Can You Take CBD on an Empty Stomach? What You Need to Know
Whether you’re looking for a natural alternative to pharmaceuticals or just want some help relaxing, CBD is one of the most popular and effective products on the market. But you may wonder, “Can you take CBD on an empty stomach?”
Taking a CBD Product on an Empty Stomach
Ingestible CBD products rely on the body’s digestive tract for effective results. After you swallow a gummy, brownie, CBD oil, tea, etc., your digestive system will break down the cannabinoids and transfer them to the liver for metabolism. Having food already in your stomach can help this process go much more smoothly and allow your body to experience the product’s full effects.
Scientific studies show that consuming CBD after eating food and on a full stomach is the best method. For one thing, eating optimizes your body’s ability to absorb the cannabinoids with complex carbs for the highest bioavailability. It also increases the product’s potency because the CBD will stay in your stomach longer and take longer to get directly metabolized.
However, you don’t need to worry too much about understanding bioavailability. Taking CBD with a full stomach will provide optimal results.
Is Consuming CBD on an Empty Stomach Safe?
If you’ve previously consumed CBD products, you likely followed recommendations carefully and took them after eating rather than on an empty stomach. But what if you happen to take a dose without a full stomach? Is it safe to ingest cannabinoid-infused products on an empty stomach?
The short answer is yes—taking CBD oil and products containing other cannabinoids on an empty stomach won’t put you at risk or cause health concerns. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound in the cannabis or hemp plant, so it cannot get you high or impair your thinking or actions. For some people, ingesting a CBD-based product on an empty stomach might be more beneficial than taking it on a full stomach.
What Happens When Taking CBD Oil on an Empty Stomach?
The first question many people ask is, “Can I take CBD on an empty stomach?” A close second is this question: “What happens if I do it? If I consume CBD on an empty stomach, what effect will it have on my digestive system?”
As we mentioned above, ingesting CBD on an empty stomach isn’t cause for alarm. In fact, it may be an excellent option if a product loses potency when taken with food or after a meal. However, some patients report feeling less comfortable after taking CBD oil or other products on an empty stomach. Potential side effects include:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Stomach ache
Symptoms are only temporary, and you can take straightforward steps to combat them. If you experience these symptoms on an empty stomach, here are some easy, practical things you can do:
- Eat a balanced meal. You may suffer an upset stomach if your body can’t digest and metabolize the CBD properly. Eating a balanced, nutritious meal with food containing fatty acids can help your digestive system get back on track.
- Sip on some water or tea. Sipping water or slowly drinking soothing tea is a great way to combat symptoms like nausea and dizziness. This often helps your body digest food efficiently and eliminate anything potentially harmful if you consumed too much CBD.
A proper diet and adequate hydration are essential to your body’s overall health and wellness. You should be eating right and drinking adequate amounts of water anyway. However, these measures may prove especially beneficial if you happen to experience uncomfortable side effects after consuming CBD on an empty stomach.
How CBD Works: The Benefits of Taking CBD
Throughout the U.S., people use CBD products with a fatty meal to help treat certain medical conditions. At SUPA Naturals, we offer the products you need to live your best life. Common conditions that can be treated in one way or another with CBD oil, CBD-infused food products, and other products include:
- AIDS
- Alzheimer’s
- Autism
- Cancer
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis
- HIV
- Parkinson’s
- PTSD
- Sickle-cell anemia
CBD can also help alleviate chronic pain and accelerate muscle recovery. When you take CBD on a full stomach, it can prevent low bioavailability and enable you to enjoy a higher quality of life.
What Foods Should You Eat With CBD?
Eating food before or while taking CBD increases its potency in many cases and can enable you to enjoy its full effects. A meal of healthy fats is especially beneficial, as fatty foods and fatty acids typically take longer to digest and metabolize, serving as the best binding agent for CBD during first-pass metabolism. That’s not an excuse to eat fatty foods all the time. Instead, realize that a balanced meal will contain healthy fats that are good for you.
What Is the Best Way of Taking CBD?
When it comes to taking CBD, you have a wide variety of consumption methods. Some work better for certain people than others, though. We recommend trying out various products and seeing which is the most effective solution for your needs.
Edibles
The old-fashioned chew-and-swallow method is one of the most popular ways to take CBD. You can ingest it orally like any other food and enjoy the effects within a couple of hours. Edibles come in a wide selection of forms, including:
- Gummies
- Cookies
- Brownies
- Pills
- Drinks
- Cakes
- CBD softgels
One of the primary reasons people prefer edibles involves ease of access. You can find CBD-infused food and drinks in readily available locations, such as retail stores and restaurants. Consuming edibles is also popular because users can discreetly eat them.
