Does CBD Have Calories?

CBD already seems too good to be true, but is does it have calories? I did some first-hand research with a number of brands to find out the average calorie count for CBD products:

CBD products do typically contain calories! But, it can vary depending on how you’re taking it. CBD Gummies average 12.5 calories per serving, CBD Oil averages 7.5 per serving, while CBD Capsules are lowest at an avg. of 3 per serving.

Here’s a handy chart:

Comparing Delivery Methods

Clearly one of the biggest factors is the delivery method. Not surprisingly, the highest calorie count belongs to the edible/gummy CBD! This is because you’re actually eating something, alongside taking CBD.

CBD Oils offer the next lowest average of 7.5. Now, you aren’t eating anything but the calories come largely from the carrier oil(s) used! Typically, brands choose MCT/Coconut Oil, Hemp Oil, & even Olive Oil as a ‘carrier oil’ which is meant to be higher in fats, which helps CBD absorption. Added flavors can also increase calories.

Lastly, CBD Capsules are the lowest calorie count across the board! It makes sense, as you are simply consuming the CBD extract & carrier oil through a capsule without any added flavoring either. So, if you’re looking to stay low on calories you might want to choose Capsules!

Where Are The Calories From?

Calories aren’t the only thing we need to count! As we discussed before CBD Oil usually contains a carrier oil that is meant to be higher in fats. So, this is where most of the calories come from. 

Now, although the word “fats” can sound negative it’s important to look at the kind of fat. Carrier oils are typically higher in healthy fats. Whether in the form of Omega-3’s or Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT Oil) they aren’t your average, unhealthy fat. These kinds of fats are actually beneficial & necessary in a healthy diet!

Specifically, MCT’s & other healthy fats can actually help you maintain & achieve your health goals. These fats are associated with helping you suppress hunger & regulating your diet! Read this article from WebMD if you don’t believe us!

CBD & Hunger

Although we can count calories all day, there’s an important factor we’ve missed. That is: what is CBD’s effect on hunger? If any.

Our article on CBD & Hunger is a great resource. But, the important message is that CBD can actually help you regulate hunger & diet! Because it is meant to help restore homeostasis & the natural rhythms of your body. One of them being your need & desire to eat!

As we know, it’s easy to eat more than you should. But, CBD may be useful in suppressing appetite. Interestingly enough, if you haven’t been eating enough it may help too! Because CBD largely works with your body to return you to normal. So, whether that means eating less or more you may be surprised by the results!

All in all, the calories brought on by CBD are heavily outweighed by the benefits you’ll see.

Why You Shouldn’t Worry Too Much

We completely understand & agree with being mindful of your diet & eating habits. But, at times there is a point of diminishing returns! Meaning the effort you put in may not be with the benefit you get from doing so.

Since CBD isn’t typically taken in relatively large quantities the calorie count shouldn’t be much of an issue! Most people aim to find a CBD product in which they can take one serving or less & get results. So, even if you take it every day you aren’t taking a whole lot of CBD & therefore aren’t heavily impacting your calorie count.

As long as you’re getting your CBD from a reliable source, who uses minimal ingredients, & healthy ones at that, you should be fine! The couple calories you get from your CBD aren’t major.

We would certainly take into account things like sugars when it comes to gummies, particularly if you’ve got health conditions that can be agitated with sugars. But even so, the amounts are relatively low at about 2mg & most worthwhile brands are opting for natural sugars instead of artificial ones!

Seeking Zero-Calorie CBD?

We know that there are some people out there that would still like to stay at a caloric minimum, even when it comes to CBD! There are a couple of choices for you.

For one, inhalable CBD is a viable option. Since you are simply inhaling your CBD, instead of eating/ingesting it, there are no calories to be had! So, if you’re seeking a zero-calorie option we would take a look at CBD Flower or Vaporizers. But of course, you’ve got to be someone who enjoys this kind of delivery method.

If you don’t enjoy inhaling CBD, another option can be methods such as suppositories or even transdermal patches! These offer zero-calorie ways to consume CBD. Although they are a more involved process this can be an excellent option for those seeking no calories. We’d advise doing careful research into brands as always, specifically with patches as they can be gimmicky.