CBD Bioavailability: Why Does It Matter?

If you choose a healthy diet and consume nutrients and minerals, you expect it will do your body good.  What goes into your body must be used by your body to promote good health.  But without CBD bioavailability, you may only be getting a portion of the potential cannabidiol benefits.

Not many people know that your body’s ability to absorb nutrients can be impaired.  That can happen for a number of reasons.  And even though your body wants and needs the nutrients, it may not be able to absorb them effectively.

One of the arguments against dietary supplements is that a large percentage of vitamins and minerals don’t make it to your bloodstream.  What is the point of taking the supplement if much of it is wasted? 

That is why bioavailability matters so much.  Comparing the price of supplements formulated to be rapidly absorbed into the body, they are more expensive.  And that can cause some consumers to wonder if the difference is worth paying.

In this article, we’ll talk about the bioavailability of cannabidiol (CBD) supplements.  And why some of the most recognized brands of CBD topicals, edibles, tinctures, and capsules may not be worth the investment. 

How Much Benefit Are You Getting From Your CBD?

When you spend money on quality nutritional and CBD supplements every month, you want to get the best value.  Increasingly, however, many CBD brands advertise concentrated levels of cannabidiol in their products, which is confusing to consumers.  More CBD must be better for you, right? 

The concept is a little misleading.  This is why the Food and Drug Administration has issued over a hundred (100) warning letters to American brands from 2015 to 2022. The problem was so bad in the United States that the FDA continues to test cannabidiol supplements regularly. 

Check out this list of CBD companies that received a warning letter from the FDA.  You may even recognize some popular brands you’ve seen at pharmacies and available online. 

Often, mass-produced CBD products do not always match the promised ingredients on the label.  Consumers were duped into believing they were getting more CBD than they were provided in some supplements. 

But it is not just how much cannabidiol (CBD) is in the product.  Whether you get the most out of your CBD supplement or not depends on bioavailability.  But few CBD brands are certified for bioavailability.  And there is a good reason for that.

It is more expensive for manufacturers to make higher-quality CBD products.  So often, they don’t.  And consumers are entirely unaware of the difference or what they are missing out on when they buy cannabidiol supplements that are not bioavailable. 

What is CBD Bioavailability for Wellness Supplements?

How well your body absorbs supplements matters.  And when you use cannabidiol regularly, you want to ensure you are getting the most benefit from the cannabinoids and terpenes.

Bioavailability refers to how well your body absorbs and uses the nutrients you consume.  And when a supplement is bioavailable, that means you get the maximum benefit without having to take higher doses. Bioavailable cannabidiol (CBD) supplements are rapidly absorbed and get to work right away.

What to Watch Out For When Choosing a CBD Supplement

Many low-quality cannabidiol supplements have magnesium oxide or magnesium sulfate which are hard for the body to absorb.  Look for products that contain magnesium citrate or magnesium aspartate instead. 

If you are taking a separate magnesium supplement, it is recommended to take your CBD two hours before.  The combination of magnesium and cannabidiol may help patients with migraines, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, seizures, and epilepsy. And may help boost immune system functioning, and provide help with hypertension (high blood pressure).

Always choose a CBD supplement that has a Certificate of Analysis (COA).  That means it has been tested by a third-party laboratory to ensure that there are no harmful additives, including fillers.  It will help you find a cannabidiol product that will offer you the maximum wellness benefit.

How-To Increase CBD Bioavailability and Absorption

There are many ways you can help your body absorb more cannabidiol in your CBD supplement.  The first and easiest way to amplify your CBD is to consume it with a small fatty snack.  Compared to taking CBD on an empty stomach, a small snack can amplify the amount of cannabidiol in your bloodstream by more than 14 times. 

Some healthy snacks you can choose to take with your CBD include:

• Avocado
• Dark chocolate
• Whole egg
• Cheese 
• Nuts
• MCT coffee/tea or beverage
• Turmeric
• Black pepper
• Coconut oil
• Fatty fish (i.e., salmon)

It can take anywhere between a few minutes to several hours for cannabidiol to interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system, and take effect.  This also depends on the quality and type of CBD product you choose and the serving size. 

Consult with your physician for personalized recommendations on supplementing your diet with cannabidiol. And remember to check with your doctor to make sure that CBD supplements will not conflict with any current medication or supplement you are taking.