CBD Edibles UK
What Are CBD Edibles?
CBD edibles are ingestible food products that contain CBD. The most popular cannabidiol edibles are currently CBD Gummies, but edibles can be in the form of other sweets, cookies, chocolates, or any other food. Some people also regard CBD capsules to fall into this category.
What is CBD?
CBD, which is the abbreviation of cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid that is commonly extracted from the hemp (Cannabis Sativa-L) plant. Hemp actually contains hundreds of cannabinoids, such as CBG, CBC, CBDA, CBN, and THC. However, unlike THC or CBN, most other cannabinoids found in hemp are legal and do not have any intoxicating effects.
Cannabidiol has become immensely popular in recent years due to impressive anecdotal and scientific evidence demonstrating its potential to boost wellbeing and overall quality of life.
Are CBD Edibles Full-Spectrum?
Full-spectrum CBD products are made with extracts or infusions that contain trace amounts of all of the plant's compounds, including THC (within legal limits). Additional beneficial compounds include cannabinoids as mentioned above, terpenes, and flavonoids.
Broad-Spectrum products contain many hemp compounds but typically in lower concentrations and with the THC completely removed. CBD isolate products are made with pure CBD crystals normally consisting of 99% pure CBD.
CBD edibles can be formulated with either full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolated CBD extracts. However, full and broad-spectrum CBD edibles are generally the most desirable options as they allow the consumer to benefit from the entourage effect.
The entourage effect is a natural phenomenon in which multiple compounds work in synergy to exhibit stronger effects. As a general rule, the more hemp compound a CBD edible has, the better.
Can I Make My Own CBD Edibles?
Absolutely. You can easily make your own CBD edibles by adding CBD Oil UK into recipes such as smoothies or cakes. Low temperature cooking is advised in order to preserve the integrity of hemp compounds. However, busy people tend to prefer buying pre-made edibles for convenience.
How Can I Boost The Bioavailability Of CBD Edibles?
Bioavailability is a term used to measure how much of a compound can be effectively used and absorbed by the body. A bioavailability of 100% would mean that 100% of the compound can be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Studies have found that pure CBD Isolate ingested on an empty stomach can have a bioavailability of just 6-10%. Meaning that significant amounts of CBD are degraded and excreted from the body. This is quite normal for fat-soluble compounds.
However, consuming CBD with a source of fat can significantly boost bioavailability by up to 8x in some cases. If your CBD edible product does not contain a source of fat, you could simply consume the edible within 30 minutes of eating a meal that does.
Benefits Of CBD Edibles
- Long-lasting, gradual effects.
- Convenient - either as a snack or swallowed in capsule form.
- Tasty - perfect for people who are not keen on the natural flavour of Hemp.
Drawbacks Of CBD Edibles
- Takes longer to feel the effects.
- Slightly lower absorption rates (bioavailability) than alternatives such as sub lingual oils, patches or vape.