After the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, which removed hemp and hemp-derived products with <.3% THC from the DEA’s list of Schedule I substances, CBD product creation and production has exploded! You can now find bath, beauty, pet, and ingestible CBD products just about anywhere. When choosing a particular CBD product, you have to decide how you are going to take it. You can choose from edible gummies, capsules, tinctures, drink inserts, and more. So, how in the world do you decide what is best for you and which will be most impactful for your particular need?
Phytocannabinoids and Our Bodies
First, you need to know how our bodies process phytocannabinoids. Phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids from plants. CBD is one of over 120 known phytocannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Phytocannabinoids are fat soluble compounds that are absorbed through the small intestine and metabolized in the liver. Because of this, CBD is “lipophilic,” meaning it likes fats and dissolves and distributes more readily when taken with fats (like MCT coconut oil). There are natural and chemical processes for making CBD water-soluble, but that’s another blog post for another day.
Eat, Drink, or Drop?
Here’s why eating or drinking your CBD might not be the best thing for you: CBD is lipophilic, so when we simply ingest CBD, it must take quite the journey to the small intestine and liver before it is available for use. If you aren’t taking it right, by the time it reaches your liver, you may have lost some of the benefits along the way.
However, there’s some good news! Taking anything sublingually (under the tongue) bypasses the entire digestive system, moving molecules directly into the bloodstream. This is why we recommend our tinctures for all kinds of mental and physical discomfort.
Making It a Habit
Another thing to note is that CBD is similar to taking a daily multivitamin; consistency and longevity is key. Though CBD is not yet approved by the FDA, it is like a supplement for our bodies in that it acts on the endocannabinoid system (or ECS), which has receptors throughout the body. We aren’t just taking a “pill for the ill”, but rather we are supporting our ECS so that it can, in turn, support all of our other body systems in maintaining a healthy balance (homeostasis).
When choosing a CBD product, it is important to ask yourself which method you are most likely to stick to taking on a consistent basis. Maybe you will only remember to take it when you can put a gummy in a pill box. Maybe you hate the taste of CBD oil (though, customers are saying our CBD oil tastes natural and not fake). That’s all okay! Whichever way you take it, CBD oil can have lasting effects on your overall health.
What is your favorite CBD product, and why? Tell us in the comments!
If you have any questions, feel free to shoot us an email at theteam@twinpineshemp.com