A Guide to Building a CBD Infused Diet

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Cannabinoids or CBD popularity continues to grow in the health and wellness sectors. CBD has many potential benefits and therapeutic qualities that make it very popular in the health industry. Evidence from research suggests that CBD is effective in treating various ailments and is one of the most potent pain relief strategies. The recent industry to jump on this bandwagon to tap into this remunerative trend is the food and drinks sector. Various food brands are infusing CBD into regular foods and getting creative with CBD-infused diets. This article explores CBD nutrition, its pros, and some popular CBD-infused food and beverages. It also tackles the benefits and side-effects of the same, cooking with CBD and demonstrates some productive tips to building a proper CBD-infused diet.

CBD Infused Diet

CBD As Edibles and Its Benefits

The list of CBD products in edible form is endless. CBD users are spoilt for choices as options are available from gummies to candies and even tea and coffee versions. However, this raises the question of whether CBD food and drinks are a better option as compared to other CBD products, and whether there are specific advantages to taking it in edible form. Here are few pros for you to consider:

  • Good taste– People don’t tend to compromise on taste and CBD food and drinks don’t disappoint in that department.
  • Long-lasting effects– When CBD is taken in the food form, your digestive system holds it longer in your body prolonging its effects. In contrast, CBD taken via inhalation or sublingual does get into your bloodstream quickly, but the results are unfortunately short-lived.
  • No medical prescription required– There is no hassle of getting a prescription from a medical practitioner while buying CBD foods or drinks.
  • Well-regulated dosage– CBD food products come pre-measured and labeled with the exact amount of CBD dose. This ensures the regulation of CBD and helps users to keep a tab on the amount of CBD they are taking in their bodies. However, be cautious of malpractices too.
  • The overall effect on our body– When ingested, CBD has a whole-body effect as opposed to other topical application which targets specific body area.
  • Last but not the least, there are psychological benefits to this relatively non-straightforward method of consumption. Preparing your CBD-infused food provides you with a sense of achievement and also gives you control over the quantity you consume.

Tips to Infuse CBD Into Your Diet

A general rule of thumb to getting started with CBD food and drinks is to take it real slow. As a good starting point, taking 1 mg for every 10 pounds of your body weight is considered appropriate for daily use. Allowing your body to decide the tolerance level is also a smart step as each body is unique and responds in its own unique way.

Generally, CBD takes 30 to 40 minutes to take action. Some bodies even take more time to acclimatize to the CBD. Therefore, don’t panic if you don’t feel any change after your initial dose. Wait another 24 hours before you take the second dose. Here are some tips to building a creative CBD infused diet:

  1. CBD with emulsified fats– CBD is a fat-soluble substance and can easily incorporate with fats such as olive oil and coconut oil. This type of consumption increases absorption and allows CBD to effectively get into your bloodstream. Furthermore, this type of incorporation also enhances the taste aspect of CBD as most users enjoy flavors as opposed to weedy taste.
  2. CBD with alcohol– There is a noticeable rise in breweries and alcohol companies that makes beers, seltzers and other alcoholic drinks containing CBD to actively explore CBD drinks and beverages option. However, the more alcohol you consume, the more are the chances of CBD effects to diminish.
  3. CBD as additives– Certain sweets and sweeteners enhance the effects of CBD and adding them to chocolates, gummies, and candies meets the demand for delicious CBD edibles.
  4. CBD and caffeine– Many caffeinated foods containing CBD are readily available in the market today. The most popular of them all is the cold brew. Another advantage of CBD with caffeine is that it enhances absorption and quick metabolization.

Popular CBD Infused Food to Try

Your body has the natural ability to stimulate cannabinoid activity because of the body’s natural network of cannabinoid receptors and endocannabinoids called the endocannabinoid system. Here are some foods that can naturally stimulate your endocannabinoid system:

  • Chia and flax seeds
  • Eggs and walnuts
  • Sardines and anchovies
  • Tea, herbs, and spices

Below are a few popular CBD foods and drinks you should try:

  • Coffee cold brews
  • Kombucha
  • CBD cocktails
  • CBD gummies
  • CBD protein bars
  • CBD dried fruits

Potential Side-effects on CBD Edibles 

Side-effects are rare for CBD-infused food because CBD itself hardly has any side effects. Most food and beverages with CBD are safe to consume. However, here are some potential side-effects you should be aware of, even if these are not common:

If you experience any of the above symptoms, you must consult a doctor immediately. Also, reduce the dose in the following days to notice if it makes any difference. Nevertheless, in case any of the symptoms persist, stop CBD consumption and seek a doctor’s guidance.

Cooking with CBD

Cooking with CBD is gaining popularity and many people include CBD oil to make delicious smoothies, coffee, and even desserts. We can incorporate CBD into baked goods and sweet treats and even blend some into whip cream or frosting. CBD-infused brownies are no joke either. You can even try CBD with different cuisine. Thai cuisine complements CBD very well and so does Indian cooking. Add coriander, ginger, lime, coconut milk, and your favorite spices to the CBD mix, and voila! You got yourself a delicious curry.

Mixing CBD oil with high-fat oils such as olive and coconut oil also elevates the bioavailability rate up to 5 times. However, heating CBD oil is never a good idea. Most cannabinoids start losing their effects at high temperatures. If you want it in hot foods, drizzling some on top after it slightly cools down would do the trick. Furthermore, always be mindful of the CBD dose ratio. The balance between dose ratio and serving portion will help you preserve active cannabinoid compounds, and you will know exactly how much CBD you are getting into your system.

Tips to Building CBD Infused diet

Follow these tips to reap maximum benefits of CBD nutrition:

  1. Maintain a balanced diet– Most people consider CBD to be a magical ‘panacea’ but CBD doesn’t work wonders on a person following an unhealthy diet. Hence, make sure you evaluate your current diet and ensure you are eating healthy before you start with CBD nutrition.
  2. Go slow and steady– CBD, as with any other foreign substance being introduced to your body, must be taken gradually. Starting with a low dose allows you to analyze its effects as each person reacts rather uniquely to CBD.
  3. Refrain from taking CBD on an empty stomach– This is because taking it on a full stomach increases the rate of absorption as CBD is fat-soluble. Therefore, when you take it with a meal, it absorbs quickly alongside other fats in the meal.
  4. CBD in liquid form– It is interesting to note that CBD when taken in liquid form reacts quickly when compared to taking in its solid state.
  5. Consider your needs and lifestyle– The CBD-infused diet doesn’t necessarily have to be one size fits for all. Consider your lifestyle, keep your options open and be creative. Connect with your body and don’t disregard your likes and dislikes.

Conclusion

CBD-infused edibles are part of the contemporary healthy food trend that has finally caught up with the recent CBD craze. As a result, we see a multi-million-dollar CBD-infused food and beverages industry flourishing everywhere. However, the task of verifying the CBD products falls on its users. With the launch of this industry, CBD has become more accessible than ever and thus the chances of deregulation and contamination are high as well. Do your research and consult your physician before taking it to determine the proper dose and duration. Remember, blindly consuming CBD products without proper validation will do more harm than good. Do a thorough check on your CBD produce and ask for test results, analysis, and insurance certificates to avoid fake or poor-quality CBD. This ensures you are getting the most out of a CBD-rich diet. Bon Appetite!