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While a slew of CBD edibles continue to flood the market with products like CBD oil and CBD gummies, none are packed with the therapeutic potential of CBD dark chocolate. CBD chocolate is a delicious - and discreet - elevated treat that combines the best of what both cannabidiol and cacao have to offer. Although CBD is becoming a growing presence in the wellness space, many consumers are in the dark regarding adequate serving sizes. Understanding the benefit of both CBD and dark chocolate can inform how both can be used to enhance your health and vitality.
Benefits of CBD
Phytocannabinoids are chemical compounds found in a variety of plants. The hemp plant contains more than 100 of these compounds, or cannabinoids. Cannabidiol, (CBD) is the primary cannabinoid found in the hemp plant. Its widely known counterpart, THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), is the dominant compound in the majority of cannabis strains. While its exact purpose remains somewhat of a mystery, studies suggest that cannabinoids influence the functioning of your endocannabinoid system (ECS) to produce a myriad of health benefits.
The endocannabinoid system is a vast collection of receptors located throughout your entire body.¹ It’s thought to regulate cardiovascular, nervous, and immune system functions and impact vital processes such as mood, cognition, inflammation response, pain sensation, sleep, and metabolism.² When you ingest CBD, it may trigger your endocannabinoid system to produce its very own cannabinoids, aptly called endocannabinoids.³ These organic compounds are transported through the body, binding to select cannabinoid receptors to generate a range of physiological responses.
Years of hemp and cannabis research combined with anecdotal evidence indicate that CBD is indeed an effective natural remedy.⁴⁻⁵ CBD extract oil is used to produce products that target pain, inflammation, anxiety, seizures, skin conditions and sleep disorders, to name a few. An increasing number of consumers are trading in conventional forms of treatment in favor of the gentle, safe, and effective medicinal properties of CBD. Cannabidiol is a plant-based supplement that’s virtually free-from intoxicating effects and other adverse reactions linked to prescription drugs.
Benefits of Chocolate
Dark chocolate is more than a sweet, decadent treat; it’s a nutrient-rich superfood that can provide numerous health benefits.⁶ The nutritional value of dark chocolate can be attributed to its high cacao content. Derived from seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree, cacao is essentially chocolate in its purest form. Dark chocolate consists of at least 65% of cacao and contains lower levels of fat and sugar than milk chocolate and white chocolate. Dark Chocolate is high in vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, Vitamins A, C, and E. It's also packed with antioxidants called flavonoids. Among its many health benefits, dark chocolate is thought to lower cholesterol, prevent heart disease, improve skin health, boost cognition and enhance mood.
Benefits of CBD Infused Dark Chocolate
In addition to its delectable flavor, the fusion of cannabidiol and cacao can enhance the therapeutic potential of both. CBD chocolate is thought to:
- Improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression.⁷
- Contain stress-relieving properties and improve overall sleep quality.⁸
- Increase antioxidant levels, which may improve heart health, cognitive function and protect your cells against free radicals.⁹
- Alleviate pain and decrease inflammation.¹⁰
- Couple the brain-boosting properties of CBD with caffeine from cacao couples to heighten energy and sharpen mental focus.¹¹
- Work together to soothe gastrointestinal issues such as IBS.¹²⁻¹³
How Much CBD Chocolate Should You Eat?
CBD Chocolate edibles are an enjoyable, practical, and discreet way to enhance your entire well-being. Regardless of your reason for consuming this CBD product, it’s essential to know that serving sizes hardly follow a one-size-fits-all model. As with any medicine or supplement, the response to hemp extract edibles is unique to each consumer. By and large, however, each person’s experience with CBD chocolate will be influenced by:
Size:
As with most medicines and supplements, your height and weight may determine your CBD dosage. The greater your size, the higher the CBD you may require to achieve the desired effect; those smaller in stature may want to start with a lower dose.
Age:
Your metabolism is critical to processing CBD. Younger people may metabolize CBD faster and experience its effects relatively quickly. Your metabolism slows down with age, which may delay the effects of CBD on your system. In addition, chronic illnesses linked to aging, such as high blood pressure, arthritis, and diabetes, require prescription drugs that may negatively interact with CBD products.
Sex:
Hormonal differences between males and females may impact the efficacy of cannabinoids like CBD.¹⁴ Again, metabolism is one of the factors at play here, as males tend to have a faster metabolism than females.
Product Type and Potency:
CBD products come in a variety of forms which include anything from CBD edibles and CBD oil tinctures to CBD topicals, and CBD oil capsules. Product packaging clearly states the amount of CBD per package and the recommended serving size. No matter how you consume CBD, it’s best to start with the recommended dosage or lower, then wait at least 30-60 minutes for it to take effect.
Tolerance:
Regular CBD users may need a higher dose to reap the full benefits, while newbies may want to start with a smaller amount to determine its impact.
So how much CBD Chocolate should you eat to soak up their collective therapeutic properties? We need to look no further than our debut CBD Chocolate Bar made with 240 mg of CBD to answer that question. Divided into bite-size portions, our dark chocolate edible contains 20mg of CBD per square. Since the CBD chocolate effects can vary from person to person, we recommend starting with two squares (40mg), waiting at least an hour, and increasing as needed. Although these suggestions are designed to help you determine the ideal dosage, serving size should be tailored to address your unique circumstances.
More About Our Premier Chocolate Bar
Co-created with local chocolatier Ranger Chocolate, our CBD Dark Chocolate melds 70% cacao, vanilla, and sea salt with full-spectrum CBD to deliver delicious flavor and high quality you’ve come to rely on. As our first-ever chocolate offering, we extend our commitment to providing you with potent CBD products that are effective, sustainable, and accessible. We hope you enjoy our new elevated, artisanal confection that pairs the best of what cannabidiol and cacao have to offer! For more ideas on how to consume CBD infused chocolate, make sure to check out our Chocolate Chip CBD cookies recipe and start incorporating sweet relief into your baked goods!
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Sources:
¹https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/endocannabinoid
²https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26654588/
³https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319475#effects
⁴https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210423130221.htm
⁵https://www.consumerreports.org/cbd/cbd-goes-mainstream/
⁷https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27544303/
⁸https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-are-terpenes#what-they-are
⁹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4696435/
¹⁰https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7204604/
¹¹https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763416304390