As marijuana has gotten legalized throughout the country, more and more people have turned to marijuana and marijuana products as health aids. That includes things like CBD oil.
The medical benefits of CBD oil are still sometimes debated. However, many people have seen improvements in their lives and in some health conditions thanks to CBD oil.
The decision whether or not to use CBD oil is a personal one. However, you can seek out advice from the internet and your doctor, who may be able to advise you. It is not a magical cure-all. However, it may improve life for those managing certain types of conditions.
One of the most common ways CBD oil is used is in cooking, in fact. Read on to learn 7 things you should know about cooking with CBD oil.
1. How to Use CBD Oil in Cooking
There are many ways to use CBD oil. While some of them involve cooking the CBD oil, that is not always the case. There are many, many other ways to injest this versatile product, including via CBD infused skin care.
Here, however, we’ll focus more on cooking. This is a way that many people find very easy, allowing them to get the medical benefits of CBD oil in the simplest way possible.
One of the easiest ways to cook with CBD oil is simply by using it as a dressing. You can easily mix CBD oil into a salad dressing and use it for a topping for just about anything. You likely won’t even notice that it’s there.
CBD oil is also great for mixing into things like smoothies, oils and butters. Adding CBD oil to a smoothie is as simple as splashing in a few drops. If you go this route, do be sure you are measuring your CBD oil properly. Again, you may not even notice the taste or remember it’s there, so be careful about using the proper amount.
Some other beverages you might use CBD oil for include:
- Tea
- Coffee
- Lattes
- Margaritas
- Chai
These are just the tip of the iceberg, of course. Almost any of your favorite beverages can be infused with CBD oil. This is a great way to get the medical benefits of CBD oil. You can think of it the same way you’d think about taking a vitamin in the morning. A couple drops in your morning coffee or tea can get you a mild dosage that helps you manage your health conditions.
It isn’t just liquids that you can use CBD oil for, however. As the name suggests, it’s an oil and that makes it very easy to add to things like butter and coconut oil. Both butter and coconut oil are commonly used for cooking. This makes them great vehicles for getting CBD oil into your food.
Next time you are adding butter to a meal or buttering up a pan, you can add some CBD oil to that butter. That will infuse your food with CBD oil and allow you to experience the medical benefits of CBD oil as you eat. Just be sure you don’t go too high with the heat. You don’t want to put CBD oil on direct heat, as this can heat the oil too much and reduce its effectiveness.
Here are just a few of the foods you can add CBD oil to as you cook:
- Brownies
- Fat bombs
- Chocolate mousse
- Cookies and cakes
- Pizza
- Gaucamole
- Ricotta
- Sauces
This is just a short sample list. You can add CBD oil to just about anything you can think of as long as you cook it carefully and properly.
Speaking of which, there are a few things to consider besides just the heat level. For example, CBD oil tends to be most effective when used with foods that have fat content. That means things like butter, fat bombs, pizza, etc.
Try to use high-quality CBD oil if you are planning to cook with it to get the medical benefits of CBD oil. These days, it is very possible to shop for better brands of CBD oil and they are worth the investment. They will work better and cook better. If you are using CBD oil to manage a health condition, this is absolutely crucial.
You only need to use a few drops of CBD oil in order for it to be effective. Look up recipes online and think about the dosage that works best for you.
Finally, when you aren’t using the oil itself, try to store it in a cool, dry location. This will keep it fresher for longer.
2. Differences Between CBD and Marijuana
Those were the basics about cooking, but now it’s time for some of the stickier details about CBD oil. For example, just what is it and how is it different from marijuana?
CBD is actually a different compound in cannabis. Where the type of leafy marijuana you commonly associate with weed smoking is THC, CBD is the other compound derived from cannabis.
THC is more psychoactive than CBD. That means it is the compound that makes you feel “high,” whereas CBD is nonpsychoactive. So you can get the benefits of marijuana without the high.
If you are uncertain, most medical marijuana dispensaries will carry a wide array of cannabis products and can help advise you on what is best for you. You can even mention that you intend to cook the CBD to get the medical benefits of CBD oil.
These days, there are even some medical spas that offer CBD oil among their other treatments. This is because of its positive effects on things like inflammation and anxiety.
3. Costs of Cooking with CBD Oil
So just how much will cooking with CBD oil cost you? Well, that really depends.
In places where marijuana products have been legalized, either medically or recreationally or both, the cost comes with some steep taxes. Typically, the cost of CBD oil ranges from about 5 cents per milligram to 20 cents per milligram.
The cost of any one CBD oil will vary. For example, the price for CBD oil that is used in a vape pen is different from the cost of a tincture.
