There are many ways to take cannabidiol (CBD), including tinctures, oils, capsules, edibles, and now beverages. You can find fizzy sodas, sweetened iced teas, juicy energy drinks, and more being infused with hemp-derived CBD. Though these CBD drinks may go down easily and taste delicious, the question remains: do they have the same effectiveness as an oil or tincture? Are you going to feel the benefits? It’s time to spill the tea on CBD drinks.
CBD Drinks
What are CBD Drinks?
CBD drinks are beverages that contain cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis and hemp plants. Drinks with CBD come in a variety of forms, including:
- Water: Some companies offer bottles of water (including sparkling water) infused with CBD.
- Tea: CBD tea is made by infusing tea leaves with CBD extract.
- Coffee: CBD coffee is made by adding CBD extract to coffee beans or brewed coffee.
- Energy drinks: Some energy drinks contain CBD as an ingredient.
- Soda: CBD soda is made by infusing carbonated water with CBD extract.
- Alcoholic beverages: Some beer, wine, and spirits contain CBD.
CBD drinks are marketed as a way to promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and improve overall wellness. While the effects of CBD drinks can vary depending on the individual and the specific product used, some people report feeling more calm and focused after consuming CBD beverages. It is important to note that CBD drinks should be consumed in moderation, and that it is recommended to choose high-quality products from reputable companies to ensure safety and efficacy.
Sugar Bottom Hemp’s own CBD Live Seltzer is made with a combination of gut-friendly kombucha and 25 mg of full spectrum CBD. You get the benefits of kombucha, as well as the soothing effects of CBD.
Do CBD Drinks Work?
Now, there are some questions about the bioavailability of CBD drinks (and other CBD consumables). Is drinking CBD better than eating it as a gummy or other snack? Will it work just like sublingual tincture or capsule? Generally, consuming any kind of substance in a liquid form will make it more bioavailable than ingesting it as a solid. This is because liquids are typically absorbed more quickly and efficiently by the body than solids, which must be broken down by the digestive system before their nutrients can be fully absorbed.
Since CBD is a fat-soluble molecule, it needs to be emulsified before it can be used in liquid beverages. So there is a chance that the water, coffee, tea, or other drink with CBD in it may not be as effective as taking it in an oil or gel-cap form. In other words, not all CBD drinks are created equally. The best ones are going to offer some form of emulsion, such as Sugar Bottom Hemp’s nanoemulsions in our Live Seltzer, to assist with better absorption [1].
What Are Some Benefits of Drinking CBD?
No matter how you choose to consume CBD, there are some potentially noteworthy effects. When consumed, cannabidiol interacts indirectly with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and two of the receptors—CB1 and CB2. Interestingly, these receptors are also found in the gut. You may have heard of the gut-brain connection, which is formed by the enteric nervous system (ENS) [2]. The ENS is part of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), and the PNS happens to be part of the ECS.
The endocannabinoid system happens to be responsible for the regulation of various processes in the body, including pain, inflammation, fertility, reproduction, digestion, stress, and more.
Gut inflammation is not uncommon in the world. There are also many medical conditions related to the gastrointestinal tract, including irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s, and Celiac disease.
Whether you are looking to balance your gut’s microbiome or get some relief from conditions causing gut inflammation, CBD may be able to help. In 2011, researchers found that cannabidiol reduces intestinal inflammation in both mice and humans, revealing some benefit to those with inflammatory bowel diseases [3]. In a study from 2020, while researchers were looking at CBD for alcohol use disorder, they found that it had an influence on the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) [4]. The CBD regulated inflammation and reduced intestinal permeability.
A scientific review from 2022 looked at how CBD may impact the health of the gut and noted that CBD may normalize gut motility during periods of inflammation and decrease contractions in the small intestine [5]. Furthermore, the researchers noted that purified CBD may attenuate inflammation in lower doses. They concluded that CBD may have a “beneficial impact on the gut microbiome, unlike most well-known antibiotics, which have some detrimental effects.”
Studies like this show that consuming CBD drinks may have a positive impact on your gut health, as well as inflammation overall. After all, CBD has been proven to exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects within the body [6]. Even if you do not have gut-related issues, even a low dose of cannabidiol from a CBD drink may prove useful to your wellbeing.
Quench Your Thirst for Calm With CBD Drinks
As with any CBD product, CBD drinks may not be for everyone, though they may help soothe your nerves and give you a sense of calm within a couple of sips. If you are looking for faster effects, you may wish to try oils or tinctures instead, as they absorb directly into the bloodstream. CBD pills and capsules may be easier to dose, as well. That said, CBD drinks are a delicious way to quench your thirst and melt away some stress.
At Sugar Bottom Hemp, we offer high quality CBD products for you and your pets. Our CBD Live Seltzer is made with full spectrum CBD that was sourced from organically grown hemp. Every product is analyzed by an independent third party lab, too. Check out our wide selection of CBD products today. Have questions? Feel free to contact our team at any time!
CBD Drinks
Bibliography
- Mitchell, C. V. (2021, May 24). Cannabis Nanoemulsions Explained, Finally. Mg Magazine – Cannabis Industry News & Information. https://mgmagazine.com/business/science-tech/cannabis-nanoemulsions-explained-finally/
- The Brain-Gut Connection. (2021, November 1). Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-brain-gut-connection
- De Filippis, D., Esposito, G., Cirillo, C., Cipriano, M., De Winter, B. Y., Scuderi, C., Sarnelli, G., Cuomo, R., Steardo, L., De Man, J. G., & Iuvone, T. (2011). Cannabidiol reduces intestinal inflammation through the control of neuroimmune axis. PloS one, 6(12), e28159. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0028159
- Karoly, H. C., Mueller, R. L., Bidwell, L. C., & Hutchison, K. E. (2020). Cannabinoids and the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis: Emerging Effects of Cannabidiol and Potential Applications to Alcohol Use Disorders. Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, 44(2), 340–353. https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.14256
- Ibrahim, I., Syamala, S., Ayariga, J. A., Xu, J., Robertson, B. K., Meenakshisundaram, S., & Ajayi, O. S. (2022). Modulatory Effect of Gut Microbiota on the Gut-Brain, Gut-Bone Axes, and the Impact of Cannabinoids. Metabolites, 12(12), 1247. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12121247
- Atalay, S., Jarocka-Karpowicz, I., & Skrzydlewska, E. (2019). Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 9(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9010021
