September 02, 2021

The Benefits Of CBD For The Paleo Diet

Back in the Paleolithic era, humans relied on sharp senses and physical fitness to run, fish, swim, hunt, forage, and execute all the movements and methods that allowed them to eat — and survive.

Today, eating a paleo diet means living on what the wild land produced then. (Although, you are allowed to shop at the grocery store.) That means no grains, no processed foods, and lots of lean meats and vegetables.

It doesn’t mean no CBD oil, though! As a hemp-derived product, history says it’s permitted on a paleo diet.(1)

In this article, we’re exploring some of the ways CBD can work with your caveperson diet to achieve optimal wellness. Once you learn which CBD to use and how it can help, you’ll be ready to incorporate it into your paleo lifestyle.

What Is The Paleo Diet?

Before humans cultivated crops, they ate what they could hunt and gather. That was way back in the Paleolithic period. For those who don’t remember that day in history class — or was it science class? — that’s roughly 2.5 million years ago through around 10,000 years ago.

The reasoning behind the paleo diet is based on the hypothesis that humans didn’t evolve to eat farmed foods. Humans ate what they hunted and gathered for millions of years, and only over the past 10,000 years or so have we relied on agriculture.

Paleo-friendly foods are grain-free and unprocessed. Here are some foods you’ll find on the paleo menu:

  • Meat
  • Fish
  • Eggs
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Vegetables
  • Fruits
  • Herbs and spices
  • Healthy fats, such as coconut oil and avocado oil

It’s generally recommended that meat and eggs are pasture-raised and fish is wild-caught.

On the flip side, these things are off the paleo table:

  • Processed foods
  • Artificial sweeteners and refined sugar
  • Dairy
  • Grains
  • Legumes
  • Corn
  • Alcohol

Ultimately, if cavemen and cavewomen didn’t eat it, it’s not present on your paleo plate.

Keto Vs. Paleo Diet

At first glance, it may seem like the keto and paleo diets have a lot in common. They’re both high in protein, allow fats, and restrict grains.

There are some similarities, but there are also some fundamental differences. So just to clear up any confusion:

  • The paleo diet does not include processed meats, artificial sweeteners, or dairy. Sources of carbohydrates — such as starchy vegetables and fruit — are allowed in moderation. It can usually be a long-term diet.
  • The keto diet allows nitrate-free and sugar-free processed meats, artificial sweeteners, and some dairy products. It restricts carbs and most fruits. A keto diet is rarely followed for more than six months.

There are combination keto/paleo diet variations out there that help you get the best of both worlds.

Is CBD Paleo-Friendly?

To answer this question, we have to scratch a little deeper. Let’s start with the ABCs of CBD.

CBD is short for cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive compound (aka it doesn’t cause a high) that exists in cannabis plants like hemp.

Since hemp-derived CBD isn’t intoxicating and comes from plants, it falls into the category of things you’re permitted to consume on a paleo diet.

And if you’re a Paleo purist who wants to stick to an authentic hunter-gatherer diet and enjoy the benefits of CBD, you’re in luck! Historians agree that some populations consumed hemp in the Paleolithic Age — and it was around millions of years earlier.

CBD & Paleo: A Power Couple

Imagine going on a week-long trek, running from predators, chasing prey, and then hauling home a bison. That’s what our Paleo pals called “grocery shopping.”

Both the paleo diet and CBD aim to fine-tune the body to be the best it can be. We’re talking primal, ready-to-hunt-and-gather-all-your-own-food level condition.

Here’s how a paleo diet and CBD oil can team up for body-mind wellness.

Paleo & CBD For Physical Health

A nutrient-dense diet is always a good match for physical health, and the paleo diet is no exception. CBD is also a powerhouse of good stuff for your body.

Let’s take a look at where some of the benefits of CBD and a paleo diet intersect so you can leverage the power of both.

Weight Management

A healthy weight is linked to a reduced risk for disease and a longer lifespan.(2)

In one small study, people eating a paleo diet lost more weight than those eating a Mediterranean diet.(3)

CBD has been shown to support weight loss by suppressing appetite, improving metabolism, and helping the body burn fat more efficiently.(4)

Inflammation & Autoimmune Conditions

Inflammation is a telltale symptom of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), celiac disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. It can cause skin rashes, digestive issues, and pain.

