Not every CBD oil is of good quality
The immense popularity of CBD has in recent years led to a proliferation of CBD products and CBD brands, where quality is certainly not always the priority. Various studies have shown that there are plenty of CBD products on the market where the CBD content does not match what is on the packaging at all. On top of that, the THC content can be far too high, or there can even be pesticides in the oil.
So make sure the CBD you buy is produced by brands you can trust. Reliable brands have their products tested and certified by independent, external laboratories. For these products you can always request a Certificate of Analysis (COA). At Dutch Balance we work with brands such as Dutch Hemp and Wedihemp, which make their test reports available.
The taste is not to everyone’s taste
A second drawback of taking CBD oil is, for many people, the taste. Personally we love the nutty taste of CBD oil based on hemp seed oil, but we know not everyone is a fan. Would you like to use CBD oil and do you not like this taste? Then it is smart to choose a CBD oil based on olive oil, such as this one from Wedihemp. There are also various oils with flavours such as lemon and peppermint.
Besides CBD in oil form there are, incidentally, various other ways to take CBD. Think of tasteless capsules, tasty edibles and CBD patches. Want to know more? Have a look here at four ways to take CBD.
CBD oil drawback: the price
Making high-grade and safe CBD oil is a complex and costly process. As a result, CBD oil is not one of the cheapest food supplements. On the other hand, it is also a question of what you compare the price with. CBD oil is often more expensive than a pot of vitamin pills. A few tips to save on the price anyway:
- Buy your CBD oil from brands that do not spend astronomical amounts on marketing.
- Order CBD oil in bottles with a larger volume and a higher CBD content. These are cheaper per gram of CBD.
- Buy your CBD from a webshop that gives volume discounts, such as Dutch Balance.
- Consider buying pure CBD paste or CBD crystals instead of CBD oil and making your own CBD oil with them.
CBD can be disappointing
Many people start using CBD because they hear positive stories about it from people around them. Bear in mind, though, that CBD does not have the same effect on everyone and that every body responds differently to it. So it may be that you notice little or nothing. Do not expect miracles from it and keep your expectations realistic.
To keep CBD from disappointing you, there are a few things you can do:
- Buy good quality CBD oil.
- Choose the right daily dose (we recommend starting with 5% CBD and taking 3 to 4 drops 1 to 3 times a day).
- Stick to the dose on the label and adjust it step by step, not all at once.
- Try to keep taking the oil for at least two weeks to give it the chance to build up in your system.
CBD oil can contain THC
Because CBD oil is extracted from the cannabis plant, many CBD oils also contain a small percentage of THC. This percentage is (provided you buy from a reliable seller) always less than the legally permitted percentage and therefore legal. Some people are, however, hypersensitive to THC or may not have THC in their blood because of travel or their job. With animals it is not sensible to give an oil containing THC either.
Is it important to you that the CBD product contains no THC at all? Then choose broad spectrum CBD oil or products based on broad spectrum CBD or CBD isolate. These products are entirely free of THC.
Do the pros and cons balance out?
Whether the plus points of CBD oil outweigh the minus points is, as far as we are concerned, a personal judgement. CBD is a food supplement and not a medicine. There are currently no EU-approved health claims for CBD, so that judgement is one only you can make.
