With people who have recently begun using CBD oil or it is something they are putting great thought into, learning the differences between taking capsules and eating edibles is one of the most common questions they have. If the reason for using a CBD product is for finding relief or part of a stress or pain relief management routine, it can be a difficult decision picking which one might work the best for you.
With this article, we will shed some light on the differences between these two specific methods of use, where they are similar, and make an appeal for both capsules and edibles. This is our best way of providing the information needed for you to decide which of the two will work the best for you and your needs.
Where do Edibles and Capsule Differ?
We will make our beginning discussing the differences between using a CBD capsule and edible.
What is a CBD edible: CBD edibles cover a selection of edible products like food. Like the foods we usually eat, they have taste, have calories in them, be consumed like a snack, and have CBD oil inside of them. These edibles are much more than just premade-goods. CBD can be cooked into almost anything you would want to prepare. Regardless if you’re making sauce for spaghetti or chocolate for dessert, these edibles can be made from your own kitchen at home.
What is a CBD capsule: These are gel capsules that contain CBD oil. Sometimes hempseed oil or coconut oil is part of the mix, but you can find a solely pure CBD oil capsule. These are very similar to liquid or fish oil gel-caps that could be found in the supplement aisle of any grocery or convenience store. They look identical to any other capsule you would take unless the brand or manufacturer takes additional steps to make them look unique.
Overview of CBD Edibles
Any food that has been prepared to contain CBD oil is considered a CBD edible. The ones you can purchase in a store will come with an exact dose printed on the packaging for you to read. This will help you manage how much CBD oil you are consuming. By far, one of the most popular edibles on the market are gummies. These are made with flavoring, gelatin, CBD oil, and coloring will often be used.
While shopping around for CBD products, here are some of the types of edibles you can expect to find:
- Raw honey
- Gummies
- Infused beverages
- Chocolates
- Sugar candies
- Baked treats
- Chewing gum
Similar to other CBD products, edibles are available as isolate, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum. Depending on which you prefer depends what else is included in the product, such as compounds found in the hemp plant, all the compounds without THC, or pure CBD oil. Here are some of the pros and cons of consuming CBD edibles.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Low-profile in public
- Home cooking customization
- Tasty snacks
Cons
- Snack temptation
- Slow-acting
- Some have unhealthy preservatives and artificial ingredients.
Absorption of CBD Edibles
As quickly as your body is able to digest what you are eating, the CBD oil will absorb into your system. Because of this, it could take as long as an hour or so before you begin feeling the effects. Once they start hitting, the results can be expected to last for as long as four to six hours. Depending on your metabolism and the amount of food already sitting in your stomach, your absorption rate will vary.
CBD oil will also interact with the lever’s P450 enzyme system. This system will break down toxins that make their way through your body. This includes medications that are both prescribed and purchased over the counter. CBD oil will inhibit this system. This could influence how your body is affected by other medicines. To make sure you do not experience any negative interactions, you will want to make sure you have a discussion with your doctor or physician before starting to use CBD oil.
Dosing with CBD Edibles
To make CBD edibles, CBD oil is added to any recipe for a typical, snack-like food. At times, the recipe will barely be affected by the said CBD oil. Also, CBD oil should not be considered a replacement for cooking oil. This makes for manageable, small doses that are regulated without difficulty.
Most CBD edibles, especially gummies, will include information concerning the amount of CBD oil in mg per serving. A system is worked out by most people, allowing them to learn the specific number of edibles to eat, achieving the desired results, such as help falling asleep or relieving pain.
When you first begin determining your CBD edibles’ ideal dosage, you want to take things slow and keep the dosage low. Once the edible has had an hour to absorb into your system, then make the desired changes for the results you are looking for.
DIY CBD Edibles
If you enjoy cooking, you can make CBD edibles at home on your own. That being said, you will want to make sure you are careful with portions and dosing. If this is something that grabs your interest, make sure you are doing low-temp baking, no-bake, or adding CBD oil once the food is close to being finished cooking. This is because CBD oil will degrade at a high temperature.