Several studies have observed that a paleo diet may be helpful for some people struggling with autoimmune conditions.(5)

The anti-inflammatory effects of CBD have been widely studied. Some results show promise for managing autoimmune diseases.(6)

Blood Sugar Balance

The diet recommended to those who have diabetes or are pre-diabetic is low in fat and includes whole grains.(7)

In contrast, the paleo diet is centered around getting plenty of healthy fat and eliminating grains. As researchers and paleo dieters have discovered, the human body can benefit from eating like our Paleo ancestors. One of those benefits is reduced hemoglobin A1c levels, which indicates lower blood sugar.(8)

Similarly, CBD reduced blood sugar levels and increased insulin production in animals.(9) While more research is needed, these findings suggest that CBD could be a tool for managing blood sugar.

Cardiovascular Health

Cutting out grains may sound bonkers to those who have always been told that a diet centered around grains is the ticket to good heart health.

Yet several studies have found that a paleo diet helps to:(8)

  • Eliminate excess weight
  • Improve cholesterol levels
  • Reduce triglyceride levels (triglycerides are lipids linked to stroke)
  • Reduce blood pressure

By reducing blood pressure spikes caused by stress, CBD may be able to reduce the risks associated with hypertension.(10)

Paleo & CBD For Mental Health

There’s no doubt our Paleo ancestors had to be in tip-top physical shape. But just as important, their nervous systems were honed to handle stress very well.

Although humans today don’t have to worry about running from saber-toothed tigers, stress levels are through the roof and people face many stress-related health challenges.

The paleo diet calls for cutting out foods that are known to trigger or worsen stress and anxiety. That includes foods that may aggravate psychiatric symptoms of autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease.(11)

Although a paleo diet may help improve mental health, the fact is that the modern era poses challenges of its own that can make de-stressing difficult. When you need a little help unwinding, CBD might be the solution. Loads of CBD users report reduced stress and anxiety, and promising evidence points to CBD as a therapeutic tool for anxiety disorders.(12)

How To Use CBD Oil On A Paleo Diet

When hunting for CBD oil for your paleo lifestyle, you want to be as selective as you are with the foods you eat. That means:

  • Avoid overly processed CBD products. A high-quality CBD oil tincture or CBD softgels are the cleanest choices.
  • Find CBD made with a paleo-friendly oil such as MCT oil.
  • Look for natural sweeteners such as stevia.
  • Go organic with a CBD product made from organically-grown hemp.

Once you have your paleo CBD oil on hand, take it with a snack or meal for maximum absorption.(13)

CBD: A Paleolithic Partner

CBD and a paleo diet are both associated with good mental and physical health.

A paleo diet includes only what our ancestors could have hunted or gathered. Since hemp has been consumed for millennia, it’s invited to the paleo party.

Take your pick of paleo-approved CBD products and start incorporating it into your caveperson diet today!

SHOP PALEO-FRIENDLY CBD OIL 

References

  1. Barras, C. (2019). Cannabis plant evolved super high (on the Tibetan Plateau). NewScientist. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2203647-cannabis-plant-evolved-super-high-on-the-tibetan-plateau/
  2. (2021). Adult Obesity Causes & Consequences. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/causes.html
  3. Lindeberg, S, et al. (2007). A Palaeolithic diet improves glucose tolerance more than a Mediterranean-like diet in individuals with ischaemic heart disease. Diabetologia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-007-0716-y
  4. Kubala, J. (2019). How Does CBD Affect Your Weight? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cbd-oil-for-weight-loss#weight-loss
  5. Mastroianni, B. (2019). Can the Paleo Diet Help Fight Autoimmune Diseases? A Look at Its Possible Effects on 5 Conditions. https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/paleo-diet/paleo-diet-autoimmune-diseases-can-it-help-with-ms-psoriasis-ibd/
  6. Ashton, L. (2021). CBD Oil for Autoimmune Diseases: Benefits, Dosage, & How to Use? CFAH. https://cfah.org/cbd-oil-for-autoimmune-diseases/
  7. (2018). Diabetic Diet. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/diabeticdiet.html
  8. Gunnars, K. (2020). 5 Studies on the Paleo Diet — Does It Work? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/5-studies-on-the-paleo-diet
  9. McQueen, J. (2019). CBD and Diabetes. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/cbd-and-diabetes
  10. Khalid, J, et al. (2017). A single dose of cannabidiol reduces blood pressure in healthy volunteers in randomized crossover study. JCI Insight. https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/93760
  11. Ede, G. (2019). Six Reasons to Go Paleo for Mental Health. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/diagnosis-diet/201909/six-reasons-go-paleo-mental-health
  12. Blessing, EM, et al. (2015). Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-015-0387-1
  13. Robertson, S. (2019). Does Diet Affect CBD Absorption? News Medical Life Sciences. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Does-Diet-Affect-CBD-Absorption.aspx


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