Walk into any health food store nowadays, and you’ll likely see CBD lining the shelves. And with about 40% of young adults currently using CBD oil and even 15% of people over 60, CBD isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
If you’re thinking about trying CBD, you probably have some questions. Such as, what is CBD? What’s the best way to consume CBD? Is one method preferable over the rest, and what are the significant differences?
Let’s explore more about the various ways to consume CBD and which method works best for you.
WHAT IS CBD?
CBD is short for cannabidiol. CBD is a compound that’s found in the hemp plant, which is a member of the cannabis family. CBD is thought to have some fantastic health benefits when consumed, such as:
Help with anxiety and depression
Promote heart health
Manage chronic pain like from arthritis
Control acne when applied topically
Soothing feelings of nausea
These are just a few of the medical benefits of CBD, but the research is continuing.
A couple of gray areas dealing with CBD are it’s legality and the controversy surrounding its ability to get you high.
CBD is legal at the federal level, but each state has its regulations and laws. CBD must contain less than 0.3% of THC — another cannabinoid present in cannabis — for it to be sold in stores. If you’re going to purchase CBD, make sure to check your state laws so you comply with them.
THC, otherwise known as Tetrahydrocannabinol, is also found in the cannabis plant, and it’s the main culprit that gives you that high feeling when smoking weed. However, even though THC is present in hemp in low amounts, it’s mainly found in marijuana. Because of this, CBD cannot get you high, because it’s derived from hemp.
CBD CONSUMPTION METHODS
So what are the ways to consume CBD? Thankfully, there are plenty of methods you can reap the benefits of CBD. Here is a basic breakdown of CBD consumption methods
TINCTURES
Tinctures are one of the most popular ways to consume CBD. It involves using an eyedropper to ingest CBD orally and sublingual, or under the tongue. When CBD is consumed sublingually, CBD works faster, and more of it enters your system.
Tinctures are mainly composed of three basic ingredients: CBD, alcohol, and some flavor to make it more palatable.
One of the reasons tinctures are so preferred is because it’s simple to measure out the correct dose of CBD. You measure what you need as accurately as possible. It’s also effortless to integrate into your life — adding it to other foods like smoothies, cereals, and so forth — especially if you don’t want any flavoring or cannot tolerate holding CBD under the tongue.
CAPSULES
CBD capsules are incredibly convenient. They have a fixed amount of CBD, which makes dosing easy and great for someone who wants to avoid the taste of CBD. Taking CBD capsules is perfect for someone who has a busy lifestyle and wants to take their CBD and be done with it!
With CBD capsules, they do need to go through the digestive system, which will mean the results might not be felt as quickly as a sublingual method. However, this doesn’t mean capsules are not preferable or not working well.
EDIBLES
Did you know you can eat CBD? With edibles, this is possible!
Plenty of foods, snacks, gummies, and drinks are now infused with CBD. This makes it perfect for people who are on the go and want a small burst of CBD instead of a continuous dose.
One thing to be cautious of with edibles is calorie content. It’s very easy to overconsume snacks with or without CBD. This is important because you don’t want to overdose on CBD or overconsume and add on extra calories you don’t need.
VAPING
Vaping is the process of taking CBD through a vaporizer. The vaporizer converts CBD oil into a vapor, which you take in through the lungs.
Vaping CBD means it bypasses digestion entirely and goes straight to the bloodstream. You feel the effects of CBD more quickly than any other method. Vaping should not be confused with smoking, as there are stark differences.
TOPICALS
The topical method is the opposite of taking CBD orally. It means applying CBD directly to the skin via creams, lotions, oils, or balms. All of these formulas are infused with CBD and act as a ‘carrier’ to get CBD to a local area where you might have pain or inflammation.
There may be other ingredients in these products, so if you have any skin irritations, take a look at the ingredients first before buying.
TYPES OF CBD
There are three basic types of CBD to consume. Each of them has its pros and cons.
ISOLATE - CBD isolate is CBD alone. It’s been removed (isolated) from all of the other elements and cannabinoids in the plant.
BROAD-SPECTRUM - Broad-spectrum CBD means you get all the other cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, and more, but with the THC wholly removed.
FULL-SPECTRUM - Full-spectrum CBD is CBD, along with all the other elements from the hemp plant. It’s believed that CBD works best this way because it’s working with additional cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, and more, in what’s referred to as the “entourage effect.”
THE BEST WAY TO CONSUME CBD
The best way to consume CBD boils down to two fundamental questions: for what are you take CBD, and how does it fit seamlessly into your life?
First, decide why you want to try CBD. Will you need a specific dose, and how do you prefer to take your supplements? It’s ok to try one way and switch it up if you need it!
Second, how will taking CBD affect your lifestyle? Are you busy, or do you have time to devote to measuring out doses?
Whichever way you choose, make sure it works best for you.
READY TO TRY CBD?
The best way to consume CBD will be about what’s best for you and your situation. Keep trying with trial and error until you reach the results you’re looking for.
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