So, if you’ve read this blog before, you likely know that I’m a rule-following nerd. Breaking the rules – let alone the law – stresses me out beyond belief. The fastest I go on the highway is 10 kilometers an hour over the speed limit. When it came to cannabis, I tried it a couple of times but I was not a regular user until it became legal in our province. Then I had to ask the question, if you are doing keto, can you still partake in cannabis? Are cannabis and keto a thing? The short answer is, “yes.”
The Benefits of Cannabis and Keto
The CBD in cannabis is known to decrease pain, reduce anxiety, and decrease inflammation. All these things are also symptoms that keto claims to help. When you combine the two together, many people claim that it helps people live happier, healthier, pain-free lives.
According to an article by Dr. Ashok Khanna, the combination of cannabis and keto can be a winning combination. The article quotes a 5 year study from the American Journal of Medicine from 2013. This study showed that patients who used cannabis had a 16% lower fasting insulin level. They also reported a 17% lower insulin resistance level. All this to say that cannabis can help with insulin levels, as can keto. If you put them together, you will have more success in weight loss.
The benefits of cannabis is also noted in many articles as a way to help with the keto flu. When people first start keto, they tend to experience mild flu-like symptoms, such as stomach upset, fatigue, and cravings. CBD can assist you through these symptoms and give you a head start in getting into ketosis.
The Cautions of Cannabis and Keto
Does this sound too good to be true? Well, there are a few cautions. Firstly, most marijuna you take in also has THC and that increases your appetite. If you have ever experienced this, you know that when you come back to your regular self, you realize you have eaten pretty much everything in sight. So, it is really important to ensure you don’t have any non-keto food available if you partake in a night of cannabis fun.
Secondly, THC is what causes you to get the “high” from marijuana. Many people use just CBD in an oil form to relieve some pain. But if you smoke a joint, you will also get the high effect. Now, that’s kind of the point for many people. But that is a very different use from what the American Journal of Medicine studied.
My Two Cents
I’m not looking at cannabis as a way to relieve pain or decrease inflammation. I use it just as some use alcohol for a fun night out every once in a while. It was good to know that it wouldn’t counteract the hard work I put in with my keto lifestyle. In fact, they can fit together very well. But I’m definitely for the THC component to it.
So, how to enjoy cannabis when you are on keto? Firstly, I don’t take edibles, as I don’t know how much sugar is in them or how many carbs are in each. You can purchase keto-friendly edibles online, but I’m not sure that’s a road I want to go down. Secondly, I gave up smoking cigarettes for a reason. While smoking a joint would be okay for keto, it’s not healthy, and I’d prefer not to put the smoke in my body. So, I tend to vape. It’s clean, it’s easy, and I’ve found some that have a pretty good flavour without the baggage of sugar.
I also ensure that I have keto-friendly snacks at the ready. I’ll have some raw veggies with dip, or pork rinds, or even a Lily’s chocolate bar. All things that I can snack on easily. I don’t have any carb-filled food in the house. It’s a lot better to go and fry up some bacon rather than make a cake with flour and sugar. Plan ahead, friends, and you can indulge with marijuana and keep your keto lifestyle on track!
Wendy
