Different Carrier Oils for CBD Oil:
Whether you’re new to the CBD world or a regular user of CBD products, you’ve probably heard the term carrier oil or base oil for CBD. If you haven’t heard of these, no worries, we’ll break down the important stuff, so it’s easily digestible.
Carrier oils used in CBD oil serve an essential purpose, and that is to deliver as much CBD to targeted areas throughout your body. The carrier oil you choose to go along with your CBD can also affect how your body processes the CBD oil and how much of the compound reaches your cells.
In this article, we will cover 12 of the most natural and popular carrier oils used for CBD oil tinctures and answer some of the most frequently asked questions.
Let’s go!
What is a carrier oil?
Carrier oils, also known as base oils, are oils derived from plant sources used for suspending or diluting compounds that may otherwise be unusable or too concentrated for use. Like most plant oils, they help improve palatability or taste and serve as a medium for suspending the CBD compound and other cannabinoids.
Why does CBD need a carrier oil?
CBD is a powdery compound that is hydrophobic, meaning it does not mix well or dissolve well with water-based substances. On the contrary, CBD completely dissolves in oil. For this reason, CBD is typically mixed with a carrier oil that will aid your body in processing the CBD and delivering it to your cells. CBD without a carrier oil is just a powder, which poses some light challenges when dosing, consuming, and the CBD’s bioavailability.
Why add carrier oils to CBD?
There are three major reasons why carrier oils are used with CBD: they enhance CBD oil absorption in your body, make dosing easy.
Enhance CBD Oil absorption
Carrier oils play an essential role in facilitating the consumption and absorption of CBD in your body. When CBD, or other cannabinoids, are combined with a fatty plant-based oil, the CBD compounds bind directly with the fat molecules in the oil. The oil is essential because your body can efficiently process the fat molecules and deliver the CBD to your cells. In other words, using plant-based oils with CBD help increase the bioavailability of CBD to your cells.
Carrier Oils with Additional Health Benefits
Not all carrier oils are the same. Some carrier oils are healthier and easier for your body to digest, with some even offering additional health benefits and being labeled as heart-healthy. One of the reasons plant-based oils are considered heart-healthy is that studies consistently link polyunsaturated fat to a reduced risk of heart problems compared with saturated fat. Still, the benefits of these plant-based oils vary depending on the fatty acids they contain, the plants they’re extracted from, and how they are obtained and processed. We’ll learn more about some of the most popular plant oils used as carrier oils for CBD below.
A report from the American Heart Association states that unsaturated fats, which include monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats, can reduce the risk of heart disease when people chose to eat them instead of saturated and trans fats.
Simple CBD Oil Dosing
CBD is a white crystalline powder that is measured in milligrams. If CBD is left in its crystalline form, it can be difficult to accurately measure doses without proper equipment, such as precision scales. This is one of the reasons why using carrier oils helps with dosing; the CBD is already dissolved evenly across the entire contents of the oil, no need to bring out a scale to measure the milligrams. Generally speaking, most reputable CBD oil brands include a graduated dropper (dropper with measurements in ML) with each bottle of CBD oil. Reputable CBD oil brands also indicate on their label the size of the container, the amount of CBD in the entire bottle, and the amount of CBD mg in 1ml.
Below are some examples of standard CBD oil doses depending on the strength or milligrams of CBD in a 30ML bottle.
| Milligrams of CBD in 30ml Bottle | Milligrams of CBD per 1ml |
| 250mg | 8mg |
| 500mg | 17mg |
| 1000mg | 33mg |
| 1500mg | 50mg |
| 3000mg | 100mg |
What are good carrier oils for CBD?
Ideally, good carrier oils for CBD will maximize the amount of CBD that reaches your cells. The best carrier oils will not only maximize the amount of CBD that enters your cells but also have additional health benefits.
12 Popular Carrier Oils for CBD
Some things to keep in mind when looking at the oils below:
- Saturated and trans fats raise cholesterol levels and are not considered heart-healthy.
- Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated are generally considered ‘good’ fats.
- Oils high in monounsaturated fats are particularly heart-healthy because they lower LDL levels, the ‘bad’ kind of cholesterol.
- Replacing fats and oils that are higher in saturated and trans fats with those higher in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats may be better for your health.
