To begin with, CBD oils aren’t for everyone. They have a grassy flavor which not all people like.
If you are one of those people, you can either find a flavored option or find a way to mask the taste.
Taking CBD Oil Sublingually
Most people take their CBD oil as it is. These are the people who have no issues when it comes to the natural taste of the oil.
How does this work?
As you put a couple of drops of CBD oil under your tongue, it gets absorbed directly into your bloodstream. CBD enters the capillary-rich areas along your cheek and gums.
Compared to swallowing, this route works faster.
To maximize the effects, you need to keep the oil in your mouth for about 1.5 minutes before you swallow it. You can increase absorption by swishing the oil around your mouth vigorously. Doing this boosts the surface contact between your capillaries and the oil.
Mixing CBD Oil with Food
If you aren’t a fan of the natural taste of CBD oil, you can take it with your food to hide the grassy taste. This is also a fantastic way to administer CBD for cats or other pets.
Apart from masking the taste, taking CBD oil with food can also maximize its absorption. It’s because taking CBD orally allows its active ingredients to be absorbed by your digestive system.
Now, here’s where it gets tricky:
The food you eat along with your CBD oil can have an effect on how much of the compound your body is able to absorb.
In one study, half of its participants took CBD in the morning before eating and ate their breakfast about 4 hours later. The other half, meanwhile, had a high-fat breakfast burrito after 30 minutes of taking the oil.
The groups switched after 2 weeks.
When blood draws were taken, it was established that those participants who ate a high fat morning meal had a higher amount of CBD absorbed.
A gentle reminder:
Even though it’s suggested that taking a high-fat meal can boost the absorption of CBD, it doesn’t mean that you should eat fatty foods along with your supplement all the time.
Fatty foods can increase the variability of absorption since not all foods have the same amount of fat.
Mixing CBD Oil and Alcohol
If you drink alcohol, you’re likely to experience less inhibitions. It can also help you relax.
Taking CBD, on the other hand, can make you feel calmer. There are studies that suggest that it can help lessen anxiety, too.
Now, if you take the two, you’re likely to experience the same effects but stronger.
For some people, mixing CBD and alcohol doesn’t just make them feel sleepy and sedated. They also experience changes in behavior and mood.
And there’s a study that suggests the same thing.
In the said study, it was found out that combining CBD with alcohol may result in significantly impaired motor performance as well as altered time perception.
Take note, however, that the said study is a bit outdated. Plus, it involved the use of a higher amount of CBD than what most people tend to use.
Here’s the good side:
Mixing CBD and alcohol show promising benefits. The list includes protection from cell damage and lower blood alcohol levels. It may even help treat alcohol addiction.
Now, should you take your CBD oil this way?
The research regarding alcohol and CBD is quite limited.. Considering that, it’s not recommended that you take the two together.
If your mind is still set on mixing alcohol and CBD, take them in low amounts to minimize your risks.
