CBD Oil vs CBD Gummies: Effects & Dosage Explained for Beginners

Out of all the different CBD commodities on the market, two of the most popular products seem to be CBD oil and CBD gummies. Consumers love CBD oil for its versatility, while others love gummies for their ease, discretion, and delicious flavors. This has opened up the debate of CBD oil vs gummies, although they both have amazing benefits.

When it comes to CBD oil vs gummies, how do you know which product is right for you? It all depends on your preferences. The two products deliver the therapeutic benefits of CBD in different ways, but they’re both effective methods of consumption. Let’s dive into some CBD facts and how they each work.

What is CBD Oil?

CBD (cannabidiol) is non-intoxicating, so it won’t produce a “high.” This cannabinoid is derived from hemp, one of the two main varieties of the Cannabis Sativa plant. For thousands of years, hemp and its extracts have been used to support natural wellness, among many other applications.

CBD oil is made by extracting pure CBD from hemp plants and balancing its potency with a carrier oil. At Cheef, we use organic hemp seed oil to balance our CBD, meaning our CBD oil is made entirely from one beneficial plant. It has numerous soothing properties that can positively affect your well-being.

There are two varieties of CBD oil: full spectrum and broad spectrum. Full spectrum CBD contains 0.3% or less tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – a non-intoxicating and federally legal level of THC that is naturally found in hemp plants. Broad-spectrum CBD doesn’t contain any THC. While 0.3% or less is nowhere near enough THC to make someone high, it can occasionally come up on a drug test after sustained usage. For those who avoid THC altogether for work or athletics, broad spectrum offers a fantastic (and beneficial) option.

No matter which kind of CBD oil you’re interested in, do your best to purchase from reputable, organic CBD companies. Look for ones that send their CBD oil for independent third-party lab testing to screen for any pesticides and test for CBD and THC’s exact levels. The test results should be made available to their customers in the form of a certificate of analysis (COA) on their website.

How to Use CBD Oil – CBD Oil vs Gummies

As we mentioned, there are many different ways to consume and use CBD oil. Be sure to check out our dosage chart if you are unsure how much to take. Some people prefer to take it directly by dropping it on or under their tongue. Others like to mix it into their coffee or a smoothie to create a calming, CBD-infused treat. The beauty of CBD oil partly lies in its versatility.

Swallow

For a quick and straightforward way to consume CBD oil, you can simply drop your recommended dose directly onto your tongue and swallow. CBD oil has a very slight nutty flavor thanks to the hemp seed oil (fun fact: hemp seeds are technically nuts and are very nutritious) but is otherwise flavorless.

Sublingual Application

Sublingual means “under the tongue.” It may not seem like it should make a difference, but sublingually applied oils or medications absorb into the bloodstream faster than when swallowed. For sublingual application, drop your dose under your tongue and hold it there for 60 to 90 seconds.

Mixed with Food or Drink

If you don’t like the texture or taste of oil, you can mix it right into your favorite foods and drinks! Blending it into a smoothie or stirring it into a latte are some of the most popular ways to incorporate CBD into a daily routine. Because it’s a liquid, many people think it has to be mixed into a beverage.

Don’t get us wrong, CBD smoothies are a delicious and soothing way to start the day. But you can also add CBD oil to all kinds of foods. It can be added to hot soup, mixed into spaghetti sauce, and even drizzled over avocado toast! Get creative with it and find what works best for you.

Topical Application

CBD works wonders when ingested, but it can also work magic for your many layers of skin tissue when applied topically (on the skin). CBD oil can be mixed into your favorite lotions, scrubs, body washes, and more. When topically applied, CBD oil may help reduce dryness, irritation, and swelling. As it penetrates the layers of your skin, CBD can also work to decrease tension and discomfort below the surface. Many people use CBD topical products or plain CBD oil as a natural remedy for soreness.

How Does CBD Oil Work?

CBD oil works slightly differently depending on how you ingest or apply it, but it’s powerfully beneficial either way. Let’s go over how CBD oil takes effect when you swallow it, apply it sublingually, mix it into food, and apply it topically.

Swallowing CBD Oil On Its Own

When you swallowed CBD oil, it typically takes about 30 minutes to an hour to take effect. Once it starts to kick in, you can expect to feel its calming effects for about four and five hours.

When you swallow CBD oil alone, it’s digested before it can reach the liver and bloodstream. This is called “the first-pass metabolism,” a process that slightly reduces CBD’s effectiveness. Your metabolic rate and the amount of food in your stomach (among other factors) affect your first-pass experience.

Once the CBD oil goes through first-pass metabolism, the cannabinoids travel to your liver and then your bloodstream. The bloodstream carries the CBD throughout your body, where it binds with a network of cannabinoid receptors known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The ECS is responsible for helping regulate crucial bodily functions to maintain homeostasis, the body’s natural balance. Some of those functions are body temperature, mood, sleep, pain modulation, inflammation, and appetite – all fundamental aspects of our general wellbeing.