Topicals
Another common way to consume CBD is through topical application. Topicals blend CBD with a carrier oil and soak directly into your skin to target specific issues like sore muscles, achy joints, and inflammation. After you spread it on the affected area, sit back and let your body absorb it.
You can take CBD oil and other tinctures in the form of:
- Hemp seed oil
- Balms
- Creams
- Salves
With products like CBD foods and drinks, your stomach will absorb and distribute the compound throughout your entire system. Topical CBD oil, on the other hand, goes on specific areas and takes effect in as little as a few minutes. This makes topicals among the safest solutions and a popular choice whether you have a full or empty stomach.
Tinctures
CBD tinctures are like edibles in that you ingest them orally. However, they’re unlike edibles in that they typically take CBD oil or extract form. You can use a dropper or spray the CBD directly into your mouth.
Sublingual oils are a specific form of cannabinoid tincture that you can apply under the tongue (absorbed sublingually). A sublingual application will dissolve under your tongue and absorb directly through your mouth tissues into your bloodstream, bypassing your stomach and gastrointestinal tract. This is a very fast way to get a medication into your system.
Does an empty stomach affect CBD ingestion negatively? CBD oil tinctures are a popular way to consume CBD without having food in your stomach. Apart from smoking, tinctures are the fastest way for cannabinoids to enter first-pass metabolism when needed. Many people use CBD oil to help treat anxiety and pain.
Vapes
Vaping and smoking are popular forms of consumption for a variety of substances as a result of multiple factors. For example, it offers a quick and relatively easy method of ingesting the substance, and CBD is no exception. CBD can enter the first-pass metabolism stage via a vape to provide fast, long-lasting effects.
Vape pens are in vogue these days. Using a vape won’t affect CBD’s bioavailability or potency. Inhaling it can get it into your blood stream quickly and start causing effects in as little as three minutes.
Most people prefer vapes over other CBD oils and CBD food products because of their accelerated bioavailability. If you are struggling with pain or anxiety, it’s incredibly helpful to have a fast, easy solution. CBD vapes can provide instant relief and enable you to get back to enjoying life.
What Is the Best Time of Day To Take CBD?
To make the most of your CBD dosage, you’ll want to consider the best time of day to take it. Everyone is different from the person standing next to them, so you won’t find a cookie-cutter formula as to when to consume a product for maximum effectiveness. In other words, the “best time” varies from person to person.
That said, a particular time might work better for you than others. Consider these factors as you determine the ideal time of day to take CBD:
- When you can take it regularly: The time of day isn’t necessarily important—it’s more important to take doses regularly. For example, you may choose to ingest CBD in the morning if you know you can continue that routine throughout the week.
- Why you plan to take it: Ask yourself why you intend to take CBD. Some people have specific reasons, while others consume it for general health purposes. For example, you may want to take a CBD dose in the evening if you plan to use it to help you sleep.
- How your body reacts to it: Your body’s chemistry is unique, so it may react differently to CBD ingestion. Understanding how cannabinoids in your stomach can affect your body will help you identify the best time to ingest them. For example, consider taking CBD after eating a meal because CBD usually works best on a full stomach.
To summarize, the optimal time to take CBD doses depends on your particular situation. Don’t feel like you must adhere to strict guidelines and do exactly what everyone else does. Find what works best for you, and keep doing it!
How Long Do Cannabinoids Stay in Your System?
You should consider multiple factors before deciding to take CBD. One of those factors involves the amount of time the cannabinoids will stay in your system after ingestion. CBD remains in your body long after you stop feeling its effects.
Some CBD products stay in your system longer than others. For example, oil sprays can remain anywhere from 10 to 48 hours after use. The cannabinoids in an edible could remain in your body for weeks.
Several other factors contribute to how long CBD will stay in the system. These include:
- Your dosage level: The more CBD you intake, the longer it will likely take for your body to eliminate it. Your body will digest it sooner if you consume less.
- Your diet: Having food in your stomach before ingesting CBD will accelerate bioavailability and help it stay in your system longer. It won’t get absorbed as quickly and may stretch out its period of effectiveness.
- Your overall lifestyle: Your lifestyle plays a significant role in how you metabolize nutrients and digest CBD oils. For example, the effects of oil, edibles, and other CBD forms typically wear off sooner for people with higher metabolisms.
Start Using CBD Products Today!
Can you take CBD products such as CBD oil or gummies on an empty stomach? The answer is yes—but it might not be the most effective way to consume it. CBD oil, edibles, vapes, etc., can work wonders for your overall health and well-being with or without food in your system.
Do you have additional questions about taking CBD and its bioavailability? At SUPA Naturals, we’re here to help. Contact our experts today to stay informed and make the most of every dose!
