Water Soluble CBD vs Oil – What’s Best for You?

This article will provide you with a thorough comparison of water-soluble CBD vs. oil products so that you can decide which one is best for you based on factors like onset time, individual preference, bioavailability, and ease of use.

What is CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is the primary ingredient found in the cannabis plant. It’s a psychoactive ingredient, but it also has many benefits for treating neurodegenerative diseases, pain, insomnia, and several other health issues.

But should you pick water-soluble CBD vs. oil? What is the best way to consume or use it?

What does CBD oil mean?

CBD oil is the oil derived from the plant. Just the same as you can buy any essential oil over the counter and add it to things like candles or cleaning sprays, lotions, or shampoo, CBD oil can be added to different things and used in a variety of ways, like pain management or sedation.

Is water-soluble CBD better than oil? Not necessarily. Water soluble means it can dissolve in water. It’s a newer form of accessing CBD that might have many benefits for some people.

How is it created?

When you look at CBD oil vs. water soluble, you might not know how it works. Oils are obviously taken from plants, but those plant oils can be converted into a water-soluble product using nano-emulsification. This causes the oily effects that come from a plant to be converted into microscopic particles, which get shoved into emulsifiers made from a fatty compound, where they dissolve. When mixed with water, the solution dissolves completely for better absorption.

There are several critical differences between water-soluble CBD and oil:

Absorption and bioavailability

Firstly, you have a different absorption rate with CBD oil vs. water-soluble oil. The absorption rate refers to how quickly your body can absorb whatever it is you consume. Bioavailability refers to how much of any given nutrient is actually absorbed after you consume it rather than just passing through your body.

The faster the absorption rate, the quicker your body benefits from CBD oil, and the higher the bioavailability, the more of the CBD product you can enjoy.

New research from Colorado State University confirms that water-soluble products have a higher absorption rate into the bloodstream because they interact differently with the liver when passing through.

Versatility and use cases

CBD oil vs. water-soluble options still have different levels of Versatility and use cases.

Water soluble CBD is something you can put into a liquid and drink for immediate benefit. However, depending on your needs, oil-based CBD products can still be much more effective.

If you have an oil-based tincture and drop it on your tongue, it doesn’t reduce the effectiveness through first-pass metabolization as much as an oil-based product you drink.

In other cases, you might need CBD oil infused into creams, lotions, or other topical products to be absorbed through the skin and directly into your body. This can be especially effective for pain management.

Potency and effectiveness

With water-soluble CBD vs. oil, you have to consider the potency of what you’re actually getting. When you take any type of supplement, they get metabolized wherever they first enter your body.

For example:

If you are mixing CBD products into a drink, they first get metabolized in your stomach. This reduces the concentration available to the rest of your body by the time it reaches your bloodstream or nervous system.

When you swallow CBD oil, many of the compounds are destroyed as it makes its way through your stomach and liver, which means you are only getting a fraction of the potency.

Water soluble gets absorbed into your stomach at a higher concentration, so you get increased potency and effectiveness.

Taste and texture

Oil-based products will have a different texture, one that is oily by design, but things like oil-based tinctures can come in a variety of flavors, so you can pick a supplement that you enjoy and that fits your needs.

By comparison with a water-soluble product, you won’t have as much control over the taste except for how you mix and consume it, but you won’t have any type of oily texture.

Some people who mix oil-based products into their morning coffee might still notice that film and difficulty integrating it entirely, but with a water-based product, that isn’t a problem.

Safety and side effects

With CBD oil vs. water-soluble, many of the same safety and side effect concerns exist. You have to be aware of how much is being metabolized at any given time and how this could have any interactions with other medications you are on.

With a water-soluble product, your body absorbs more of the product at a faster rate, so you need to be aware of this and adjust how much you consume accordingly.

Cost and accessibility

Because there is an extra step involved in the manufacturing process, water-soluble CBD vs. CBD oil comes at a different cost. Water soluble is more expensive.

In some cases, you might not be able to find CBD oil vs. water-soluble products at the same location. Some stores may only offer oil-based products until water-soluble products become more popular.

Legal considerations

Is water-soluble CBD better than oil? Well, this comes down to several legal considerations as well as personal preferences. Legally, you have to be aware of whether or not you can openly consume either type with or without any kind of card or medical reason based on where you live.

You also have to consider what option is right for you based on your lifestyle, why you are using CBD oil, and your budget.

It is essential that you choose the proper CBD formulation, whether that’s CBD oil vs water-soluble products. Explore both options and make an educated decision. If you are unsure, consult with a healthcare professional before you make your choice so that you can pick something that offers the correct dosage with the proper bioavailability and the fewest complications.