​As awareness of the health benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) increases every day, people are keen to understand more about what is the best way to take it.

CBD is a fat-soluble cannabinoid, meaning it breaks down and is stored in fat rather than water. Enter coconut oil, the Queen of healthy fats.
 
With over 80 percent saturated fat content, coconut oil is the perfect medium for CBD. (For comparison, butter has about 50% and olive oil only 20%).

Saturated fats are considered “healthy fats” due to their key role in supporting cardiovascular health, their proven ability to help improve immunity, and they even contribute to healthy brain functioning.

These are shorter than most other fats, so can be converted into energy immediately without having to go through any processing.  

In fact, these MCFAs are well worth noting for their health benefits even before being bound to CBD, as studies have shown they can significantly increase metabolic rates, leading to increased weight loss. Coconut oil is nature’s richest source of MCFAs.
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50 percent of the fat content in coconut oil is a fat rarely found in nature called lauric acid. Our bodies convert lauric acid into monolaurin, which has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-protozoa properties. Coconut oil is the richest source of lauric acid on Earth, with breastmilk being the second highest provider.

​Long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) require special enzyme proteins to break them down, but MCFAs are directly metabolized by the body. For those seeking the best way to consume CBD, this translates as a relatively rapid release of the cannabinoid into our endocannabinoid system.
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The abundance and purity of the fat in coconut oil gives cannabinoids plenty of material to work with.

An added benefit of having CBD infused in coconut oil is the versatility it provides. As well as being able to eat it raw, mix it into your favorite hot drink or add it into your meals, it can also be applied topically. By rubbing it straight onto the body’s largest organ – the skin, CBD infused coconut oil can be used to effectively treat many skin conditions as well as provide local pain relief.​

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Nick Osipczak, a former professional athlete (UFC) says, “CBD is perfect for athletes because it significantly speeds up recovery. Due to the intense and demanding training involved at the highest levels in sport, all athletes inevitably receive injuries at multiple points during their careers. CBD is anti-inflammatory, relieves pain and muscle spasms, and helps provide conditions for a deeper sleep. Some athletes are even using it to help with the anxiety that can come with competing at the highest level.

Elite athletes are generally well educated on nutrition – given the choice, with all other factors being equal, they will choose a natural supplement over a synthetic one every time.”

By connecting with cannabinoid receptors found on cells throughout the body, CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, helping it in striving to achieve homeostasis - the body’s natural state of balance.After the US Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) shed light on the number of companies selling CBD products that contained inaccurate levels of the advertised cannabinoid, athletes are cautioned to use products only from trust-worthy suppliers.

“A lot of damage can be done to an athlete’s career after testing positive for a banned substance, and sometimes this is due to the negligence of the supplement manufacturer”, said Nick Osipczak. “I have known about the health benefits of hemp for many years. Athletes and their coaches deserve to be able to source CBD products that are 100% safe. My advice is to only buy CBD that has been grown organically, and that has been laboratory tested by independent bodies to ensure accurate CBD and THC content.”

With CBD set to become increasingly prevalent in sports from the start of 2018, it will be interesting to see the knock-on effect this has on the cannabis industry, as this is often the way supplements go on to become everyday house-hold products.