You know how most CBD products come in some sort of oil-based formulation? Well, there’s good reason for that. Cannabinoids, like CBD, are fat-soluble which means they can dissolve in oil. You’ll usually find hemp extract has to be suspended in this way for an even distribution of molecules in each drop. However, oil and water – like the 60% our body is made out of – don’t mix, so the absorbability of CBD oil tends to be very low and as a result, we actually flush out up to 95% of the product we attempt to consume without it having any effect.

Obviously, this is far from ideal for a premium product – and it’s not ideal for seeing the results you want, either. So a solution was developed: water soluble CBD.

What is Water Soluble CBD?

Water soluble CBD (the kind you find in our new vitamin-enriched CBD drink, Santé) has been through a process which breaks cannabinoids down into nanoparticles, making it much easier for the body to both absorb and use. Whereas molecules suspended in a lipid formulation (like oil) will attach to receptors in the body as quickly as possible, something that is water soluble, or water compatible, is able to stay in the bloodstream for longer, therefore allowing the molecules in your CBD product to travel further – reaching parts of the body that might otherwise be neglected. 

Consequently, water soluble CBD has a much higher rate of bioavailability than CBD oil, with some experts believing the absorption rate to be near to 100%! Although clinical trials are still needed to establish this.

Why use Water Soluble CBD?

One of the best uses for water soluble CBD is in CBD drinks – which is why we use it!

If you were to try and make a CBD drink using an oil based product, not only would you likely be left with a strong hemp flavour, but it would also be impossible for proper distribution through the liquid and therefore through your body. Because of this, many CBD drinks that are formulated without water soluble CBD do not work well.

However, when made properly, a CBD infused drink can actually be one of the most effective ways of taking CBD. There are a number of reasons for this:

• Although the bioavailability of CBD that has to be metabolised by the liver and gut enzymes is generally very low, this is improved by being water soluble and allows you to reap the benefits of digestible CBD without so much of the loss. 
• When ingested, cannabinoids stay in your system for much longer – in many cases around 12 hours, as opposed to the 6-8 you might get from sublingual (under the tongue) absorption. This helps the body to gradually accumulate cannabinoids, and support the synthesis and release of our own endocannabinoids, over time.
• CBD products that are not edible (or drinkable) often don’t make it as far as the receptors in your gastrointestinal tract, where so many vital functions take place. When digested, your gut (where all our neurotransmitters, like serotonin, are synthesised and where conditions like IBS take hold) become the first stop for cannabinoids.
• Water soluble CBD that goes through the digestive system binds with a glucuronide compound as part of the process. This enhances the molecules’ ability to diffuse across the blood-brain barrier and travel faster throughout the body

Can a CBD drink replace my CBD oil?

In short, yes! When made properly, using water soluble CBD, a CBD drink will have much the same effect as taking CBD as oral drops, capsules, vape, or one of the many other forms. But potentially even better!