Each person has a unique physiology and can require different conditions to experience an optimal effect when taking CBD capsules.
Taking CBD capsules on an empty stomach enhances the potency, but reduces the length of its effects. CBD with melatonin is recommended you take on an empty stomach (right before bed) to maximize the effects of melatonin. When fasting, taking CBD capsules with MCT can produce optimal effects.
Let’s take a look below and see what conditions are best for taking CBD on an empty stomach and when you might need to take a little bit of food to optimize the effects.
Do You Take CBD With Or Without Food?
Depending on the time of day, and for what purpose, taking CBD with or without food can vary.
Certain types of medications require you take it before eating food or while your stomach is still empty.
The reason why some medications should be taken on an empty stomach is because certain types of food or beverages can impact the way some medications work.
Foods to that enhance CBD include
- Foods right in healthy fats
- Olive oil
- Sesame oil
- MCT oil
- Coconut oil
- Chocolate
- Mayonnaise
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Avocado
- Fish
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Yogurt
By consuming healthy fats prior to taking CBD, you’re able to speed up the rate of absorption.
Since swallowing CBD capsules has a lower rate of absorption, consuming the above listed foods can increase the effectiveness of CBD.
To increase the effectiveness of CBD, other methods of consumption can have a higher rate of absorption or have a faster onset.
Should You Take CBD Capsules On Empty Stomach?
Certain types of food may prevent your body from properly absorbing the CBD and can make it less effective.
When taking CBD on an empty stomach, you can experience the effects much more rapidly.
Even though taking CBD on an empty stomach can make it work faster, the effects typically won’t last as long.
Some CBD capsules contain melatonin, used to further increase the potency to aid in supporting normal sleep cycles.
If you’re taking a CBD capsule that also contains melatonin, eating a large meal right before bed might interfere with the quality of sleep, as well as the effectiveness of melatonin.
Most sources recommend taking a CBD and melatonin capsule an hour or two before bed, and then potentially having a light snack.
According to the journal of Neuropsychiatric Disease And Treatment, melatonin is best absorbed on an empty stomach.
Furthermore, melatonin will have a much faster onset on an empty stomach.
If you eat a meal that’s high in fat with melatonin or soon afterwards, it may slow down the rate of absorption — thus minimizing its overall effectiveness.
Take CBD on an empty stomach when:
- You’re taking a CBD capsule with melatonin
- Fasting
- Right before bed
- You want to experience the effects faster
Finding what works best for you, at the dose that’s most optimal, is the recommended approach in fine tuning the optimal experience.
Do You Take CBD Capsules On An Empty Stomach?
According to the American Journal Of Translational Research, taking CBD with lipids (fat, oils, wax, etc) can substantially enhance the absorption in the intestinal lymphatic transport.
Furthermore, the research states it’s not clear how much total amount of lipids are necessary to activate the mechanism of absorption via the intestinal lymphatic transport.
Certain research studies claim you might only need as little as one gram of lipids to activate the absorption mechanism.
Humans might need up to 10 grams of lipids to significantly optimize absorption.
Research is currently not completely clear if the amount of lipids contained in a capsule is sufficient to properly activate the full absorption mechanism.
However, research shows the lower amounts of lipids in a capsule were sufficient if you are fasting.
Some brands of CBD capsule contain lipids already, such as Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT).
Joy Organics and Medterra are two CBD brands that have MCT already infused in the capsules.
With CBD capsules already containing MCT lipids, the rate of absorption should be optimal and not necessarily require you to have a full stomach.
How to take CBD on an empty stomach includes:
- Taking a CBD capsule that has lipids in it (such as MCT)
- Lipids optimize the mechanism of absorption through the intestinal lymphatic transport
- You need about 10 grams of lipids to maximize CBD capsule absorption
- If you’re fasting, you might need even less lipids for optimal CBD absorption
- Quality CBD capsules have lipids already infused so you can potentially take them on an empty stomach and still receive optimal absorption
Only you know what’s working best for you and your situation, at the time you require CBD.
Experiment with what’s working and continue fine tuning how and when you consume CBD to get the best experience that works best for you.
Does CBD Work Better On An Empty Stomach?
Taking a CBD capsule on an empty stomach can make the effects work much more quickly.
However, when you take CBD capsules on an empty stomach, the effects might not last as long when you take it with higher amounts of fatty acids (lipids).
If you consume CBD by taking CBD drop under your tongue or by inhaling vaporized CBD, it doesn’t matter as much if you’re taking it on an empty stomach or with food.
When you take CBD drops under your tongue, the CBD is absorbed directly into your bloodstream via certain membranes.
Likewise, if you were to inhale CBD by smoking the flower or vaporizing it, the vaporized CBD is delivered straight to your bloodstream.
Since CBD is rising in popularity, numerous CBD companies are manufacturing new methods for consuming CBD.
Newer methods of consuming CBD can include CBD patches, creams, face masks, and many more.
Bottom line:
- Depending on how you consume CBD, will determine if food will have an impact on the effects
- An empty stomach won’t impact inhaling vaporized CBD, topical CBD, or CBD drops under your tongue
- Eating foods high in fatty acids prior to swallowing a CBD capsule can increase the absorption rate
- Food can also slow down the peak concentration of CBD in your blood and make it act lower and can be less potent
Experiment with both to find what works best for you.