a normal dose of a few drops per day, you consume virtually no calories. There is no indication that taking CBD oil affects insulin levels and influences metabolism during fasting.

Individuals who fast particularly strictly, e.g., as part of a water fast, should nevertheless avoid CBD oil drops and instead switch to capsules or consume CBD via a vaporizer.

Fasting is part of a traditional lifestyle in many cultures around the world, including Islam. Some consciously use CBD to get through the sometimes strenuous period from sunrise to sunset more relaxed. However, it is often unclear whether the consumption of CBD complies with religious requirements.

The good news: CBD generally does not break the Ramadan fast, provided it is not swallowed or inhaled. Application to the skin—for example, with creams or ointments—is generally considered unproblematic, as the active ingredient is not absorbed through a fast-relevant body opening.

Even sublingually taken drops, which remain under the tongue and are not swallowed, are not considered a broken fast by many scholars (medical application). However, inhaling CBD via a vaporizer can be critical. This is usually treated like smoking in Islamic jurisprudence and thus breaks the fast.

If you want to be absolutely sure whether your CBD routine fits into your fast, it's best to consult your Imam or another religious scholar you trust.

For many, fasting is not just about losing weight. Fasting also affects the soul - and that brings its own challenges. The first days of fasting are often accompanied by mood swings, irritability, headaches, inner restlessness, and sleep disturbances. CBD can be supportive here.

CBD works through the body's own system, the endocannabinoid system. It sounds complicated, but it's actually quite simple: Imagine your body has tiny docking stations for CBD, which then influence various processes, including mood, appetite, sleep, and pain perception. Studies show that CBD can positively influence mood and well-being. It relieves stress and tension and helps us focus our energy better. This is particularly helpful at the beginning of a fasting period to make fasting more pleasant.

Many fasters are easily irritable and tense in the first few days. According to studies, CBD can reduce stress and tension (1). This can also be beneficial during fasting, especially if one has to go to work or engage in other activities while fasting.

Quite a few fasters suffer from sleep problems. This is often due to hormonal changes caused by fasting, an increased cortisol level, and low blood sugar at night. At the same time, relaxation and good sleep are necessary for fasting to be particularly effective. This is because cell cleansing (autophagy) is in full swing, especially at night.

Studies have long shown that CBD has a positive effect on the sleep-wake rhythm. For example, in a 2018 study, a full 66.7% of participants reported improved sleep quality and easier falling asleep after one month of CBD consumption. (2)

Especially during therapeutic fasting, physical symptoms such as headaches or muscle pain are common—often triggered by caffeine or sugar withdrawal, or simply by the changed metabolism. CBD can also help here, as it has proven pain-relieving effects.

But that's not all. CBD not only helps make the fasting period easier to endure. It may even enhance the effects of fasting.

Periods of zero-fasting, in particular, activate what is known as autophagy in the body. During this process, the body essentially "recycles" damaged cell components. Autophagy is now considered a central factor in the health-promoting effects of fasting.

Indeed, there is initial scientific evidence suggesting that CBD could promote the process of autophagy. (3) While the connection between fasting and CBD has not yet been established in clinical studies, much indicates that CBD—like fasting—could support cellular regeneration. Both together could, therefore, have particularly positive effects on cellular health and, for example, promote anti-aging effects.

Chronically elevated inflammation levels are associated with a variety of diseases—from diabetes and allergies to heart disease, autoimmune diseases, and depression. Studies show that both CBD and fasting can have anti-inflammatory effects. (4, 5)

Of course, many people still fast to lose weight. Although the acute effect of fasting on weight is minimal and short-lived, fasting can change habits in such a way that long-term weight loss results. CBD can further enhance the positive effects of fasting, as a study suggests it can influence fat metabolism. (6)

According to this, CBD promotes "fat browning"—a process in which white adipose tissue ("bad" fat) is converted into "good" brown fat. (Brown fat burns more energy and helps with weight loss.) This process is also relevant during fasting. Although there are no scientific results yet, it cannot be ruled out that CBD supports fat burning during fasting.

Fasting is one of the oldest known methods for promoting health and a long life. CBD can be a real help in reducing stress during fasting and making food deprivation easier. Important for those who fast particularly strictly: CBD intake generally does not break the fast. Instead, the combination of CBD and fasting has a whole host of benefits: CBD supports stress reduction and physical discomfort and helps improve sleep.

And not only that: according to the latest findings, CBD could even ensure that the positive effects of fasting are even more pronounced. Although research into the exact interaction of CBD and fasting is still quite limited, there are already promising indications that both can reinforce each other—especially when it comes to inhibiting inflammation, autophagy, and metabolic regulation.

So, if you want to abstain from meals for a certain period, let CBD support you. Pay attention to high quality and, if necessary, discuss the form of intake (oil or capsules) with your doctor (for therapeutic fasting) or a religious confidant (for spiritual fasting).

Medical Disclaimer