CBD Oil Benefits: What We Know and What We Don’t

1AND1
5 min readDec 21, 2021

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By Corey Lewis, CPT, CSCS

What Are The Benefits of CBD Oil? (Image Source: Shutterstock)

America’s currently in a CBD boom. There are countless products touting the cannabis compound as a miracle solution, as an alternative to medical marijuana. Whether it’s weight loss, dry skin, or sleep problems, the CBD industry claims it has the cure. It does appear that cannabidiol (CBD) is beneficial for some people. However, little research has been carried out on the true medical benefits. This is partly due to its legal status within the United States. We take a look at what we know and what we don’t when it comes to the benefits of CBD oil.

What is CBD Oil?

The wellness world has seen all sorts of trends, from the celery juice diet to the raw food craze.. Some trends land, while others have their 15 seconds of fame before falling off the face of the earth. You’ve no doubt seen numerous cannabidiol or CBD products filling the shelves. Back in 2016, Forbes reported that the cannabis market could grow 700% by 2020. At that time, they predicted that the CBD industry would reach a whopping $2.2 billion.

CBD is a naturally occurring compound from the cannabis plant. It can be extracted from the same plant as marijuana, Cannabis sativa or from hemp. CBD is combined with a carrier oil like hemp or coconut oil to create CBD oil. Unlike marijuana, CBD has very low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the main psychoactive compound found in marijuana and is responsible for the commonly associated “high” feeling.

CBD products that don’t contain THC fall outside of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) Controlled Substances Act. This means that CBD oil products are legal in some states, causing them to become increasingly popular. The legal landscape of CBD is constantly changing and can be very different from state to state. For example, all states allow CBD derived from industrial hemp, but only some allow CBD made from the cannabis plant. To help clear things up, our 1and1 expert Sam Davis chats about the biggest CBD myths. Check it out.

The Evidence for Its Health Benefits

While many people use CBD oil successfully for pain management or anxiety, we need more scientific research. Only then can we determine whether it’s completely safe and effective. One report found that there was substantial evidence to suggest that CBD could be an effective treatment for adults with chronic pain. A separate study supported these results and found that using CBD can reduce pain and inflammation.

CBD oil has a range of promising applications. These may include anxiety treatment and potential applications in diabetes, acne, cancer, epilepsy, and even weight loss. You might wonder how CBD can help you to lose weight. It turns out that there’s emerging research that suggests CBD could help to reduce food intake. By extension, it could possibly boost your metabolism to support weight loss.

Again, this research is in its infancy. And although it looks promising, we have a long way to go before we fully understand its effect on weight loss. For now, with weight loss, it’s best to focus on making healthy lifestyle choices and getting plenty of exercise. If you’re on a weight loss diet, try healthier alternatives instead. Start supplementing vitamins that boost your metabolism. You can hit your daily intake and keep your body in the best condition possible.

There is a growing pool of evidence supporting the benefits of CBD. But as with any trendy product on the market, it takes time to research, gather data and make well-informed and substantiated recommendations.

Too Much Marketing Noise

One of the main problems with CBD oil is that there is a wealth of marketing materials about it. These include blogs, videos, and products that claim CBD can cure whatever problem you have. But there is a limited amount of research that fully supports these claims. Although the research surrounding CBD is shaping up to be a potentially promising and versatile treatment, is there really such a thing as a miracle cure for all ailments?

CBD oil and other cannabis-based products are not fully regulated. So, it can be difficult to know what you’re actually getting unless you choose independent-lab tested or certified CBD oils. However, this is changing as the industry is coming under more and more scrutiny to make truthful and well-supported claims. One area of research which is more understood is the connection between epilepsy and CBD. In June 2018, the FDA approved the first-ever drug made using a cannabis-based product. It was used to treat people with two rare and specific kinds of epilepsy. This was a great, promising step forward with CBD research.

Is It Safe and Effective?

CBD oil is generally well tolerated by most adults. However, the research in this area still needs more attention. Every person is different, and some people can experience CBD oil side effects such as nausea, changes in appetite, and fatigue. It’s also known to interact with some medications.

With CBD products, it can be difficult to know what you’re buying. In 2017, the FDA tested four major online CBD retailers based in America. They found that many products didn’t contain the levels of CBD that were advertised, and some even made unfounded claims.

FDA Hearings on CBD — NBRbizrpt

The legality of cannabis is changing, because of the classification of the plant by the DEA. Even so, it’s been difficult for researchers to get their hands on it. This has delayed the amount of research available that’s been carried out on cannabinoids in humans.

Fast forward five years and we could have a thriving and growing base of research. Those studies could reveal some of the reasons why CBD works the way it does. They also show us how it helps with a potentially endless number of health conditions.

Yes, CBD Oil Does Have Benefits

From the research carried out so far, CBD oil looks to be a promising treatment for several health conditions. It is especially useful in the area of pain management and epilepsy. However, CBD oil doesn’t come cheap, as you may know. By having a greater knowledge of what it can do for you, you can make a more well-informed decision. As more evidence comes to light, we will no doubt have a better understanding of how it works. Then, we can learn more about the side effects and the benefits of CBD oil.

Effects of CBD Oil on Weight Loss

Effects of CBD Oil on Weight Loss

  • Reduces appetite and prevents overeating in some people.
  • Turns bad fat into good fat which may help the body burn calories
  • Promotes better sleep which helps burn fat as well as repair and build muscles.
  • Burns down fat and helps eliminate it from the body as waste.
  • Reduces the risk of metabolic disorders by blocking off the CB1 receptors.

*This post may contain affiliate links to the products and services that we talk about.

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