MCT OIL AND CBD OIL- A HAPPY PARTNERSHIP

CBD products have been associated with various health and wellness benefits. They are manufactured from organic hemp plants, which contain various elements. Terpenes, flavonoids, cannabidiol (CBD), and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the elements found in the hemp plant. CBD oil is manufactured with various elements such as MCT (coconut oil) to improve effectiveness. Various brands prefer MCT oil due to its bioavailability features, which improve the absorption rate of CBD oil. It’s also used in oral products to speed digestion.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a compound found in the cannabis plant. CBD is extracted from hemp plants. Unlike marijuana, the hemp plant is non-psychotic. Therefore, taking CBD products won’t get you “high.” The hemp plant has low THC levels, a compound that gives a high effect after taking marijuana. The two methods used to extract CBD from the hemp plant are solvent extraction and CO2 extraction.

For effective extraction of pure CBD, supercritical CO2 is used. The CO2 is pumped into a chamber with the dry hemp plant materials. Once the CBD has been extracted, the mixture is heated up to remove the CO2. The crude CBD is then refined to remove materials like wax and fats. This is done by distillation because of the difference in boiling points. In the solvent extraction method, alcohols such as butane and ethanol are used. The alcohol is pumped into a chamber containing dry hemp plant materials. After extraction, the mixture is heated to remove the alcohol. One can also extract CBD at home using olive oil as a solvent.

The extracted CBD is processed into full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate CBD. Full-spectrum has all plant terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids, including the 0.3% THC compound. Broad-spectrum has all hemp plant elements except THC. Isolate CBD is a pure CBD that undergoes more refining to remove the terpenes, flavonoids, and THC. To make CBD oil, the CBD is mixed with a carrier oil. Some CBD oils may have more than one carrier oil.

What Is Carrier Oil?

Carrier oils are also called base or vegetable oil. It is a plant-derived fatty oil used for CBD and other hemp-derived products. Carrier oil helps deliver or make the CBD more absorbable into the bloodstream. Carrier oils are used because CBD is more soluble in fats and oils than water.

Benefits of Adding Carrier Oils to CBD

Carrier oils enhance CBD productivity because it is a fat-soluble substance. It cannot be absorbed into the bloodstream without breaking down into micelles. The micelles then travel up in a fat-based network and into the bloodstream. Taking CBD with other fats helps the body prepare for this process.

It is easier to measure tiny amounts of liquid than solids. To measure 50ml of CBD oil, you can count the drops, but measuring 50mg of solid CBD can be difficult and takes a lot of time. For this reason, CBD crystals are diluted with a carrier oil, making the dosage more accurate and consistent. Carrier oils, when taken alone, do have health benefits. Taking CBD oil with carrier oil will mean that you will also be benefiting from the carrier oils.

Why is MCT Oil a Better CBD Companion?

Medium-Chain triglyceride oil, or MCT oil, is the common carrier oil in the manufacture of CBD oil. The oil is extracted from coconut or palm oil because they are naturally rich in triglycerides of medium-chain fatty acids like caproic, capric acid, and lauric acid. The short structure of fatty acids allows direct absorption instead of waiting to be broken down first.

MCT oil is used in CBD oil production because it bypasses fat breakdown, aiding in faster absorption of CBD. For CBD to have an effect, it must be absorbed into the bloodstream faster. However, if it goes through all the chemical processing and metabolism, its effect will take longer to be experienced. MCT oil also has high solubility and can be used for high potency CBD oils. This oil is also preferred because it is cheaper than most carrier oils. It is light and thin for easy measuring and dosage. In addition, MCT oil can mask the earthy, grassy flavor of CBD.

The Downside of Using MCT Oil in CBD

Other carrier oils like olive oil have additional phytochemicals and antioxidants, but MCT oil lacks these benefits. MCT oil has no flavor because it is highly processed. It can cause temporary digestive side effects like vomiting.

It can also lead to excessive buildup of ketones in the body in people with poorly controlled diabetes. CBD oil with MCT oil is not recommendable for people with liver disease. MCT oil can also lower statin drugs by interacting with cholesterol.

Conclusion

MCT oil is the perfect carrier for CBD oil because it hastens the absorption of CBD into the bloodstream. Using other carrier oils like avocado, olive, palm, or hemp seed oils will take longer for the effect of CBD to be felt. Also, they are more expensive than MCT oil. Next time you shop for CBD oil, look for CBD oil with an MCT oil carrier. This way, you will reap the benefits of CBD oil much faster.