Buoyed by the worldwide popularity of CBD oil and the creativity and innovation of manufacturers worldwide, the hemp-derived CBD market has taken off over the past few years. According to the experts, the cannabidiol market is valued at an estimated $10 billion and can expect to see exponential growth over the next five years. Late last year, Grand View Research predicted that the market would reach $23.67 billion by 2024 thanks to a combination of consumer-friendly products that include cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and personal care products.
CBD is a big business, and for a good reason — it’s a beneficial product that works for numerous people across the globe. But cannabidiol has also grown in popularity because of its versatility. Not only does it make for a great tincture, but there’s a growing market for topicals, edibles, pet CBD and more.
CBD oil is a wonderful kitchen companion too. It’s a great way to enhance your favorite meal with something all-natural, making even the blandest recipes exciting and new.
One of the major reasons that hemp-derived CBD is taking over kitchens everywhere is because it’s such a novel compound. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, cannabidiol has no psychotropic effects, meaning it’s non-intoxicating. Because CBD oil doesn’t cause a high like it’s more well-known cousin does, more and more people, from professionals to entrepreneurs to stay-at-home moms, are incorporating it into their lifestyle.
The food we eat is a central part of our lifestyle choices, as is the way we choose to prepare it, which is why so many users are incorporating CBD into their daily food routines.
Moreover, the unique way CBD interacts with our bodies makes it an ideal addition to any kitchen. That’s because cannabidiol works through indirect action, activating non-cannabinoid receptors, as opposed to THC, which binds directly to our CB1 and CB2 receptors. For example, CBD oil activates things like Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Inhibition, which leads to higher levels of anandamide and Activating TRPV1 Receptors, which regulates inflammation, among other things.
In other words, research tells us the CBD may regulate a whole host of different bodily functions. Incorporating it into your daily meal routine won’t just enhance your food, but it may help ensure you receive the maximum benefits possible from this wonderful cannabinoid.
So, let’s see how CBD can enhance your next meal.
First Things First: The Bioavailability of CBD
Before we discuss how to use CBD to enhance your next meal, we need to talk about why we would use it, and if it is a good idea for you. Part of that conversation involves discussing the bioavailability of CBD. What is bioavailability? Simply put, it means the rate the CBD oil is absorbed into your bloodstream.
The bioavailability of CBD varies depending on your method of ingestion. Consumers are always asking what the “best” way is to take CBD, but that’s not really the correct question to be posing. More importantly, you should be asking yourself, what’s the best way for me to take CBD? We’re all unique, and our needs vary. What works best for one person may not necessarily work best for another.
That being said, let’s take a look at the rates of bioavailability for different methods of ingesting CBD and see if we can’t dispel some myths along the way:
- Oral CBD (ingested): 6 – 20 percent
- Sublingual CBD (under the tongue): 13 – 35 percent
- Inhaled CBD (vaped): 34 – 56 percent
What these numbers mean in a practical sense, is that if you had a product with 100mg of CBD and you administered it orally, at most, 20mg will enter your bloodstream. Now, even though the numbers are pretty low for edible CBD, that doesn’t mean that using it in that fashion doesn’t have its benefits.
In fact, CBD edibles have many advantages. The first is that they’re a much easier way to consume cannabidiol for many people than vaping. Second, using CBD oil in your kitchen allows you to make this novel cannabinoid a part of your daily routine, incorporating all of its benefits into a better lifestyle that you can experience every day.
Finally, you can turn your favorite meal into a real CBD treat, using creativity and innovation in the kitchen like never before. For new users, especially, starting out with orally ingested CBD in the kitchen may be a great way to start your journey into the world of cannabidiol.
Enhancing Your Meals with CBD Oil
Because CBD is so versatile, you can add it to almost any meal or drink. If you’re just starting out, it’s recommended that you always use a reputable brand of CBD, preferably one that’s tested by third-party labs for quality and safety. And always go low and slow, meaning start with a low dose of CBD and work your way up slowly until you find a sweet spot that works for you. Sometimes, all it takes is a few drops of CBD oil added to your favorite drink or salad dressing to turn your favorite meal into something extraordinary.
Now that we have the preparation out of the way, there are three primary ways that you can enhance your next meal with CBD. Those ways include:
- Using CBD Edibles
- Adding CBD oil to a recipe
- Adding a CBD-infused condiment to a meal
The first way is probably the easiest way to incorporate CBD into your food and drink, as pre-prepared, pre-packaged CBD edibles make ingesting cannabidiol simple. There is a myriad of different edibles on the market, from CBD Gummies to CBD Cake Pops and more. It’s a wonderful (and convenient) way to turn your next snack into a beneficial CBD experience, eventually helping you to incorporate CBD into your daily routine.
Adding CBD oil to your next meal is a great way to enhance your favorite dish and make CBD oil a part of your lifestyle. For example, one of our favorite dishes to make is an Andalusian Gazpacho, the ideal summertime dish from Spain and Portugal that’s served cold. We like to add just a few drops of unflavored CBD oil along with delicious cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and peppers. It turns a summer Gazpacho into a cornucopia of all-natural, hemp-derived CBD goodness!
Finally, one of our favorite ways to enhance a meal with CBD is by using CBD-infused condiments. Popular CBD manufacturers like Diamond CBD are developing a wide variety of new products for the CBD 2.0 generation, such as a slew of CBD-infused Sauces and Salad Dressings. Adding the benefits of CBD to your daily routine can now be exciting and fun with things like CBD-infused ketchup, hazelnut spread, hot sauce, and more.
Enjoy Your Next CBD Meal
Whatever way you choose to incorporate CBD into your next meal, remember to have fun with it. Adding CBD oil to your kitchen toolbox is a simple way to make a positive lifestyle change by giving you the ability to put something natural in your meals on a daily basis. But just because you’re doing something beneficial doesn’t mean it has to be boring.
And finally, never put CBD oil on direct heat! Making your CBD oil too hot can have a disastrous effect, causing the product to lose its potency. So, have fun and happy cooking!