Below are 12 of the most popular carrier oils used in CBD oil:
- Olive Oil
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- Taste: When tasting olive oil, you might notice a scent of fresh-cut grass, cinnamon, and ripe green olives. These three positive attributes contribute to a flavor that is bitter and pungent yet pleasant.
- Benefits: Olive oil contains significant amounts of antioxidants, and modest amounts of vitamins E and K. Olive oil also contains oleic acid and oleocanthal, both of which contain anti-inflammatory properties.
- Medium Chain Triglyceride (MCT) Oil
- Taste: One of the great things about MCT oil is that it has virtually no taste or smell; this makes MCT oil an excellent choice for taste sensitivity.
- Benefits: The consumption of medium-chain triglycerides is associated with several health benefits, including supporting healthy cholesterol levels. Medium-chain triglycerides are said to support healthy levels of HDL cholesterol. MCT oils are also broken down more rapidly and absorbed into the body quicker than other oils. Unlike longer chain fatty acids, MCT is directed straight to the liver, where it is used as an instant energy source.
- Coconut Oil
- Taste: The taste depends on the coconut oil used, unrefined, or refined. If the coconut oil is unrefined, the flavor and aromas are of tropical coconut. The refined version will have a neutral scent and flavor.
- Benefits: Refined and unrefined coconut oil has the same nutritional benefits; both are high in healthy fatty acids and have a content of about 63% medium-chain triglycerides. The fatty acids in coconut oil can help encourage the body to burn fat and use the MCTs as a quick source of energy.
- Hemp Seed Oil
- Taste: Hempseed oil has a robust prominent flavor, much like walnuts or sunflower seeds.
- Benefits: Hempseed oil is often touted as a superfood rich in omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. Studies also link hempseed oil to supporting a healthy inflammation response, and as a good source of vitamins A and E. Hempseed oil is also a great source of gamma-linolenic acid, which plays a role in supporting a healthy reproductive system, metabolism, and brain functionality.
- Grape Seed Oil
- Taste: Grapeseed oil has a very neutral flavor, almost flavorless. The absence of a strong flavor makes this option an excellent choice if your taste is sensitive.
- Benefits: Grapeseed oil is primarily high in polyunsaturated fats or omega-6 fatty acids. Studies show that too much omega-6 fatty acids may cause inflammation. If your diet already provides you with enough omega-6, regularly consuming grapeseed oil may not provide additional health benefits.
- Pumpkin Seed Oil
- Taste: Pumpkin seed oil has a rich aromatic nutty flavor. It has a pleasant taste that is not overpowering.
- Benefits: Pumpkin seed oil is an ingredient full of vitamins and anti-inflammatory properties. It is considered one of the healthier oils because of its high monounsaturated fat content and the vitamins it contains – A, C, and D.
- Avocado Oil
- Taste: Avocado oil has a slightly grassy flavor profile with a mild avocado flavor and is somewhat thick inconsistency.
- Benefits: The benefits of avocado oil are numerous and mostly because of its healthy fats and antioxidants. Almost 70 percent of the avocado oil consists of monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acids, much like olive oil. Avocado oil is also high in Lutein, an antioxidant that may have potential benefits for the eyes.
- Pomegranate Seed Oil
- Taste: The flavor of pomegranate oil is like balsamic vinegar, with a touch of sweetness and fruity.
- Benefits: Pomegranate seed oil is loaded with essential fatty acids and vitamins. It has potent anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties due to its high omega-5 fatty acids or Punicic acid.
- Sunflower Oil
- Taste: Sunflower oil usually retains the sunflower seeds’ natural flavor and aroma. Its flavor is mild and easy to consume.
- Benefits: Sunflower oil is a seed oil high in omega-6 fatty acids. This oil might not be the best one to consume if your diet consists of high amounts of omega-6 fatty acids. Sunflower oil also contains substantial amounts of vitamin E.
- Palm Oil
- Taste: Palm oil has an earthy taste with flavors similar to a carrot or pumpkin.
- Benefits: Palm oil is a controversial oil. It is said to provide several health benefits at a cost to our environment. Some of the benefits linked to palm oil include supporting and protecting brain function.
