Hemp oil and CBD oil are currently two of the most popular products in the wellness market. To the uninitiated, they may appear more or less to be the same thing, but they are not. There are some solid differences you need to be aware of before you choose one over the other, and we’ll be covering those as well as a few other points in this post.
How Are Hemp Oil And CBD Different?
Both hemp oil and CBD oil help you relax, and they come from the same place: the cannabis family. However, all similarities end here. The two offer different benefits to people who consume them and interact differently with the body. The way of using each is different from the other too.
Hemp oil is sourced from hemp seeds, whereas CBD oil is extracted from the cannabis plant, including the leaves, flowers, and stalks. Hemp seeds contain a lot of fiber and protein, and hemp is made by pressing these seeds. Extracting pure natural CBD oil, on the other hand, involves introducing a solvent like butane or carbon dioxide. What you get in this way are fats and compounds which are then used to make a concentrated compound that carries a high amount of cannabinoids. Compared to hemp seed oil CBD oil contains high amounts of cannabidiol.
Hemp Oil Benefits
The benefits of consuming hemp oil include and are not limited to the following.
- Improved skin
- Lower blood pressure
- Better heart health
- Pain relief
- Inflammation reduction
How Much Hemp Oil Can You Consume?
While the FDA does not give a recommended daily allowance regarding hemp seed oil, the basic rule of thumb to go by is that different doses bring different benefits. For example, researchers have found that around three tablespoons each day can facilitate the 3:1 fatty acid ratio that’s required for a healthy diet. It’s possible to drink hemp seed oil directly or mix it with foods (such as in a salad). A single tablespoon of hemp seed oil has the following.
- 125 calories
- 14 grams of total fat
- 1 gram of saturated fatty acids
- 2 grams of monounsaturated fatty acids
- 11 grams of polyunsaturated fatty acids
As with all oral supplements, it is vital that you consult your doctor or physician before consuming hemp seed oil. And if you choose to use it topically, first try a small amount to check if it causes any skin irritation.