What are Carrier Oils and Why Do They Matter in Your Hemp CBD

When it comes to purchasing a CBD product, it's only natural to focus on the active compound with all the therapeutic benefits: the CBD itself. While it's crucially important to know where the CBD is coming from and how it's processed, it's also important to take a look at the entire ingredient list and see what else is in there. Unfortunately, like many supplements, there can be some funky or low-grade ingredients and additives in CBD supplements that don't help support our health.

What's a carrier oil?

A carrier oil is just that – a carrier or delivery medium for the more active ingredients within a particular formula. While carrier oils won't have the same impact as the actual CBD, it actually makes up the bulk of most CBD supplements since the hemp extract itself is highly concentrated. It's important that the carrier oil is high quality and ideally has some health-boosting properties in and of itself. This creates a more well-rounded health supplement that serves your entire body well.

At Veggimins we use one of two different options as a carrier for our CBD: a cold-pressed organic hemp seed oil, or organic coconut MCT oil – both of which nourish the body with healthy fats that support our nervous system, brain health, skin and metabolism.

Why use a carrier oil at all?

When CBD is extracted from hemp, it is highly concentrated, and generally has a very thick, waxy texture. It needs to be diluted in order to be administered as an oral supplement, or used in a skincare formulation. If you take a look at each of our extracts you'll notice that they list different numbers on the front of the label. This is the total mg of actual CBD per bottle. The higher the strength, the more of this highly concentrated CBD extract is included – meaning, it's more concentrated. The lower the numbers say for instance our 60 mg option, will have less CBD extract and more carrier oil as a ratio.

Hemp oil vs CBD extract

While both hemp seed oil and hemp CBD extract come from the same species of plant (cannabis aka hemp) hemp seed oil is derived exclusively from the seeds and is generally made via a cold-pressing method. While it's a very healthy source of omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, it doesn't contain any CBD. Hemp CBD extract is produced in a similar fashion to an essential oil – through an extraction process involving either solvents, steam distillation, or through a CO2 process. It comes from the leaves, stalks and even flowers of the hemp plant. At Veggimins we use a CO2 process because it's environmentally friendly, free of all harsh chemicals and very low heat which helps retain the hemp plant's beneficial properties and constituents.

What is MCT Oil?

MCT is a big buzz word in the health industry. It stands for medium-chain triglycerides, a type of fat typically found in foods like coconut oil. Compared to its counterpart - long-chain triglycerides - MCT oils are broken down and burned readily as energy with more ease than other forms of fat. MCT's are absorbed by the liver, where they can either be used as an energy source on the fly or turned into something called ketones. You may have heard of the word ketones in reference to ketosis - a metabolic state achieved through a "keto diet". This diet involves reducing carbohydrate levels to a low enough level over time that the body and brain are forced to switch from running primarily on glucose for energy, to running on an alternative source of fuel: ketones. This is why MCT products can be a very helpful energy source on a keto lifestyle.

Food as Medicine

Our foundation at Veggimins is the belief that food is the best medicine. It means every ingredient matters. We put a great level of care into formulating our products to be food-based and completely free of common supplement additives. We embrace both quality and purity not just with the active ingredients in our products, but in all ingredients.