Are you looking to try CBD for the first time and you're not sure where to start? CBD hemp oil capsules are arguably the most convenient way to get your daily CBD dose and they're a favorite method for both beginners and experienced users.
With CBD capsules, the guesswork is taken out of the process and there's no need to measure or calculate how much CBD you're taking each time.
Luckily, most CBD brands offer at least one type of CBD capsule in their shop. In this guide to CBD capsules, you'll learn what they are, what the benefits are according to science, and more importantly, how to shop for the best CBD capsules for you.
What are the Effects of CBD Capsules?
CBD capsules and CBD oil have similar effects to the benefits we'll shortly layout because they are processed via the digestive system. The main difference in how they perform is noticed in their onset of effects (how long before you feel the effects).
CBD capsules have a more extended on-set over smoking CBD or ingesting CBD oil sublingually because the active ingredients are encased in a dissolvable capsule. The capsule travels down into the stomach where it gets broken down and releases the ingredients all at once. This can take 20–30 minutes.
What are the Benefits of CBD?
Many of CBD's benefits directly result from the compound's effects on homeostasis (balance) through the endocannabinoid system. Here are some of the reasons people are towards cannabidiol CBD products and what the science has to say to back these claims.
Normal Inflammatory Response
Inflammatory response is one of the body's defensive mechanisms triggered by the immune system to protect from environmental danger. However, sometimes the body mistakenly perceives its own cells as threats and dispatches a biological response to eliminate it.
Signs of inflammation, such as redness, swelling, and pain, are indications to make you aware that something is wrong in your body and that you should protect the injured site as it prepares to heal. The problem is, inflammation isn't designed to be a long-term response. When this system dysfunctions, it can lead to serious problems.
Studies to date indicate that the ECS's primary functions are neuromodulation (controlling nerve activity) and immune function. The ECS sustains a normal inflammatory response by slowing the production of inflammatory markers such as T and B cells [1]. When you supplement CBD cannabis sativa plant in your diet, you're helping to support the ECS' regulatory role in your immune system.
A Good Night's Sleep
People who suffer from poor sleep often have a dysfunctional circadian rhythm (internal clock).
The sleep-wake cycle is one of the most recognized circadian rhythms and it involves hormones that make us feel alert in the morning (cortisol) and sleepy at night (melatonin). Jet lag, high-levels of stress, and shift work can throw your circadian rhythm out of wack.
There's no doubt that sleep is vital to our overall health. While we're sleeping, the brain is busy removing toxic debris and repairing neuronal damage [2].
When we become sleep deprived for too long, we gain a build-up of toxic debris and metabolic byproducts that can interfere with our brain's cognitive function and pain relief. This is why when we don't get enough sleep, we make poor decisions, have difficulty concentrating, and are generally more irritable.
CBD helps to support sleep through the ECS' regulation of the sleep-wake cycle [3], blood pressure, nerve pain, anxiety disorders and post traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, CBD and other cannabinoids have been shown to increase GABA production in the brain, supporting a sense of calm to help stop racing thoughts before bed [4].
Cognitive Focus
CBD has been investigated to support focus and mental well-being from its interaction with serotonin.
Serotonin is a complex neurotransmitter tasked with regulating mood, learning, chronic pain and memory (multiple sclerosis, among many other things). CBD doesn't directly boost serotonin production, but it supports serotonin transmission [5].
CBD has also been shown to help preserve neuron function in the central nervous system (CNS), thanks to its antioxidant properties and its role in supporting homeostasis of the nervous system. Neurons are sensitive to oxidative damage, leading to a gradual loss and destruction of nerve cells [6].
What are the CBD Capsules Benefits
Extract Type
You'll find three extract types when shopping for any CBD product on the market — full spectrum, CBD isolate, and THC-free broad spectrum.
Full Spectrum
Full spectrum extracts refer to the wide range of cannabinoids extracted from the hemp plant. These extracts undergo the least processing and preserve active cannabinoids and terpenes that complement the effects of CBD.
The result is a product that yields more potent effects, thanks to a phenomenon in plant medicine called synergy. The plant's natural phytonutrients work together to deliver well-rounded and more robust benefits than one compound can do on its own.
Hemp produces over a hundred cannabinoids and terpenes alongside CBD, including THC (only up to 0.3%). THC also has health benefits that can help to increase the capabilities of CBD, even in trace amounts.
CBD Isolate
Isolate extracts contain only one ingredient — CBD. They are guaranteed to be completely free of THC. However, they have limited health benefits, and you typically need stronger doses to yield the same effects as full spectrum products.
Many CBD brands like using CBD isolate in their formulas because it's much easier to standardize their medical cannabis products for the same CBD concentrations. This is a little more challenging with full spectrum products, which is why it can cost a little more, but the results are truly worth it.
THC-Free Broad Spectrum
Broad spectrum is like the best of both CBD isolate and full spectrum if you're looking for a THC-free product. Broad spectrum extracts are guaranteed free from THC, while including a diverse range of cannabinoids.
Some companies will purchase isolated versions of cannabinoids—CBD, CBN, CBG—and recombine them for their own proprietary blend. However, the highest quality broad spectrum extracts will maintain as much as the original phytochemical composition from the plant and will only target the removal of the psychoactive compound, THC.
Again, doing this results in a much more well-rounded extract type. And it's worth the extra step for many people hoping to use CBD products therapeutically but wants to avoid THC altogether.
Strength
One of the trickier aspects of using CBD is the dosage—knowing how much to take and when. Because CBD interacts with everyone differently, several factors can affect your dosing, including age, genetic factors, experience with CBD, gut health, and the symptoms you're addressing.
