Cannabidiol, usually referred to as CBD, is a compound derived from the hemp plant. CBD is most commonly used for its many health benefits and its ability to calm and relax without feeling “stoned.”

The CBD industry is multiplying to accommodate the booming consumer market, and as a result, CBD can now be found in everything from lotions to lip balms to milk. But did you know that you can even add it to your food? This post will be covering this in this article, but before diving straight in, there are some basics to cover first.

What is CBD?

CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is one of the many active cannabinoids in cannabis. Cannabinoids are chemical compounds unique to cannabis that act on the cannabinoid receptors in the human body. While humans have endocannabinoids that are produced in-house by our bodies, there are also phytocannabinoids from plants. One of these phytocannabinoids is CBD. The endocannabinoid network is a system made up of what are known as cannabinoid receptors. These are chemicals (endocannabinoids) that bind to and cannabinoid enzymes, which break down the endocannabinoids after being used. This network is found throughout the body and is believed to play a role in sleep, mood, and general well-being.

Is It Legal?

Unlike THC, CBD is entirely legal for use in most US states and countries around the world. CBD is legal in most areas, with only a few exceptions. This means that most people can use CBD without having to worry about any legal ramifications and wholesale distributors of CBP products often have large businesses that supply extremely high-quality products to customers worldwide in countries where it is legal, and more often than not, to most legal US states. CBD also has quite a few health benefits that you should be aware of if you think about using it regularly.

Health Benefits of CBD

There is a large body of information that extols the health benefits of CBD. This information ranges from anecdotal to professional medical studies. Some of the more well-known advantages include:

– Pain relief both mild and severe (although some instances of pain should be looked at by a doctor before self-medicating).
– Reduce Anxiety.
– Reduce the effects of depression.
– Could reduce acne.
– Possible neuroprotective properties.
– Maintain a healthy heart.
– Reduce the withdrawal effects of some drugs like heroin.

How Do You Take CBD Usually?

There are many different methods of taking CBD, each producing different results at varying speeds. The most common methods include:

– Edibles (which is covered a bit later on).
– Vaping.
– Topicals such as creams.
– Oil dropping.

So now that you understand CBD, including its potential health benefits and legalities, let’s move onto the fun part; cooking!

Why Cook With CBD?

When you cook with CBD, you can reap its benefits without smoking or vaporizing. The primary psychoactive component of cannabis, THC, is not found in CBD, so there will be no adverse effect on your mental state. That means you can enjoy its products without feeling high and can even drive yourself home after eating with friends (although caution is still urged, and you should judge how you feel before setting off).

Some Tips On Cooking With CBD

The great thing about doing this is that you can often cook as you would if you didn’t use CBD. Nevertheless, there are some tips that you can follow to make the experience even better.

Don’t Use Your Most Expensive CBD Products

You can buy products like CBD-infused olive oil, which is more affordable and works far better than if you were to add loads of your expensive tinctures to the mix. Tinctures often contain a lower potency than oil variants (although they are more easily absorbed into your body). This means that you will need to use more to get the same effects.

Don’t Overheat Your CBD Infused Food

Overheating food containing CBD will possibly reduce its potency. Therefore the ideal temperature should not exceed 350 Degrees Fahrenheit. If you are cooking food that needs high heat to be safely consumed, the best option is to add the product to the food once it comes out of the pan or oven.

Benefit More With Healthy Fats

CBD is what is known as a fat-soluble compound. Or, to put it another way, your body will be able to absorb it better when it becomes absorbed into fat. Any fat will do, but if you are using CBD, the chances are that you want to improve your health. Therefore it is recommended to use only healthy fats like extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and other options like avocado oil.

Take Your Time

If you have ever eaten THC-infused brownies, you will know that the effects creep up slowly and then sucker punches you just after you have consumed even more of them! Well, CBD-infused food is not entirely like this as the effects are quite different from THC, but you should be patient and take your time. The food needs to get digested before the CBD passes into your bloodstream. This process takes time and is different for everybody. Those with fast metabolism may feel the effects sooner than those with slower metabolisms.

Use Your Brain

Although CBD is safe for the vast majority of people and doesn’t have the mind-altering effects of cannabis, you should still use common sense when cooking with it. For example, if you are cooking for friends, you should ensure that they know in advance what you are doing. This is not only the polite thing to do, but CBD may affect some medications that people are taking. The most well-documented interaction is with Warfarin, the blood thinner. Needless to say, this could be catastrophic if someone took this drug and unknowingly ate CBD-infused food.

Cooking with CBD is a fun and beneficial activity to do with it. You will reap all of the advantages that come from this medication, most often with no side effects. However, you should still use caution and let anyone eating with you know that you have used CBD in the recipe.