Our Daily CBD: Importance of Taking CBD Consistently

You wouldn’t take an antidepressant, birth control, or heart medication every now and then. These medications take time to build up and work effectively, and CBD is no different.

 

Keep reading to understand why it’s important to take CBD consistently, then head over to learn more about our pure, natural CBD products. 

 

Consistent CBD Use Leads to Healthy, Balanced Endocannabinoid System (ECS)

You can’t take one birth control pill a month and expect to be protected against pregnancy. Nor would you expect your mood to magically stabilize after taking one antidepressant, or taking it sporadically.

 

CBD is similar to those medications in at least one way - consistent, daily use allows the substance to build up over time, maximizing its benefits (improved sleep pattern, mood, and immune response, among others).

 

That being said, some users report instant relief from symptoms related to their medical condition. Brian Higuera, the father of a now seven-year-old with Schinzel-Giedion Syndrome (a severe congenital condition that affects many parts of the body and causes severe intellectual disability and seizures), claims CBD saved his daughter’s life and stopped her body and eyes from twitching within minutes of her first dose.

 

Sadie Higuera’s is a profoundly inspiring story, and while many people feel the benefits of CBD quickly, it’s important to continue taking yours even if you don’t feel instant relief. CBD builds up in the body over time and stimulates the production of cannabinoid receptors.

 

With more endocannabinoid receptors, the ECS becomes more active and sensitive to stimulation by cannabinoids such as CBD. After speaking with your doctor, get on a plan to take CBD daily. 

 

You’ll have a sustained level of CBD in your system, and your ECS will be more healthy and effective. The ECS traverses every part of our body and is present in nearly every organ, so that’s a whole lot of benefits.

How The Body Processes CBD

If only there was a Magic Schoolbus episode on this topic. Today, we’ll have to settle for a written explanation, but you’ll find the process fascinating nonetheless:

 

1) Following oral or sublingual consumption, CBD travels to your liver.

 

2) In the liver, a host of enzymes break down and convert the CBD into compounds that your cells can use. This process of metabolization is carried out by the same group of enzymes responsible for breaking down about 60% of medications on the market.

 

3) From there, the CBD metabolites travel around the body, interacting with receptors and activating a multitude of effects - stress reduction, sleep and mood improvement, and more.

How long does CBD stay in your system?

Depending on the form and dose, as well as your genetics, age, sex, and diet (more on that below), CBD may remain in your system for two to five days, although some people’s bodies hold on to the substance a little longer - maybe even for weeks.

 

Now, it’s important to distinguish between how long the effects of CBD last and how long CBD stays in your system. The full effects of CBD typically only last two to six hours, but everyone is different and may feel effects for a longer or shorter period of time.

 

The goal of taking CBD is to maximize the strength and effectiveness of your body’s ECS. That means choosing the right form and dose for your needs. Some CBD companies promote vaping as a quick way to feel effects, but this method also causes the CBD to leave your body quickly, not to mention that vaping is less than safe. 

 

A couple of drops of CBD tincture placed under your tongue will absorb into your bloodstream faster and will hang around longer. That means you can probably get away with taking sublingual CBD once a day, although everyone is different. You may need to administer once or twice more daily.

 

Oral CBD (check out our CBD gel caps for sleep and CBD oil for energy) takes longer to metabolize since it has to go through your digestive system. Whether you’re using sublingual or oral CBD, remember that every person is different and will require a little tinkering to find the right dosage.

CBD Metabolism

As humans, we have much to thank the liver for, but we can’t forget its partner, the endocannabinoid system (ECS). You can read all about the ECS here, but now we’re going to discuss CBD metabolism - how strong the effects will be and how long CBD will stay in your system.

 

Just like any other substance, CBD does not produce identical reactions from one user to the next. That means the strength and duration of CBD will be different for you than for your friend or family member. 

 

Remember to speak with your doctor before taking CBD; don’t rely on acquaintances’ anecdotes as medical advice.

 

A doctor can help you decide which form and dose of CBD is best for you based on your metabolism. How quickly or slowly you’ll absorb CBD (and how strong the effects will be) depends on the following factors: 

Age

Metabolic enzymes change throughout your lifetime. Babies have only partially-developed enzymes, which is why pediatric doses are lower than adult doses of medications. Like infants, older adults often need smaller doses of medication due to decreased blood flow and liver volume.

Diet 

Your pattern of imbibement affects how your body absorbs substances. Food can enhance, delay, or decrease drug absorption, as seen in high-protein diets and diets containing grapefruit. A high-protein diet can accelerate the metabolism of certain substances, while grapefruit can slow down the process. 

 

Make sure you disclose your eating habits to your doctor, especially if you regularly consume foods with known drug interactions.

Genetics

Science time! Enzymes produced by the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) gene group make up 70 to 80% of all enzymes involved in medication and CBD metabolism. If you have a genetic mutation or variant of this gene, you will likely metabolize certain substances differently.

Medication(s) 

Certain drug interactions can be deadly, and you need to ask your doctor if CBD is safe to take with your other medication(s). Don’t assume there’s no risk because it’s “just” CBD. 

 

When combined with certain medications, CBD could increase or decrease the metabolic function of the drug, potentially altering its efficacy.

Underlying health conditions 

Certain conditions including chronic liver disease, kidney dysfunction, and advanced heart failure are more likely to influence the way your body processes and metabolizes medications and substances.

How to Take CBD Consistently

Trust us - we understand. Taking your medicine or supplement every day at the correct time is much easier said than done. But there’s a reason why doctors needle you about it - consistency really is key when it comes to our bodies.

 

Our bodies thrive on routine and love knowing what to expect. Here are a few ways you can keep your body and your ECS happy with CBD consistency:

 

- Try habit stacking. Pair your CBD dose with something you already do on a daily basis, like brushing your teeth (we really hope you do this daily). Over time, you’ll fall into a routine and won’t even have to think about it.

 

- If you’re taking our CBD oil for energy or CBD gel caps for sleep, turn the bottle upside down after taking a dose and turn it right-side up the next day.

 

- Download a medical reminder app. Take your pick of the dozens of free medication reminder apps that you can easily download and access on your phone. Here are just a few options:

 

• Mango Health (iPhone and Android)
• MedHelper (iPhone and Android)
• Medisafe (iPhone and Android)