We are all pretty familiar with CBD oil, CBD capsules and even CBD balms or other CBD cosmetic products. We all know how to consume CBD products and how they can help with our general health and well-being.
However, there is another way to consume and incorporate CBD into your diet, like the Love CBD 500mg Dutch Oil for example, and that is to add it to your cooking recipes.
Cooking with CBD oil is relatively simple and as CBD is fat soluble, it means it is more readily absorbed into our bloodstream and we get a greater benefit from any cannabinoids we consume if included within a meal containing fat.
LONG LASTING EFFECTS
The process of cooking with CBD oil may in some case slow down the release time and the benefits a user experiences. Therefore, consuming CBD oil as part of a meal may be better for anyone who is looking for a longer lasting effect. Slowing down the release time of cannabinoids may be of particular use for individuals using a CBD oil in the evening or at night time. Having the effect last longer may lead to a less disturbed and more restful night.
It is thought that taking CBD and cannabinoids through cooking can take up to an hour for the CBD to get into our system and then take at least 2 more hours before the full effect is felt and realised.
EASY TO COOK WITH
We already use ingredients like olive oil, hemp oil, coconut oil or other types of fat to cook with, so adding CBD oil is a simple way to get cannabinoids into your diet.
CBD oil is perfect for mixing with other fats you might cook with like coconut oil, avocado oil, hemp oil or olive oil. However, it may not be the first choice when frying an egg for example.
The taste of CBD oil is not to everyone’s liking, so you could mask that by mixing it with a sauce, including coconut oil which is used in many Thai dishes. By mixing it with other sauces, especially those with a high fat content in it, ensures the CBD is more readily absorbed into your system after eating, which is a great benefit to you and your meal.
Other ways to incorporate CBD oil into your cooking is to add it to things like soups, ice cream, deserts and even coffee. It can also be added to a smoothie or mixed in with a yoghurt to start your day with a hit of well-being and as we said before, it’s best when taken with a high fat containing food, so yoghurt is perfect for that.
USE HIGH QUALITY CBD OIL
As with all ingredients we cook with, you should always do some research as to where the product comes from. In the case of CBD products, you should always ensure that any CBD oil has a recent and comprehensive lab report, check how it is made and are the company, like Love CBD, a trusted and reputable one.
It is also worth making sure that you know the difference between CBD oil and hemp seed oil. Hemp oil is derived from the seeds of the plant and contains very few cannabinoids including CBD, although it is packed with essential omega fats and a very healthy inclusion into your diet.
START SMALL
When using CBD products like the Love CBD Entourage Oil, it’s best to go low and slow. You can add a few drops to a recipe just to see how you get on and whether the taste is to your liking.
You can always add more CBD oil to your salad or recipe later if you need a stronger flavour, or reduce the amount if it’s too overpowering. It is an acquired taste that some people love and others hate, a bit like Marmite.
Cooking experts suggest trying CBD oil in something you are already familiar with, like a favourite salad or even a cup of coffee. Then you can easily gauge if it’s something you would be comfortable with as an ingredient for more adventurous dishes.
USE RECIPES WITH SOME FAT IN THEM
As previously discussed, CBD oil is fat soluble, which means it is more readily absorbed into our bloodstream when consumed with fats. The CBD and other cannabinoids, if using a good quality broad spectrum cannabis extract containing product, will bind to the fats in the food and improve the level of absorption.
BE WARY OF HEAT
Terpenes like beta caryophyllene will evaporate at high temperatures so it may be best to add the CBD oil near the end of any cooking process when the ingredients may be cooler. Alternatively, you could always drizzle the oil on a salad or add as a garnish to a dish for some added flavour. This will ensure that whoever eats your healthy meal will get the full benefit of the cannabinoid rich CBD oil.
Terpenes are what gives plants, including hemp, its distinctive smell and flavour and there are many to be found in the Cannabis Sativa L (hemp) plant from which CBD and other cannabinoids are extracted.
It can also be used in baking but the oven temperature again may cause terpenes to evaporate, so maybe add it as a decoration after it’s baked.
CBD oil which contains acidic cannabinoids can also go through a decarboxylating process with very high temperatures or over time naturally. It is unlikely to be an issue due to the high temperatures required for these processes to happen, though worth bearing in mind.
You should also be careful when storing your CBD oil as like any type of oil, it can degrade if stored in strong artificial light or sunlight which will affect the quality of the oil and therefore the quality of your finished meal. When buying CBD oil ensure that the bottle is not clear, you would not find a good quality olive oil in a clear bottle so the same applies to CBD oil.
CBD oil is an ideal oil to cook with as you get all the health benefits from the cannabis compounds whilst introducing a new an interesting flavour to meals. It can be used in meals which are cooked, fried or baked, or drizzled over a salad as you would with other dressings and oils. My personal favourite is anything containing chocolate.
Cooking with CBD oil can be intimidating, but as with any ingredient you need to be bold, have fun and just experiment with it!