If you have insurance, you might be wondering if your insurance or medicare coverage summary says anything about CBD oil, as this can be a good way to defray the costs of the oil itself when you are trying to use it to get the medical benefits of CBD oil.
Unfortunately, at this time there are no insurance or medicare plans that cover medical marijuana or CBD oil. So the cost of purchasing the oil so you can use it for cooking will be entirely on you.
4. Common Uses for CBD in Food
What might you use CBD oil in cooking for, exactly? There are many suggested CBD uses that are related to particular health conditions. Cooking with CBD oil can offer relief from these conditions for sufferers.
Many people use CBD oil as an anti-seizure treatment or to treat epilepsy. The research on this is still being done, but some preliminary studies have shown a decrease in the number of seizures per month among those used CBD.
CBD oil and marijuana products are also excellent for pain relief. This encompasses a wide array of issues, from low back pain to arthritis to even MS pain. Many people with chronic pain conditions have sought out the medical benefits of CBD oil and other marijuana products for relief.
Pain relief is a great example of why CBD oil is often preferred, especially when it comes to cooking. Someone with chronic pain might need that relief first thing in the morning, but then need to go about their day. For this type of patient, cooking with CBD oil is advised, as it avoid the “high” of THC products while still providing relief.
Some studies have linked marijuana and CBD oil with cancer treatments. Sometimes, the THC form of marijuana is preferred here, as it can help patients who are having trouble with nausea and eating. However, CBD oil could also aid in moderating inflammation associated with many cancers.
Finally, there are some conditions that are not entirely physical where the medical benefits of CBD oil are apparent. This includes things like stress, anxiety, insomnia and even PTSD. Again, these are conditions someone is likely dealing with all day long, so cooking CBD and ingesting the chemical that way to avoid the high is likely a more appealing option than smoking marijuana.
This is not a comprehensive list of every condition CBD oil may aid with so talk to your doctor if you want more concrete advice.
5. Can Children Ingest CBD Safely?
Sadly, many of the conditions above are not limited only to adults. That may make some parents wonder if their children can also get the medical benefits of CBD oil.
While pediatric medicine does not formally include CBD oil quite yet, more and more parents are starting to look toward CBD for certain conditions. For example, children who have ADHD, autism or anxiety may experience the medical benefits of CBD oil.
Cooking is an excellent option for children and you don’t need fancy food service equipment to make it happen. That is partially because cooking avoids the “high” and partially because it makes it so easy for children to ingest. Use lower dosages for children than you’d use for an adult, since they are lighter. You can also use a low-potency oil to cook with in order to be cautious and slowly work out the correct dosage.
If you have concerns about cooking with CBD oil for children, talk to a child psychologist. They may be able to advise you on the medical benefits of CBD oil for children.
6. Some Side Effects of CBD
As with all treatments, there are some side effects alongside the medical benefits of CBD oil. The severity of these side effects will vary from person to person. It will also depend on things like their weight, their metabolism, the condition being treated and the strength of the CBD oil.
Some common side effects include:
- Dizziness and drowsiness
- Anxiety
- Changes in appetite and mood
- Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting
- Dry mouth
As already noted, these symptoms will vary in severity and may or may not even effect many people.
When it comes to appetite, people who use marijuana products often have an increase in appetite. We all know the stereotype about stoners hanging out around a fast food restaurant, but there is some truth to that trope. An increase in appetite should not be too alarming. Just make sure you have some snacks handy.
7. Supplementing CBD Usage
The medical benefits of CBD oil don’t need to happen in a vacuum. Rather, they should be part of an overall approach to managing your health and conditions. They are just one piece of a larger puzzle that includes your activity, you overall diet and even your hobbies and pastimes.
While you are thinking about cooking with CBD oil, also think about the types of things you’re cooking and your overall diet. Healthy eating is a great way to reduce your risk of three of the leading causes of death: strokes, cancers and heart disease.
Instead of thinking about cooking with CBD oil as a one-off event or a miracle cure, start thinking about it as part of an overall lifestyle shift that helps you have a more happy and healthy life. You can plan to cook not just the oil itself, but healthier foods that will aid you in feeling better. This is the best way to truly experience all the medical benefits of CBD oil. For example, adding CBD oil to salads and smoothies is super simple and accessible. Plus, the salads and smoothies themselves can be a great way to have a super nutritious meal. You can both benefits all at once.
Also consider things like exercise, getting good, restful sleep and your overall lifestyle. Cooking with CBD oil can be a great impetus to look at all the things you could be doing to improve your health and happiness. That way, you can get the most out of the medical benefits of CBD oil and live your best life.
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