Proponents of CBD products claim that high-quality CBD oil can be used as a replacement for every health supplement that we use. The claim is a bold one and there is not enough research to prove the credibility of this claim. Not enough research is done on CBD to claim such magnitude and it might not be true, as we need many vitamins and minerals to ensure the healthy functioning of our body. Each of the vitamins and minerals has distinctive properties and it is unrealistic to expect that CBD oil can replace all of them.
However, CBD shares many similarities with health supplements. For instance, CBD oil seems to have more antioxidants than those found in vitamin E and C. Many manufacturers have started to label their CBD products as health supplements. Does this mean that CBD could be a replacement for essential minerals and daily vitamins? Whatever be the meaning, the Food and Drug Administration has started to clamp down on the CBD manufacturers that make health claims. Here, we will see if we can replace our health supplements with CBD. And even if it is true, manufacturers and sellers must refrain from saying it out loud!
What Are Health Supplements?
Usually, health supplements are taken to fill in the gaps caused by unhealthy diets. As per the data from different nutrition studies conducted across the nation, more than 60% of the population fall short of their vitamin E and D requirements. Having a single health supplement pill can rectify that shortfall. Some of the most common health supplements in the country are:
- Protein
- Probiotics
- Omega 3 fatty acids
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Turmeric
- Multivitamins
- Spirulina
- Calcium, zinc, and magnesium
A Comparison Between CBD and Popular Health Supplements
Let us compare CBD to each of the above-mentioned health supplements to see if CBD is a viable replacement option.
CBD Vs Protein
CBD has many health benefits, but muscle building and satiety are not among them. Hemp seeds contain a good amount of protein (10 grams protein per 100 grams of seed) but they do not have CBD. This means that CBD is not a replacement for protein supplements.
CBD Vs Probiotics
Endocannabinoids are present in large numbers in the intestinal and gut lining. However, CBD and digestive probiotics do not operate in the same way. One of the main problems with probiotics is that it is very difficult for them to be absorbed into the intestinal wall. CBD is a compound that is absorbed naturally by the receptors in the gut and theory suggests that taking probiotics and CBD oil together can drastically improve the absorption level of probiotics. This means that CBD cannot be used as a replacement for probiotics, but could be used to improve the effectiveness of probiotics.
CBD Vs Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids and CBD shares many functions and the most important of them include the ability to increase brain and cardiovascular health and decrease inflammation levels in the body. Besides, both CBD and omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of chronic diseases like arthritis, heart diseases, and diabetes. Besides, both can help in increasing the cognitive health of the user.
CBD Vs Multivitamins
Multivitamins are very essential for the body as they contain elements that we do not get from our daily diet. CBD indeed shares some similarities with minerals and vitamins, but it does not include these elements. Therefore, CBD cannot be used to replace multivitamin supplements.
CBD Vs Vitamin D
The main function of vitamin D is to become the catalyst in calcium absorption that is mandatory for proper bone health and development. CBD cannot be used as an alternative to vitamin D supplements as there are no studies that show that CBD can help with the absorption of calcium.
CBD Vs Turmeric
People use turmeric mainly for its antioxidant properties. However, the antioxidants that are present in CBD are more potent than those found in vitamin E and C. This means that CBD can be used as a replacement for turmeric supplements, but no clinical data is available to back up this claim. The interesting part is that many CBD manufacturers sell CBD capsules and oils that contain both turmeric and CBD.
CBD Vs Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant and can help improve the immune response of the user. Also, it helps in the connective tissue development of blood vessels, skin cells, and bones. Theoretically, CBD can also help perform these functions. However, there are no studies or researches available to establish that CBD is a viable replacement option for vitamin C supplements.
CBD Vs Essential Minerals
Essential minerals are called essential, as you cannot find them anywhere else. Essential minerals are chemical elements and are not broken down into subunits. CBD does not contain essential minerals like zinc, magnesium, or calcium and cannot act as a replacement for essential mineral supplements.