CBD is the latest trend in the health and wellness space due to the federal prohibition on cannabinoid hemp products coming to an end. While CBD is readily available online and in retail locations across the US, the wide variety of products, the array of benefits, and vague dosing instructions are overwhelming if you are a first-time user.
In this post, we are going to cover the most important factors when it comes to choosing the perfect CBD product for your needs. We will provide an in-depth explanation of the following topics:
- Bioavailability
- CBD absorption
- The Endocannabinoid system
- CBD administration methods
- How to choose the best product for your lifestyle
After reading, you will have a better understanding of the interaction between CBD and your body. In addition, you will be able to choose a safe, highly effective CBD administration method that will help you find natural relief.
What Is Bioavailability?
One of the most important factors in choosing a CBD product is bioavailability. This is a term used in the medical field to describe how much active ingredient is available for the body to utilize. Bioavailability is significant because it will determine the efficacy of your preferred CBD administration method and should influence the dosage.
Currently, there isn’t a CBD product on the market with 100% bioavailability (regardless of what is advertised). A percentage of your CBD will get lost in the process and not be available for your body to use, but that is ok.
Many CBD companies have become too focused on developing high-tech methods to increase bioavailability that may or may not work. Bioavailability is essential, but it isn’t realistic to expect 100% of the CBD to be usable. Instead, we need to recognize the correlation between different administration methods and the bioavailability rate to determine the ideal dosage.
How is CBD Absorbed?
When we take CBD, the goal is to deliver as much of the product to the bloodstream as possible. From there, the CBD is distributed throughout the body, utilized, and hopefully provides benefits.
Different admiration methods offer more direct pathways to the bloodstream. For instance, when we eat CBD in a cookie or brownie, it must be processed by the digestive system before CBD is delivered to the blood and throughout the body. The process isn’t ideal, and you would need to take more milligrams to experience the same benefits of a lower dosage from a more efficient administration method.
How Does CBD Work?
CBD provides benefits by inhibiting enzymes that slow the production of a chemical called anandamide. When CBD is introduced to the bloodstream, it makes its way into the central nervous system and brain, where anandamide, also known as the ‘bliss molecule,’ is naturally produced by the endocannabinoid system.
The ECS
The endocannabinoid system, or ECS, is a complex network of neurotransmitters, receptors, and enzymes that help keep our bodies in balance. Below are the essential parts of the ECS:
- Endocannabinoids – Neurotransmitters that send signals to the receptors, anandamide is the most prevalent.
- Cannabinoid (CB) receptors – CB receptors release chemicals like serotonin and dopamine.
- Degrading enzymes – Endocannabinoid production is inhibited by enzymes that break down the molecules before interacting with CB receptors.
Anandamide is an essential part of the ECS because it helps us deal with adverse external events that cause stress and other mental challenges. A healthy person’s ECS will produce anandamide naturally, sending signals to receptors in the brain and throughout the body to release chemicals to help the person deal with medical conditions.
Regular CBD use boosts endocannabinoid production because it inhibits the enzymes that break down endocannabinoids like anandamide. Once you begin taking CBD over a period of time, your ECS will start producing a healthier level of endocannabinoids and help your body handle adverse external events.
Consist CBD Use
Consistency is a critical part of CBD use. Now that you have a general understanding of how the ECS works, it’s apparent that taking CBD once probably won’t solve all your problems. You must consistently deliver a substantial amount of CBD to the ECS over time to experience the full potential of CBD.
Best CBD Administration Methods?
As we mentioned, every administration method delivers a different bioavailability. While you may conclude that taking the method with the highest abortion rate would provide the most potential benefits, it’s not quite that simple.
There are other factors involved that can lead to long-term consequences or inconsistent use. Below we cover four of the most popular administration methods from most bioavailable to least.
Smoking CBD
Smokable hemp flower or vape oil is the most efficient way to consume CBD. Our lungs offer an excellent pathway to the bloodstream; however, inhaling hot smoke can lead to serious, long-term consequences.
While smoking CBD is the most efficient administration method, the side effects outweigh the benefits. There may be an argument that the advantages of taking CBD are worth the risk of smoking, but there are other ways to deliver CBD to the bloodstream without risking your health.
Sublingual Administration
CBD oil tincture is designed to be absorbed under the tongue. The mucosal glands in our mouths offer a fairly direct path to the bloodstream.
The method isn’t as efficient as sending CBD smoke particles to the lungs, but it doesn’t involve serious health risks.
CBD Gummies
While CBD gummies are technically considered edibles, they offer a much higher absorption rate than most CBD delivered in edible form; much of the gummy is broken down in the mouth and absorbed sublingually. The rest of the gummy is quickly processed by the digestive system, losing minimal CBD in the process.
CBD gummies aren’t as efficient as sublingual CBD, but they will lead to a higher bioavailability than other edibles. Gummies also offer other advantages that we will get into shortly.
CBD Edibles
Edible CBD is the least efficient way to take CBD. If you choose this route, we highly suggest a very potent product, or you most likely won’t get enough CBD to the ECS to experience any benefits.
Ways to Increase Bioavailability
Experts believe that taking CBD on a full stomach offers the best opportunity to experience maximum bioavailability. A study done by the University of Minnesota found that eating foods high in healthy fats, like salmon and avocado, will also increase bioavailability.
Advantages of CBD Oil Tincture
We highly recommend taking CBD sublingually. You will experience the highest absorption of any safe administration method. Holding the CBD oil under your tongue as long as possible will increase the amount of CBD entering the bloodstream directly rather than the digestive tract.
CBD oil is easy to take and is available in a wide range of flavors. Although no administration method is perfect, using sublingual CBD oil tincture is the best option on the market in 2022.
Advantages of CBD Gummies
While CBD gummies will lead to lower bioavailability rates, there are clear advantages in choosing this administration method. First, you can’t beat the taste. Gummies are delicious and lead to regular use, giving your ECS enough CBD to deliver benefits.
Next, most people are comfortable taking a gummy every morning or before bed. Sublingual administration isn’t as common and can lead to inconsistent use.
We recommend increasing the dosage if you go from CBD oil to CBD gummies. You will lose some absorption with gummies, but you can make up the difference by increasing your dosage by 10-20mg.
Best CBD Administration Method for Me?
Choosing between CBD oil and CBD gummies must be decided by the individual. We recommend CBD oil because it has a higher bioavailability rate. However, if you are uncomfortable with sublingual administration or worried you won’t use it consistently, we urge you to try gummies.
Bioavailability is irrelevant if you aren’t using it daily. Therefore, choosing the method that leads to regular use is the best option.
Bioavailability Vs. Consistent Use
Both are essential qualities when choosing an administration method. We highly recommend choosing the type of CBD product you will take consistently to experience benefits. Your ECS needs regular CBD to help increase endocannabinoid production and activate CB receptors. Selecting a method with relatively high bioavailability that leads to everyday CBD use is the best strategy if you want to experience the benefits of CBD.
Try CBD Oil Tincture and CBD Gummies from Seren CBD
At Seren CBD, we offer both administration methods to accommodate our diverse customer base. We have a CBD tincture with six different flavors plus unflavored. We also carry CBD gummies in Apple and Strawberry.
Whether your lifestyle caters to sublingual oil or CBD gummies, you can’t go wrong with Seren CBD. We carry premium CBD products sourced from high-quality, organically grown USA hemp and offer full-spectrum and broad-spectrum (THC-free) options.
Visit our CBD online store or reach out to us if you have any questions regarding our products. Remember that consistent use and bioavailability is the key to unlocking the power of CBD!