Some beneficial compounds are destroyed by heat.
CBD is emerging as a potent health-promoting habit. Still, misinformation about the compound abounds. To set the record straight, Furthermore has partnered with Papa & Barkley, the official CBD balm for targeted massages at EQX Body Lab, so you can optimize your CBD intake.
The gist:
It’s common to get CBD from baked goods or to stir drops of the oil into your coffee, but you may miss out on benefits if you consume it in these ways.
Expert insight:
Full-spectrum CBD products contain other compounds like terpenes that work with cannabidiol to produce what’s known as an entourage effect, says Laura Lagano, RD, co-founder of the Holistic Cannabis Academy in Boulder, Colorado. As a result, you get more health and anxiety-reducing benefits than you would from isolated CBD, using volatile extraction.
Many of those extra compounds are heat-sensitive. If they’re cooked, baked, or otherwise exposed to high temperatures, they can degrade and become less potent, she explains. Plus, research shows your body only absorbs—at most—one-fifth of the CBD you ingest. This makes it even more important that you take it in the optimal form.
The bottom line:
You’ll get the most benefits from CBD through oils, also known a tinctures, says Lagano. Choose a high-quality, full-spectrum option like this one from Papa & Barkley, then drop a single dose under your tongue and wait about 60 seconds before swallowing. Doing this after eating foods high in fat (avocado, salmon, nuts, or cheese) may improve absorption, according to science.