Why CBD Is Becoming America’s Favorite Food Ingredient
Over the last decade, food presented over the internet has been a rapidly growing trend. Bloggers, TV show hosts, video makers, Instagrammers, and other personalities have taken over the food marketplace, renewing America’s obsession with what we eat.
If you’ve paid attention to this rapidly growing industry, you’ve no-doubt noticed that many popular food aficionados are now using CBD as an ingredient. CBD has somewhat of a rocky reputation, but the walls are breaking down around this substance, and it’s becoming more socially acceptable to use pure CBD in multiple applications.
CBD Defined
Before examining the CBD cooking trend, it’s important to first identify what CBD is and how it differs from its sister drug, marijuana. The two are often mistaken for each other, but CBD is different.
Both are taken from the hemp plant, and marijuana is high in the psychoactive chemical THC. High levels of this chemical alter the state of your brain and create a feeling of high that marijuana is famous for delivering.
CBD is another chemical altogether. When sold legally in the United States, it contains less than 0.03 percent THC, which isn’t enough to create a high feeling, even for those with no tolerance for substances. As long as you buy pure CBD oil capsules or other products where CBD is the primary ingredient, you don’t have to worry about being under the psychoactive influence of drugs.
CBD is also known to help with many mental and physical health disorders. It’s most commonly used to treat anxiety and stress. Those who take CBD report feeling calmer within minutes, and many replace their anti-anxiety medications with CBD because it’s more effective with fewer side effects.
Other benefits include:
- Fighting off serious illnesses and diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and cancer
- Reducing pain
- Decreasing inflammation
- Boosting cognitive clarity and productivity
- Contributing to weight loss and muscle growth
- Improving the quality and longevity of sleep
- Reducing the negative impacts of neurological illnesses like epilepsy, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia.
If you could get all of these amazing health benefits by adding a few drops of a nearly side-effect-free substance, wouldn’t you do so?
CBD Taken Orally
Some believe the misconceptions that CBD must be smoked or vaped to consumer the benefits. However, CBD can be taken orally. In fact, it’s more effective when it’s ingested, since it’s given direct access to the blood stream and nervous system.
Most commonly, CBD is taken orally in capsule form or gummies. Capsules can be swallowed with your other supplements, which makes it easy to add to your daily routine. They’re safe for kids and pets, so you can store them with your vitamins and don’t have to put them under lock and key.
Gummies are one of the more common forms of oral CBD. According to Mood CBD, they can be taken anywhere with discretion, so if you don’t want to hear others’ opinions about CBD, they won’t know the difference between CBD and regular gummy treats. Additionally, the sugar and flavoring masks the earthy taste of CBD that many people dislike.
If you don’t mind the flavor, you can also swallow a few drops of pure CBD oil or tincture. Many people put the drops under their tongue and let the substance work slowly and steadily to calm their nerves.
No matter how you take it, make sure you’re using the right dosage. CBD does not have an official serving size and is not regulated by the FDA, so you’ll have to consider the concentration of CBD, your weight, your body chemistry, and the ailment you’re trying to treat. Research the dosage carefully so you can use the right amount every time.
CBD Works in the Right Foods and Drinks
As you can see, CBD is meant to be taken orally, which makes it the perfect candidate for food and drink additions. However, the flavor can be somewhat strong, so it’s important to use the right amounts in the right foods for best results. Otherwise, the flavor will be strong and bitter, not at all appetizing as you might have hoped.
As a general rule, CBD works better in recipes that are sweet or savory. These strong flavors will mask the taste of CBD according to your desires. You could hide the flavor completely or let a small amount stand out.
When cooking with CBD, you must use an oil-based ingredient. You’ll use pure oil CBD in your cooking, and if it’s not mixed with liquid of the same viscosity, the CBD oil will add a texture and flavor that can ruin your dish or treat if you don’t. The best oils include ghee, shortening, butter, lard, and other vegetable-based oils.
CBD can also be mixed into drinks. CBD water is a popular supplement for those who don’t mind the earthy taste. Fruit flavors and sugars in drinks can hide the CBD flavor if you prefer. The best mask for CBD is spirits like vodka, cognac, or rum. Many health bars offer drinks with these strong spirits including CBD oils.
When cooking or baking with CBD, you don’t want the temperature to reach greater than 320 degrees. Otherwise, it will cause the oil to evaporate and the effects of CBD to diminish. When trying a CBD recipe, always start with a small dosage of CBD oil until you get the hang of using it.
CBD Foodies to Follow
If you want more exposure to the use of CBD in food and drink, go to social media. You’ll discover many cannabis-savvy chefs and restaurants who use CBD as a go-to ingredient for their delicious foods and drinks.
Some of the top cannabis chefs across the U.S. include:
- Michael Magallanes
- Payton Curry
- Mindy Segal
- Miguel Trinidad
- Holden Jagger
- Scott Durah
- Chris Sayegh
- Andrea Drummer
- Coreen Carroll
- Jaime Lewis
- Jeff Danzer
Most of these chefs are located in regions where marijuana and cannabis in every form is legal, like California and Colorado. You can also visit restaurants in these states that feature cannabis-centric cooking. If you want to see what it’s like to cook with CBD the right way, follow any of these chefs and restaurants on social media for recipes and ideas.