When it comes to beginners, the best rule of thumb is to start on the low end and increase your doses gradually. It's best to start with capsules on the lower end, at 5–10 mg per capsule, so you can double down on doses throughout the day, if needed, and more accurately find a dosage range that suits your needs.
Formula
One important factor to account for is the capsule itself. A common supplement capsule is made from gelatin, which is a cow-derived compound. If you have a dietary restriction, you should look into vegetable-based capsule options. This will be labeled by the company when you look at the ingredients list.
CBD is either encased in the pill as a ground extract powder form, whole ground hemp, or powder suspended in oil ( usually in a softgel format).
The benefits of CBD oil capsules (softgels) is that they can contain a higher concentration of CBD in each serving.
Quality Assurance
Not all CBD products yield the same benefits. Hemp crops are highly susceptible to their growing environments, and tend to absorb compounds in their environment, an effect called bioaccumulation. This is excellent if the crops are grown in a healthy environment and not-so-great if the hemp is grown with pesticides and contaminated soil.
Hemp is such an effective bioaccumulator — in fact, farmers will use hemp to "clean up" their soil from harmful contaminants such as heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and radioactive elements [7]. The problem is, these harmful compounds can make it to the final CBD product, so it's important to buy from a brand that sources its hemp responsibly.
How to Make Sure Your CBD Capsules are Pure
You should always consult third-party lab tests before purchasing CBD products.
Reputable brands will send a sample of their CBD to a non-biased, third-party lab to examine any traces of pesticides, heavy metals, solvents, and mycotoxins. It will also show you a report of the cannabinoid profile to ensure you have the right potency and extract type labeled on the bottle.
The Benefits of Taking CBD Capsules
1. Pre-Dosed
CBD pills are a beginner-friendly method of using CBD because it requires no extra equipment or need to fuss with measuring droppers. Each capsule comes in pre-measured doses, and it's a familiar way to take your health supplement, as most common health supplements are available in capsule form.
2. Taste-less
Hemp products tend to have a characteristic hempy flavor that's not for everyone. It has a little nutty and grassy taste, even if the oil is masked with natural flavorings. If the taste of CBD puts you off, and that's what's getting in the way of you reaping the many health benefits of CBD, capsules are your answer.
3. Effective Delivery Method Helps to Support Digestion
The advantage of CBD oil is that it has a fast absorption into the body. That being said, CBD encased in capsules travel further down the digestive system to deliver its effects all at once when the casing dissolves.
This may be the best delivery method of your CBD if you'd like to support a normal digestive process.
4. Travel-friendly
CBD capsules make for a more travel-friendly option over CBD tinctures or vape products. If you need to take your CBD on the go — after a strenuous gym session, at the office, or traveling — the benefits of CBD pills shine here.
Neurogan CBD Pills
As you can see, CBD pills make a practical addition to virtually any wellness regimen. Our CBD softgels are created from CO2 extracted, encapsulated CBD oil. Ingestible CBD, like capsules, are perfect to give you lasting effects for up to 7 hours.
All of our products contain non-GMO, California grown hemp and are manufactured in the USA at a cGMP facility.
To Wrap Up: The Benefits Of CBD Capsules
Capsules are an excellent way for beginners to test the waters with CBD.
To get the best benefits of any CBD product, you'll want to consider what you're using it for and do a bit of research behind the brand's CBD manufacturing. Remember, not all CBD capsules will deliver the same results, so it's important you look to third-party lab tests to determine its quality and safety.
If you're looking for more resources to learn about CBD's benefits, we have a wealth of resources here on our blog.
FAQ
What are CBD Capsules?
CBD capsules are made by encapsulating active components in digestible shells that gradually dissolve in the stomach.
What are CBD Capsules benefits?
Many of CBD's advantages arise directly from the compound's impact on homeostasis (balancing) via the endocannabinoid system. It helps to regulate the sleep-wake cycle, blood pressure, nerve pain, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder by supporting the ECS' regulatory role in your immune system. It was also examined for its ability to improve focus and mental well-being through its interaction with serotonin.
How long do CBD Capsules effects last?
CBD capsules, are ideal for providing long-lasting effects for up to 7 hours.
What are the best CBD Capsules?
Neurogan's CBD capsules are made from CO2 extracted and encapsulated CBD oil. All of our products utilize non-GMO, California produced hemp and are made in the United States at a cGMP facility.
Resources:
- Nagarkatti, P., Pandey, R., Rieder, S. A., Hegde, V. L., & Nagarkatti, M. (2009). Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs. Future medicinal chemistry, 1(7), 1333-1349.
- Basics, B. (2006). Understanding sleep. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda.
- Babson, K. A., Sottile, J., & Morabito, D. (2017). Cannabis, cannabinoids, and sleep: a review of the literature. Current psychiatry reports, 19(4), 1-12.
- Bakas, T., Van Nieuwenhuijzen, P. S., Devenish, S. O., McGregor, I. S., Arnold, J. C., & Chebib, M. (2017). The direct actions of cannabidiol and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol at GABAA receptors. Pharmacological research, 119, 358-370.
- De Gregorio, D., McLaughlin, R. J., Posa, L., Ochoa-Sanchez, R., Enns, J., Lopez-Canul, M., ... & Gobbi, G. (2019). Cannabidiol modulates serotonergic transmission and reverses both allodynia and anxiety-like behavior in a model of neuropathic pain. Pain, 160(1), 136.
- Atalay, S., Jarocka-Karpowicz, I., & Skrzydlewska, E. (2019). Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 9(1), 21.
- Hemp Can Clean Cotnaminated Soil. Eco Sciences. https://ecosciences.com/blog/health-and-lifestyle/hemp-can-clean-contaminated-soil/
Disclaimer
The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product.
