CBD Oil vs. CBD Gummies: Which To Choose?
CBD has one of commerce’s highest and fastest growing compound annual growth rates at 21.4%. CBD continues to grow in popularity due to its health benefits.
The two easiest methods for absorbing CBD are oil and gummies. Now you might be wondering, “if they’re equally potent, which one is best for me?” One enters through the bloodstream and the other through the digestive tract.
Keep reading below to crack the code on the great debate of CBD oil vs CBD gummies. Learn more to discover which one is right for you.
What Is CBD?
CBD stands for cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is one of the main compounds found in the marijuana (hemp) plant. CBD is different from the chemical compound THC, which is responsible for the “high” people get after consuming marijuana.
Thus, CBD is not an intoxicant. CBD offers many benefits including:
- Anxiety relief and mood management
- Pain relief
- Regulating circadian rhythm function
- Anti-inflammatory properties
What Does CBD Do To The Body?
CBD is available in many forms from balms to oils and gummies. When consumed or applied topically, CBD interacts with our endocannabinoid system.
This is a system in everyone’s biology. It actually produces our own cannabinoids that serve multiple functions in the body. When the body is not in its highest performing state, we lack our own cannabinoids and CBD helps supplement them and fight inflammation and pain.
The CB1 and CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system pick up on cannabidiol from CBD products. Receptors then act as little messengers and instruct the body to perform various functions depending on personal gaps in health.
CBD might help relieve a swollen joint or it might help calm someone during a stressful experience. It all depends on your needs and how your body tolerates it. Below we’ll discuss CBD oil vs CBD gummies and the differences in bioavailability, absorption, and other factors.
What Is Broad vs Full Spectrum CBD?
Broad spectrum CBD is CBD that only contains certain compounds from the hemp plant. This is done to remove any of the high-inducing THC. If you want to avoid THC look for oils or gummies that are broad spectrum.
Full spectrum CBD on the other hand does contain THC. There is a philosophy known as the Entourage Effect that hypothesizes that the hemp plant is most beneficial when consumed wholly, with THC and all other compounds.
Even with a broad spectrum version of CBD, there can always be trace amounts of THC.
Topical and Oral Application: CBD Oil
CBD oil is a liquid oil (usually a carrier oil infused with essential oils) that contains CBD extract. CBD oil can be made as a full body oil, concentrated spot treatment oil, or face oil. Sometimes CBD oil comes in edible form as well, but it must clearly state that on the product.
Edible CBD oil is more versatile than CBD gummies. You can get your daily dose by mixing a few drops into liquids. This can be a smoothie, soup, salad dressing, or oil drizzle. You can also take it directly by dropping a bit of oil on the tongue.
Since CBD oil is a liquid, it is more easily absorbed by the body and has a faster effect. The fastest way to feel the effects of CBD oil is to take it sublingually.
Sublingual consumption means placing a few drops of CBD oil under your tongue. There are tiny blood vessels under the tongue that absorb the CBD and it quickly passes through your bloodstream in about one minute.
With this application, you should feel the effects almost immediately. You can also use CBD oil topically in which the CBD is absorbed transdermally. Transdermal application takes about one hour to start working.
The final way to consume CBD oil, as mentioned above, is mixed into other liquids, in which the CBD passes through your digestive tract. The rate of absorption will depend on the complexity of the liquid or meal.
It’s also important to note that with a liquid CBD you have a bit more control over the dosage. You can take the recommended serving or a little less by adjusting the liquid. With CBD gummies, each gummy has a set milligram count of CBD so it is harder to adjust the serving size.
Oral Consumption: CBD Gummies
CBD gummies, often interchangeably referred to as “CBD edibles” contain CBD extract. They mainly taste like regular candy gummies and don’t have the earthy hemp flavor.
CBD gummies are a little less versatile than CBD oil. They are great if you have a sweet tooth. You can eat CBD gummies straight, or use them as you would regular gummies, but in the recommended serving size of course!
This means you can put CBD gummies on ice cream sundaes, or make them as part of your sweet and salty snack mix.
Since CBD gummies are food, they pass through the digestive tract. This means they have a slower rate of absorption when compared to CBD oil. Generally, it takes one to two hours to feel the effects of CBD from a gummy.
Which CBD Is Best for Me? CBD Oil vs CBD Gummies
Our bodies are dynamic beings. We tend to get stuck in routines, yet fail to realize we can own several routines. When comparing CBD oil vs CBD gummies, there are a lot of benefits to both methods of using CBD.
The best way to know which one works for you is to try. You might find they both do wonders for your health, and use them interchangeably. Or you might find you prefer the oil. Although there are pros to both options the important common denominator is getting your intake of CBD.
CBD is a health wonder and has no comparable substitute on the market. Make sure to browse our selection of CBD products to find the right one (or ones) for you!
