According to Wikipedia, “cannabidiol is a phytocannabinoid discovered in 1940. It is one of 113 identified cannabinoids in cannabis plants and accounts for up to 40% of the plant’s extract.”
While there have only been a few human studies for CBD, and yet a Gallup Survey found that in 2019 about 1 in 7 Adults use CBD Products
If you’re looking to reduce stress, nausea, and insomnia then cooking with CBD oil is something you should definitely try. If you’re new to CBD, or if you’ve never cooked with it, you may have some questions first of all.
How do you add CBD to food?
Will it mix well with any drinks?
Can CBD intoxicate you?
Does it actually work?
For all of this and more, read on!
Will CBD Intoxicate You?
CBD is found in cannabis plants like hemp and yes, marijuana. However, unlike THC, CBD is not proven to intoxicate you.
Also, according to the World Health Organization, “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential.”
CBD has, however, been shown to relax people in ways that help with depression, insomnia, and anxiety.
If you live in a US state where marijuana is not legal, or you enjoy being relaxed but not feeling intoxicated, you should definitely look into CBD.
Combine It With A Fat
There are various ways that you can take CBD, you can take CBD as a drop under your tongue, in a vape pen, or by adding it to food or drink.
To add it to your cooking, it works best to combine the CBD with fat. Butter or coconut oil work great with CBD.
Once you’ve combined your CBD mixture, you can use it the same way you would use butter or oil!
One thing you need to remember is to be careful with heat. CBD can evaporate and loose potency when you apply too much heat.
It is best to drizzle some CBD oil over avocado toast, pizza, or eggs.
It is a great companion to sauces like guacamole and you can also mix it into salads and pesto as well!
What Does it Go With?
CBD can blend better with savory foods than sweet foods in my experience.
It mixes very well in soups, pastas, and salad dressings.
You can also make gummies or mix it into drinks – drinks, especially smoothies are my personal favourite!
CBD drink ideas include:
- Fresh Mint Tea
- Chai and iced chai teas
- Fruit Smoothies – add the CBD to a load of berries or citrus fruits, you get the added benefits of the fruit
- Green smoothies – similar to the fruit smoothies above, a smoothie with a decent of veg has many benefits
- Matcha or Green Tea – Matcha can be an acquired taste, green tea works just fine as well, you can also buy flavoured green teas. These have health benefits as well.
For mixing CBD into a drink, you usually only need to add the right amount and shake it up!
CBD oil will mix with most drinks, so you do not need to combine it with butter or another fat.
It is best, however, to follow the recipe just in case your drink is the exception rather than the rule.
Appropriate Dosage
If you cook with too much CBD oil, you may experience dizziness or nausea. Some report an “uplifted” feeling, but don’t worry. You’re not intoxicated, you just ingested too much CBD. Make sure to regulate your dosage.
If you aren’t experienced with CBD, start with a smaller dose and slowly move up until you feel your desired results.
Less is better in this situation, because you can always take more but you can’t go back in time to take less! If you are adding large doses and still feeling no benefits, CBD may not be for you.
Don’t risk taking too much.
Side Effects
Like most things some folks report side effects associated with CBD.
These include diarrhea, mild nausea, dizziness, excessive fatigue, and dry mouth. If you experience any of these, you may be taking too much CBD or CBD may not be for you. CBD should relax you and ease your troubles, it should not give you stress.
If CBD isn’t working for you, consult a doctor and seek other treatments for your anxiety.
Precaution: Consult your doctor before using CBD. This article is not a substitute for medical advice