As the demand for hemp-derived products continues to rise, CBD softgels are beginning to attract a lot of attention. People that use them find them to be convenient, easy to use, pleasant, and lightweight. In order to get the desired effects of the precious CBD that is tucked away inside of the protective gel barrier all one has to do is discreetly pop a gel cap into the mouth and swallow it down. Just as easy is it is to swallow an aspirin or a vitamin pill.
A Little About CBD
It is easy to assume that anybody that uses CBD products knows what CBD is, and how it affects the body. However, this is not always the case. CBD is not such a simple compound, nor is the way that it interacts with the human nervous system.
CBD, in itself, is one of the hundreds of cannabinoids that make up the essence of plants that are from the cannabis genus. Although CBD is similar to the rest of the cannabinoids such as THC and CBG, it is different in a way that is unique to its own molecular structure. CBD also communicates with the human brain differently than other cannabinoids.
Most of the living creatures on the planet Earth that have spines are equipped with an endocannabinoid system that keeps them in complete balance. The endocannabinoid system is an intricate collection of receivers and communicators that send and receive messages throughout the body and central nervous system using self-made cannabinoids as messengers. These endogenous cannabinoids are so similar to the cannabinoids that are found in cannabis plants that the body will use them as if they were native compounds.
The endocannabinoid system helps to create a state of homeostasis throughout the body. Within this state, many of the body’s life-sustaining processes are kept in balance. The endocannabinoid system controls body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, calmness, and many other key elements. It is no wonder why scientists and researchers are so intrigued by the way that cannabinoids communicate and interact with the human body.
CBD and THC
One of the most profound differences between THC and CBD is in the way that they both communicate with the endocannabinoid system. We all have tiny receptors just beneath our skin that spread throughout our entire bodies. These receptors, as we discussed above, send and receive messages in order to keep the body in balance. Now, THC will attach itself to a receptor and directly influence it to send or receive messages that the THC commands it to. This is one of the reasons why doctors argue about the safety of THC. There is no real proof that it is safe for a person to be completely under the influence of a psychoactive drug that can have control over the brain and the way that it causes the body to act.
CBD, on the other hand, does not directly attach itself to the endocannabinoid receptors but will cling to it and influence it to either send or not send a message. For example, if a situation that would normally call for the person to tense up and be ready to jump into action happens while a person is using CBD, the CBD could influence the receptor to not send a message to tense up. This, in turn, would cause the body to stay relaxed in a stressful situation.
It is within this discovery that researchers believe the key to the mysteries of cannabinoids lies. Although scientists and physicians have made leaps and bounds of discoveries within the realm of CBD and the rest of the cannabinoids, as with much of other mysteries of the universe, there is still much to learn.
The Mechanics of a CBD Softgel
Now that you have a general understanding of how CBD works with the body, you should be able to grasp the idea behind softgels.
It is evident that in order to experience the effects of CBD and other cannabinoids they must enter your bloodstream in one way or another so that they can communicate with the endocannabinoid system. Although some evidence suggests that by rubbing cannabinoids into the skin they may be able to reach the endocannabinoid receptors that are present there, there is no solid proof that this method is effective. The best way to use CBD is to make sure that it gets into the bloodstream.
If you were to take a drop of CBD oil and swallow it, do you think it would be effective? It may sound like a great way to use CBD, but the odds of that drop of oil ever making it through to your bloodstream through the digestive system are very slim. As soon as you swallow that drop, it will be faced with the angry acids in the stomach that will break it down and toss it aside as if it were garbage.
The CBD softgel is developed in a way that gives the contents within the gel capsule a fighting chance to make it through the digestive system and into the body where it can do the job it was intended to do.
Softgels can be made out of either animal-based or plant-based gelatin. The idea behind the gelatin is to provide a protective outer shell for the CBD that can be easily broken down by the digestive system and enter the bloodstream in the same manner that a pill can be administered. The gel is soft enough to be a pliable vessel that is easy to swallow but will quickly degrade in the stomach but not so quick as to allow the contents of the gel to be swept away into the waste system before it is absorbed into the body.
CBD Tinctuures vs. CBD Softgels
We mentioned above that softgels are created in order to allow the contents of the gelcap to enter the bloodstream through the digestive system without being harmed in the process. Tinctures, however, are created so that all you have to do is put a couple of drops under the tongue to introduce the CBD directly into the bloodstream by way of the veins that are close to the surface of the skin under the tongue.
Although the softgels are small, easy to swallow, and very convenient, there is no way that they can be as effective as a tincture. The very fact that tinctures do not have to endure the stomach acids makes them superior forms of CBD because they will enter the bloodstream virtually instantaneously. There is no absorption or digestion to endure.
Since softgels are designed with a protective gelatinous coating they are one of the best ways to ingest CBD because there is a higher probability that they will have greater bioavailability than other forms of CBD. The largest drawback is that it can take anywhere between 45 minutes and a couple of hours to feel the effects of the cannabinoid.
In Conclusion
In most cases, the best way to use CBD is only a matter of preference. Yes, CBD softgels will take longer to hit the system, but since they are protected by the outer coating there is a greater chance that the CBD will hit the bloodstream fully intact and be able to provide the desired effects. Some people absolutely do not like the taste of tinctures, so they would much rather swallow a convenient gelcap than have to endure a taste that they do not like. In any case, CBD is becoming more and more accepted by society in places throughout the world. If you are going to use it, just make sure that you get it from a highly respected and responsible company. It is your body, so do not settle for low-quality CBD products – no matter what way you prefer.