If CBD items are being baked, it is suggested the oven temp is kept below 320 degrees Fahrenheit. Or, CBD oil can always be mixed into a topping or icing instead. If a sauce is being made, wait to stir in the CBD oil until the end of preparation.
You will need to be precise with your measurements. A dropper should be used, and you will need to know how much CBD oil is in each individual snack that is being made. If homemade CBD edibles are being stored, make sure the containers have been properly labeled with each portion’s exact dosage.
Overview of CBD Capsules
On the other hand, CBD oil capsules do not come with a taste, and they will not need to be chewed. These are gel-cap containing a few CBD drops that have been carefully dosed. They could be mixed with either hemp seed oil or coconut oil. The gel-caps will look the same as any other oil-based pill or vitamin that can be taken along with daily medications. Like any other gel-cap, you will want to take them with water.
Here is a summary of the pros and cons of using a CBD oil capsule.
Pros
- Faster-acting
- Most consistent dosing
- Quicker absorption rate than with edibles
- Discreet with other medication
Cons
- No taste
- Difficult to modify the dose being taken
- Interaction with other supplements and vitamins
CBD Oil Capsule Absorption
CBD oil taken through a capsule will absorb into the body quicker than through eating edibles. This is because a gel-cap will efficiently dissolve in a stomach without additional components or ingredients needing to be digested. That being said, with capsules, up to an hour can still be required before you begin to feel the effects. Similar to ingesting CBD oil through edibles, the results will also be felt from four to six hours when taking a capsule.
Like CBD edibles, the strength of the effects and speed of absorption of CBD capsules might be influenced by your metabolism, food already inside your stomach, and P450 system.
Dosing for CBD Capsules
A CBD oil capsule will provide a consistent dose. Capsules are designed to work the same as other oil supplements and vitamins. They are easily added to any regimen currently being taken for health and wellness.
Each CBD capsule will provide CBD in an exact dose. This will be identified in milligrams on the package labeling of the product. If taking capsules, you will slowly learn what specific effects can be experienced with an exact number of capsules. When trying CBD capsules for the first time, allow an hour for your system to ingest the CBD oil. Pay attention to the specific results you feel and then make adjustments to how many capsules you are taking as needed.
Conditions CBD oil will Help With
The majority of people contemplating using CBD products hope to find help with managing inflammation, chronic pain, anxiety, and several other similar conditions. These are currently issues usually treated with a medication that will potentially do just as much harm as good to the body. Because of this, more people are beginning to turn to CBD oil as a non-addictive alternative to SSIs and opiates for reducing symptoms.
Concerning the decision between using CBD capsules or edibles, the choice is yours to make. The following information is intended as suggestive only. This is not medical advice from your doctor.
Conditions Better for Edibles
Conditions in Children: If a pediatrician has been consulted and the decision has been made to start using CBD oil for helping a child manage a specific condition such as epilepsy, an edible will make for a tasty and familiar delivery method. Also, when compared to taking a capsule, edibles can be far less intimidating for children.
Crohn’s disease and Digestive disorders: Taking a CBD edible might reach further into the digestive system than what could be done with taking a capsule. Also, with an edible, the stomach can fully absorb the CBD oil. You will need to make sure the edibles being eaten are not high in either sugar or spice. That could make irritation even worse in the digestive tract’s lining.
Chronic pain: We don’t want to give the wrong idea here. A capsule will also provide significant relief for chronic pain. That being said, edibles might be more enjoyable throughout the day compared to taking a capsule.
Alzheimer’s disease: A CBD edible will be much more enjoyable compared to taking a capsule. Compared to capsules and pills, edibles are easier to handle, and if someone has difficulty swallowing, administering through an edible can be easier on the person consuming CBD oil.
Conditions Better for Capsules
Arthritis, pain, and swelling: A CBD capsule is easy to work into any medication routine consumed daily. With the absorption rate being greeted with a capsule, you will receive the relief you crave much quicker than using an edible.
Anxiety: If you are a nervous eater or someone prone to stress and/or anxiety-induced digestive issues, a CBD capsule is going to be easier to manage than CBD edibles.
Epilepsy: A CBD capsule has a more precise dose than edibles. If epilepsy is being managed with a high-dose, strict regimen, capsules control the dose being taken easier.