Are you one of the estimated 14% of Americans who use CBD products? If so, you’re probably taking your CBD in the form of a CBD oil. These products, which usually come in a bottle with an eyedropper for dosing, are one of the most popular ways to take CBD. But, are oils the best way to get your daily dose of CBD? Here’s what you need to know.

What’s CBD, Anyway?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid—one of more than 100 compounds unique to the cannabis family of plants. It’s extracted from hemp, one strain of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for industrial use.

Unlike perhaps the most well-known cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for the “high” in marijuana products, CBD has no psychoactive effects. Instead, its actions are associated with general wellness, such as relaxation and relief from everyday aches or stresses.

To put it another way, CBD does not make you feel high—but it might help you feel a little more calm and comfortable. That’s why many people use it daily as part of a natural wellness routine. According to a recent Gallup poll, most people who take CBD use it to soothe pain, feel calmer, and/or help with sleep.

Time for an Oil Change?
While many people choose to take their CBD in oil form, there are some major drawbacks to using this method. Here are some of the most common issues with CBD oil.

● Unpredictability. CBD oils are difficult for the body to absorb, and that can result in an unpredictable experience when you take them. The explanation is simply chemistry: Our bodies are around 60 percent water, and oil and water don’t mix. One report estimates that when we ingest CBD oil, as much as 94% of it might not be absorbed.

Oil-based substances also take longer for the body to process. Some CBD Oil products can take 30 minutes or longer to start acting.

To help improve their CBD oils’ absorption, many companies recommend taking them sublingually—placing a few drops under your tongue, and holding it there for 30 to 60 seconds, to allow the blood vessels under your tongue to absorb it. That can help, but it brings up another issue about taking CBD oils (see below).

● Bad Taste. If you’re taking CBD every day (and especially if you’re holding it under your tongue for up to a minute each time!) how it tastes is an especially important consideration. Unless they have additional flavorings added, most CBD oils taste—how do we put this? Pretty bad.

CBD is an extremely bitter substance on its own. And CBD oils, since they’re extracted from hemp, typically come with a “hempy” grassy aftertaste that can linger on your palate. If you’re using a “”full spectrum” or “broad spectrum” CBD oil, which contains other compounds extracted from the hemp plant like terpenes and fatty acids, those ingredients can also bring their own flavors to the mix. It all adds up to a distasteful experience, that might even discourage you from taking your daily CBD!

● Inconvenience. Using CBD oils can be a messy business. For one, they can be awkward to measure (just how much is in “2 drops,” anyway?). They’re also oily, so they can leave you with an oily mouthfeel—and when you add CBD oil to a beverage, it will float on the surface and stick to the sides of your cup.

Storing your CBD oils can be inconvenient, too: They can solidify in cold temperatures, making them hard to squeeze into a dropper. And, like all products made with cannabinoids, they can also degrade with exposure to heat or light. That’s why many brands of CBD oils come in dark tinted bottles, and recommend you store them in a cool place. (It’s also why it’s not a good idea to keep your CBD oil in your car’s glove compartment, especially on a hot day.)

● Presence of THC. Legally, any product sold as CBD should be free, or virtually free, of any THC. That’s because CBD is extracted from hemp, which by law must contain extremely low levels of THC (no more than 0.3%). But because there’s currently no federal regulations around how CBD products are made and tested, and because extracts of hemp contain concentrated levels of cannabinoids, some brands may contain trace amounts or more of THC.

This is a particular concern with full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD oils, since there is no legal definition of what those terms mean. One manufacturer’s full-spectrum oil might have very different composition from another brand’s, and they might vary even by batch! In a recent survey* that analyzed the chemical composition of 8 “full-spectrum” CBD products, all were found to contain at least minor, and sometimes clinically significant, amounts of THC.

The Alternative to CBD Oil.

Inconvenience, inconsistency, and weird flavors are just some of the reasons why leading food scientists came together to develop a better way to take CBD. The result: A dissolvable CBD powder called Caliper CBD.

Caliper CBD powder is engineered for optimal water compatibility, so it’s easier for the body to absorb, quickly and consistently. In a 2019 clinical trial, Colorado State University researchers found that Caliper CBD powder was absorbed 450% better than CBD oils and began acting in just 15 minutes. The team also formulated Caliper CBD powder to be virtually tasteless, so that it can be added to any food or drink, dissolving cleanly with no aftertaste or oily residues.

Caliper CBD comes pre-measured in 20 mg packets that you can take with you on the go. Unlike CBD oil, CBD powder doesn’t freeze or thicken with cold temperatures, so you don’t have to worry about storing CBD in your car on a snowy night or bringing it with you on a winter adventure.

To ensure safety and traceability, every batch of Caliper CBD is rigorously tested by third-party labs to confirm that it is completely free of THC, with no heavy metals, solvents, or microbial contaminants. Full testing results are available for every batch and are published at the trycaliper.com website. For more information about making the switch to Caliper CBD Powder, visit their site at TryCaliper.com.

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