According to emerging studies, CBD’s therapeutic benefits may increase the general functionality of the ECS, helping it regulate those crucial bodily functions. Although CBD oil loses a fraction of its potency after the first-pass metabolism, swallowing CBD oil is still an effective way to enjoy CBD.

Sublingual Application

When CBD is applied sublingually, it doesn’t go through first-pass metabolism. Skipping that process means the oil retains more of its effective potential and allows the CBD to take effect in less time than when it’s swallowed. CBD oil under the tongue takes effect within 15 to 25 minutes.

One small downside to sublingual application is that the effects don’t last quite as long as when CBD oil is swallowed. The effects from CBD oil under the tongue typically last two to three hours. Sublingual or swallowed, the CBD oil eventually reaches the same ECS receptors and provides therapeutic benefits.

Mixed into Food or Drink

When you mix CBD oil into food or drinks, it essentially takes effect the same way as when you swallow the oil on its own. The only difference is that it may take slightly longer to kick in since the food/drink also needs to digest.

Of course, that can happen when you swallow the oil on its own, too. If there’s already food in your stomach, or you eat food right after the CBD oil, it will take slightly longer to kick in than if you were to swallow the oil on an empty stomach. Either way is an effective consumption method.

Topical Application

The ECS’ cannabinoid receptors are dispersed across the entire body, including the layers of our skin! When you topically apply CBD, it never has to reach the bloodstream to be carried to receptors. Topical CBD works with cannabinoid receptors as a localized soothing agent in the area where it’s applied.

Topically applied CBD takes effect quite quickly. Depending on the type of product you’re using, you may or may not actually feel CBD’s benefits taking effect in the moment, but they’re definitely there. Leave-on products like creams and lotions take effect within a couple of minutes and soothe the area where applied. Rinse off products likes scrubs take multiple uses before you begin noticing the benefits of CBD, such as reduced redness and dryness.

CBD Oil vs Gummies – What are CBD Gummies?

Fruit-flavored CBD gummies are precisely what they sound like: classic fruit snacks infused with CBD. Consumers love CBD gummies because they’re a perfectly pre-dosed way to take CBD (not to mention that they taste amazing). Another perk? Gummies’ effects last longer than swallowing oils.

At Cheef, our CBD gummies come in various potencies in 30 count bottles, so you can choose the dosage that works best for you. They’re also 100% vegan, organic, and gluten-free. We don’t use artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Plus, the full spectrum oil we use delivers maximum beneficial effects.

How to Use CBD Gummies

CBD gummies make taking CBD as easy as one, two, three.

• Calculate your dosage using our handy dosage chart.
• Pick out the number of gummies needed for your dosage.
• Eat the gummies, then sit back and relax while you wait for the soothing benefits to start kicking in.

How Do CBD Gummies Work?

CBD gummies take effect in essentially the same way as swallowing CBD oil or mixing it into food. Once eaten, they’ll be digested and go through the first-pass metabolism. From there, the cannabidiol reaches the liver and the bloodstream where it’s sent off to bind with cannabinoid receptors.

CBD gummies typically take effect within 3o minutes to two hours, but it can sometimes take longer. These potent CBD-infused snacks create a super soothing experience for the consumer that can last between four to eight hours. They’re perfect for those who want all-day calming effects.

CBD Oil vs Gummies

Now that we’ve gone over how CBD oil works versus how CBD gummies work, you may have already decided what’s better for your needs. That’s great because this decision is all about personal preference. You should choose the product you feel most comfortable using.

Still, trying to decide between CBD oil vs. gummies? Let’s go through deciding qualifications to help you.

• Do you need something that kicks in as quickly as possible? If yes, CBD oil applied sublingually may be the right choice for you.
• Do you want to ingest CBD as quickly as possible but still need the effects to kick in relatively quickly? Swallowing CBD oil may be the way to go.
• Don’t like the flavor/texture of CBD oil directly on your tongue? CBD gummies are the easiest way to ingest CBD while avoiding the taste of the oil. However, mixing CBD oil into food/drinks creates a flavorful variety in your CBD routine. Decisions, decisions…
• Are you okay with waiting a bit for the effects to kick in as long as they last a good long while? CBD gummies are an excellent, long-lasting option.
• Do you have a sweet tooth and a desire to try CBD oil? Go for the gummies! Natural fruit juice and organic granulated sugar make our full-spectrum CBD gummies a sweetly soothing snack.

A Note on CBD and the FDA

Except for one anti-seizure medication, Epidiolex, CBD has not been fully approved or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Even though hemp is non-intoxicating and federally legal in the United States, the FDA has all the rights reserved on clearing cannabidiol for medical use.

Final Thoughts – CBD Oil vs Gummies

No matter which CBD product you choose, they all have beneficial therapeutic effects related to their interaction with the ECS. Since CBD doesn’t get you high, each formulation (oil or gummies) is perfect for any-time use. When it comes to CBD oil vs. gummies, you really can’t go wrong either way.

If you’re searching for long-lasting effects and discretion, we recommend the gummies. If you’re searching for quick results and diversification, we recommend the oil. Both products are exceedingly effective; it’s really just up to your personal preferences. Whatever you try, let us know how you like it!