As more people understand the benefits that can be realized from taking cannabidiol, or CBD, companies nationwide have developed innovative products to suit pretty much every need and preference under the sun.
But for those new to CBD, it can be confusing to know not only what products to buy, but to answer the question that comes next: “how should I take CBD?”
While everyone is different, there are some general guidelines for establishing an effective CBD routine that fits your individual lifestyle.
How often to take CBD?
With CBD, taking consistent doses is super important. Like, every day. And no, we’re not trying to upsell you!One of the biggest misconceptions about CBD is that you will feel the effects immediately upon taking your first dose.
The truth is: you probably won’t.
This myth has led many many a first-time user down the road to disappointment since they misunderstand how CBD works in the body. So, setting your expectations is important.
You should begin to notice the effects of CBD beginning after about five days of consistent use, meaning five days of consuming one to two servings each day. There are a couple of reasons why doing this is necessary to get the most benefit from your product.
Anytime you introduce a new compound into your body–be it a new food item, medication, and so on–your body requires time to process and acclimate. CBD is no different. Each body reacts differently to cannabinoids, so some users may experience noticeable effects after five days, while with others it could take upwards of a week or even longer. This is totally normal (and in our opinion, it’s always worth the wait!).
The cumulative effects of CBD are another crucial determining factor in why you should dose daily. CBD interacts with receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system (the ECS). CBD, and other cannabinoids, remain in your system for a while after you’ve consumed them, so when you consume CBD regularly, the cannabinoids build up and have a cumulative effect on the ECS. So the effects will be greater and more noticeable the more you allow this accumulation to occur.
This is why consistency truly is key to getting the most out of your CBD experience.
How long does CBD take to work?
The length of time CBD takes to work will vary depending on factors in your body and the delivery mechanism you’ve chosen.
Your metabolism will determine how quickly you feel the effects, as will whether you take the product with food or not. Note that in some cases, taking CBD with food may delay the onset of effects, but it can offer a prolonged experience–so you can decide what kind of experience you’re after and munch accordingly.
Vaping, topicals, and sublingual products typically work the fastest, with effects felt within around 15 minutes. Edibles, including gummies and softgels, can have a longer onset of between 30 minutes to an hour and even beyond.
When to take CBD?
The question of when to take CBD all comes down to what you’re using it for. As we’ve mentioned, it’s important to take it consistently to reap the maximum benefits. But there are specific times of day that you may want to take your dose(s) depending on the issues you’re aiming to address.
For healthy sleep cycles
To promote healthy sleep cycles, take your CBD in the evening (pretty obvious, right?). We recommend our Softgel capsules since these are designed to have prolonged effects–meaning they can help you get to sleep and stay asleep the whole night. Try taking your Softgel 30-45 minutes before lying down for the night.
R&R’s Softgels are available in Full and Broad Spectrum options. Our Full Spectrum Softgels come with either 15mg or 30mg of CBD plus 3mg of other cannabinoids, while our Broad Spectrum, THC-free version delivers 30mg of CBD along with those same minor cannabinoids.
For a psychoactive solution to help put you to sleep, head over to R&R’s sister brand, Summit, to try our tasty and effective Delta-8 Gummies.
To manage stress
Stress generally happens during the day, whether it’s at work, in social situations, or any other time when the mind races seemingly beyond our control. That’s why we recommend dosing up on CBD throughout the day to help target and manage stress all day long.
Try one dose in the morning and another at mid-day. Or, if you’ve got a big presentation at work you’ve been nervous about, or a hot date in the evening that you want to feel cool, calm, and collected for, plan to dose ahead of time.
If you’re looking to target symptoms of stress, our CBD Gummies are a solid option–and are quite popular given their effectiveness and delicious taste. We partnered with a candy manufacturer to develop a recipe that people would actually look forward to eating, instead of being akin to a dose of unpleasantly-flavored medication. Soft, chewy, sweet, and potent, our Gummies are truly a culinary experience.
R&R’s CBD Gummies are fully vegan and gluten-free and come in Full and Broad Spectrum, with both offerings clocking in at 25mg per Gummy. And with 30 Gummies per jar, that’s a whole lotta calmness to experience!
To address discomfort
Pain sucks–but CBD can help target symptoms related to pain, inflammation, and other unpleasant issues.
The deal with CBD and physical discomfort is pretty straightforward: for localized pain, take it whenever you feel it coming on. For chronic pain, take it regularly and ensure you’re taking high-enough doses for a meaningful effect.
For localized pain, we recommend our award-winning CBD Cream 1000mg. This stuff is no joke: each quarter-sized dollop delivers around 33mg of CBD plus over 4mg of minor cannabinoids. Plus, it’s formulated with anti-inflammatory and moisturizing ingredients to leave your skin all-around soothed.
For chronic pain, we recommend our Tinctures that come in different flavor options, a range of dosages, and a THC-free version. All this selection, plus with the graduated droppers, puts dosing entirely in your hands–you can take as much or as little as you need. Taken sublingually, R&R’s Tinctures are powerful, fast-acting, and effective for when you need relief, stat.
Summit also has a psychoactive option for addressing discomfort. The Delta-9 Gummies, each packing 15mg of Delta-9 THC, are a fan favorite for a reason!
Take it 30 minutes before eating
Maybe you’ve seen your friends pop CBD without eating anything first, leading you to wonder, can you eat CBD on an empty stomach?
The answer is: yes! And in fact, you should consume it on an empty stomach. We advise that you take your CBD dose about 30 minutes before eating for maximum effects.
Track your progress to see what works best for you
CBD can be subtle, and its effects are influenced by factors related to how much you take, what time of day you take it, what product you’re trying, and how consistent you are with dosing.
We recommend keeping a journal to get the full picture of CBD’s effects on you. Now, we know journaling isn’t the solution to everything, but in this case, it can really be helpful since it’s all too easy to forget when and how you took your doses, especially when you’re looking back weeks or months (which you should).
A journal can help you identify longer-term patterns so you can hone in on what works and what doesn’t. Here are a few things to make note of as you journal:
Did you take CBD on a full stomach or an empty stomach?
What time of day did you consume the dose?
What kind of mood were you in before versus after?
What was your level of discomfort or stress before and after?
Notice anything particularly good or bad about the experience?
Over time, you may notice certain habits work for you. Lean into those. And remember, consistency–both in regularly dosing and keeping accurate records of your CBD experience–can help you make the most of your CBD routine.
Now you know…
CBD might seem confusing at first blush, but as you can see, things are pretty straightforward. It’s all a matter of knowing your body, experimenting with new products and doses, and not being afraid to branch out and try new things.
The perfect CBD product is probably out there for you–all you’ve gotta do is find it!
Sources:
An introduction to the endogenous cannabinoid system | National Library of Medicine
Does CBD help with insomnia? | New York Times
Cannabinoids and Pain: New Insights From Old Molecules | National Library of Medicine
