As a vegan you may be wondering if you can add CBD Oil to your diet as an added food supplement. The surge of CBD products within the wellness market is due to a rise in interest around the hemp plant and its potentially beneficial properties. Despite much anecdotal evidence present online from CBD supplements users, more research evidence is needed before CBD can be stamped with a ‘treatment’ status.
For now you are free to purchase CBD oil as a dietary supplement, to add an extra point of nutrients to your daily food intake. In this guide to CBD oil for vegans we will look at the vegan diet, the cannabinoid CBD and suitable plant based CBD products. After we’re done, make sure you do your research and find the best CBD products for what you’re looking to get out of CBD. Let’s begin!
What is a Vegan Diet?
A vegan diet is plant-based and includes foods which are derived from plants only like vegetables, fruit, nuts and grains for example. The primary focus of a vegan diet is to avoid and eliminate any products derived from animals. Unlike vegetarians who exclude meat and fish from their diets, vegans exclude all animal derived food products including eggs and dairy options like milk.
Many people following a vegan diet aim to follow a vegan way of life too. In this way they avoid using clothes, cosmetics and other products which are made using animal derivatives. In 2021 you will now be able to find products stamped as vegan which either means the product was not tested on animals in production or it contains no animal products.
Vegans follow a diet which can require planning and a lot of alternative food options in order to gain key vitamins and minerals that are present in meat, fish, dairy and eggs. However the growing number of vegans in the world means this transition to an alternative, animal – friendly diet is both achievable and enjoyable.
What is Cannabidiol or CBD?
Cannabidiol is the full term for CBD which is one of many cannabinoids (100+) found in the cannabis plant. Most people don’t know that cannabis is a plant group with close relatives like hemp and marijuana making up the cannabis plant family. Hemp and marijuana although related have very different properties and effects on the human body.
Hemp primarily contains the cannabinoid or compound CBD. It contains other compounds like CBG and THC plus over one hundred more but in smaller amounts. The ratio of CBD to THC makes the hemp plant a safe and non-toxic option for CBD extraction. Marijuana on the other hand is chemically made up of THC or tetrahydrocannabinol in large amounts which is the highly psychoactive cannabis compound. THC consumed in large amount can cause the user to experience psychoactive effects or a ‘high’.
Confusion often surrounds cannabis food supplements like CBD oils as they come from cannabis plant family which contains CBD. Hemp, although it contains THC, contains too little to produce anything near a ‘high’. So, now you know that CBD products like CBD oils are only produced using hemp plants as they are the safe option and offer potential health effects on the body and mind.
What is the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)?
You now know what CBD is, but how does it work in the body exactly? Both humans and animals have a system within the body called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). This is one of many bodily systems which works to regulate internal functions on a daily basis. The ECS was discovered in 1992 by a research scientist who was studying the cannabinoid THC. Today, scientists are still looking into the full function of the ECS but so far it is known that it works to control areas like metabolism, mood, sleep and stress response among others.
This system is made up of three things – endocannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors and enzymes. Endocannabinoids are made naturally in the body and work as neurotransmitters to send signals around the body. They bind themselves to receptors made in the brain to send these messages to places of the body which need regulation or rebalancing.
Cannabinoids such as CBD work by taking on the role of Endocannabinoids in the ECS. When you take a CBD supplement like CBD oil, cannabinoids bind to receptors in the ECS and work to create a state of balance within us.
Can Vegans take CBD Oil and CBD Products?
The good news is, vegans can benefit from the effects of CBD supplements. It can daunting if you are new to CBD to find the best brand of CBD oil in terms of quality, service and product testing. One Irish brand which comes highly recommended by customers online is Dr. Hemp Me. They operate an online CBD store with a wide range of CBD oils and other CBD products to choose from. This company also offer CBD products especially for pets.
As there are now many options on the CBD food supplement market be sure to read through our list of products below to see which of these are plant-based and vegan friendly.
CBD Oils
CBD oil is the best CBD supplement option for vegans. It contains all – natural, plant based ingredients as it is all derived from the hemp plant. CBD oils have a very short ingredient list which is made up of hemp seed oil and hemp plant extract. Hemp seed oil is the carrier oil for the CBD content in the oil so it essentially houses the cannabinoids for the user to add to their diet. The hemp extract contains the CBD content and in full-spectrum products it also contains all other cannabinoids present in the hemp plant but in trace amounts.
CBD Capsules
CBD Capsules are really handy for those who prefer a capsule style supplement or do not like the sometimes harsh taste of hemp oil. However CBD capsules are not suitable for vegan’s as they are made of gelatin. Some people purchasing CBD capsules may think they are like a calcium capsule or vitamin D which come in a tablet form but that is not the case here. Cannabidiol capsules house the cannabinoid CBD in a jelly like capsule made from gelatin unless stated otherwise.
CBD Gummies
CBD Gummies are a sweet, easy to use CBD supplement option which are growing in popularity for people of almost every age. But, the majority of these Gummies are made with gelatin derivatives. As the interest grows in this product options for vegans are emerging but can be hard to find. It is generally more affordable for manufacturers and suppliers to make Gummies using gelatin so if you really want a vegan CBD Gummy be sure to ask for proof that they are free from animal products.
CBD Paste
CBD Paste is a high potency option for those looking for high strength CBD products. It is a thicker consistency than oil and comes in a syringe instead of a dropper for measuring doses. This product may suit some vegan’s and may not suit others as these pastes can be made using beeswax for the purpose of texture and maintaining that paste like consistency long term. In high concentrates CBD can solidify over time so ingredients like beeswax and shea butter are often used to maintain a liquid state. The best option is to ask a company or brand for an ingredients list for their paste and see what extras are added in.
What Beneficial Nutrients are in CBD Oil?
For vegans nutrients, vitamins and minerals are a big focus of an everyday diet. Thankfully CBD oil is full of extra nutrients as it is a source of iron, niacin and thiamine. Other sources of goodness in CBD oil include Omega 3’s, Complex B Vitamins and magnesium.
Omega 3 fatty acids are particularly helpful for a vegan diet as they are often gotten through seafood and fish oils. However chia seeds, nuts like walnuts and soybeans do contain Omega 3’s for vegans to consume and benefit from. CBD oil can be used as another source of these fatty acids which help with inflammation and heart health.
Amino acids are plentiful in meat and dairy. As these foods are eliminated from a vegan diet, getting the full range of amino acids into a vegan diet is essential. These acids make up protein and so plant-based sources of protein include nuts, nut butters, tofu and legumes too. So, you can now see that CBD oil can be a beneficial addition to a vegan food diet, both for the benefit of the body and the mind.
If you are a vegan and want to know how can you improve your vegan health? We are here to tell you with the help of our vegan health-related blogs. So let’s explore it now.