- Arnica Oil
- Notes: Arnica oil should not be ingested as it can be toxic to the liver in small quantities and may be fatal. This oil is mostly used in topicals.
- Benefits: Diluted arnica oil is primarily used in topicals and is said to support relief in sprains, muscle aches, insect bites, and swelling. More research is needed to understand the benefits of arnica oil.
- Vegetable Glycerin
- Notes: Vegetable glycerin is a clear liquid typically made from soybeans, coconut oils, and palm oils. The glycerin is odorless and has a sweet taste with a syrup-like consistency. Vegetable glycerin is commonly used as a carrier in CBD vape juice and not typically in CBD oil. Vegetable glycerine is an ingredient that is used in foods, medications, and other industrial uses.
- Benefits: The benefits depend on its use. If used for topicals, it can help lock in moisture and improve hydration.
What is the best carrier oil for CBD?
In reality, there is no “one size fits all”. The best carrier oil is very personal and depends on your current diet and nutritional needs. One thing to keep in mind when choosing the best carrier oil for your CBD oil is making sure that you are not allergic to any of the carrier oils or ingredients. Having said all this, both MCT oil and Olive oil offer some of the best overall benefits when combined with CBD. MCT and olive oil are quickly broken down by the body and can deliver the CBD to your cells more rapidly.
Other Common Questions
Does Hemp Oil need a carrier oil?
This is an important question that gets asked often, likely because of the confusion between CBD oil and Hemp oil; these two are not the same. They’re both sourced from the hemp plant, but both are extracted from different parts of the hemp plant. Hemp oil is the oil extracted from the seeds of the hemp plant. CBD is extracted from the stalk, stems, and leaves of the hemp plant and then combined with a carrier oil.
So then, can hemp oil be used as a carrier oil? Yes, in this case, CBD can be infused into the hemp oil. Learn more about Hemp Oil vs CBD Oil and how to spot the difference.
Can I mix CBD oil in lotion?
You can mix CBD oil with your favorite lotion; however, there are a few important things to note. First, for the outer layer of your skin to absorb the CBD, the cream or topical must have properties that open the pores on your skin. Opening the pores on your skin allows the CBD to penetrate the outer layer of your skin. Depending on what you are trying to target, a CBD balm might offer one of the best solutions. Learn about the 5 things to know about CBD oil balms.
Should I keep my CBD oil in the fridge?
CBD oil does not need to be kept in the fridge. Instead, it is best to keep it in a dark cabinet at room temperature.
What color is good CBD oil?
CBD oil tinctures range in color from clear and transparent to dark brown; however, any added ingredients can also change the color of the CBD oil. The color of the carrier oil also plays a role in the color of your CBD oil. All in all, no single color defines the best CBD oil.
Are there different grades of CBD oil?
Yes, there are different grades of CBD, and not all CBD is created equal. The method of extraction plays a role in the quality of the CBD, as well as the quality of the added ingredients. One of the purest forms of CBD is extracted using a CO2 cold press method; this produces one of the cleanest extracts.
Can I mix CBD oil with essential oils?
CBD oil can be mixed with essential oils, but this can be tricky. Depending on how you will use the CBD oil with the essential oil, it may not be safe for consumption.
How do I choose a carrier oil?
Choosing a carrier oil for your CBD does not have to be complicated. The best place to start is making sure you aren’t allergic to the carrier oil. After that, consider which oil will give the benefits you’re looking for. Two of the most common and popular carrier oils are MCT Oil and Olive Oil, because of the bioavailability it provides for your CBD.
Where can you buy CBD oil?
These days, you can buy CBD oil online and at most local health and wellness shops. The best place to buy CBD oil would be on a CBD manufactures website to get the freshest batch.
Here is a checklist of things to look for when buying CBD oil:
- Check the ingredients for allergens that you may be allergic too.
- Check for 3rd party lab results.
- Verify the milligrams of CBD stated on the label matches the 3rd party lab results.
- Check the return policy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, carrier oils serve an essential purpose when combined with CBD. The carrier oils affect how your body processes the CBD and how much of it will be available to your cells. We learned that two of the best CBD carrier oils are MCT oil and Olive oil because of their added health benefits and their ability to be absorbed by the body at a quicker rate.
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