December 26, 2024
The Fat Solubility of Cannabinoids and Why It Matters
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Did you know that if a cannabis edible doesn't contain a secret ingredient, you might get only 10 percent of the total effects? Cannabinoids are fat-soluble, which means all edibles — including gummies — need a serving of fat to make the effects pop.
The hard truth about all edibles is that fat impacts how THC (and other cannabinoids) metabolizes, ultimately impacting how much your body absorbs. Confused? Let's get into the science of cannabinoids, fats, and bioavailability to ensure you get the most out of your next THC-infused treat.
The Fat-Solubility of Cannabinoids
Why is fat so important in edible formulation? Cannabinoids like THC and CBD are highly lipophilic, meaning they're fat-soluble. Breaking it down, "lipo" means "fat," and "philic" means "loving," so cannabinoids are literally "fat-loving" compounds.
But what does fat-soluble really mean? This means cannabinoids naturally bind to fatty compounds, influencing how they behave and are absorbed in the human body.
Just think about the old adage "oil and water don't mix." Cannabinoids are hydrophobic — they mix easily with fats but not with water (unless you’re talking about nano-emulsified THC). Considering the human body is about 60 percent water, it's no surprise that water and fat-loving cannabinoids don't naturally get along, making absorption challenging.
However, when cannabinoids are combined with fats, the body can absorb them more effectively, maximizing their potential benefits. Among other ingredients, like mangos, THC synergizes with fats.
The Many Influences On Cannabinoid Absorption
In their natural state, our bodies don't effectively absorb cannabinoids, and while fats play a significant role in increasing that absorption rate, many other factors also enter the equation.
Your age, sex, body mass index, metabolism, previous THC exposure, and even genetics play into how your body interacts with THC. This complicated mash-up of influences is why you may feel strong effects from 10 mg of THC while your friend feels nothing from the very same serving size.
This is why we always recommend starting low and going slow. Start with a low serving size (under 5 mg for anyone with zero experience), then gradually increase as you understand the effects.
Absorption and Bioavailability
The lipophilic nature of cannabis compounds affects how much our bodies can absorb, which translates into their bioavailability.
Absorption rate is about the speed at which compounds like THC make their way into your bloodstream. The absorption rate for cannabinoids is significantly impacted by the route of administration.
For example, when you eat a THC-infused edible, it can take a while for it to break down in your stomach, then get metabolized in the liver and enter into the bloodstream. Only once it’s in the bloodstream, can the THC start interacting with your endocannabinoid system.
How is THC metabolized through inhalable options? The absorption rate for an inhalable like a vaporizer is much faster, as the cannabinoids are absorbed within a few seconds directly through the lining of your lungs.
Then, there is the rate of bioavailability. This is how much actually makes it into your bloodstream in a form your body can use. So, if we look at the example of edible vs. vaporizer, THC has between a 10-35 percent bioavailability when inhaled versus only 4 to 12 percent bioavailability when ingested.
As you can see, normally, you don't get much from the total THC packed into an edible. If you were to nibble on a gummy with 100mg of THC, you'd maybe get only 10 to 35 mg of THC into your bloodstream.
But there is good news here: You can increase the bioavailability of cannabinoids like THC and CBD by emulsifying them with fat.
The Benefits of Emulsifying Edibles with Fats
In a society that teaches us to shy away from fats, you may be asking what the benefit of having them in your edibles is. Think about cannabis brownies for a moment. Why do they often seem to hit so much stronger than other edibles? Part of it is that they are frequently made by inexperienced cooks who don't know how to properly plan for serving size. The other reason is that brownies contain a good portion of fats, like eggs and oils.
When you eat cannabinoids with fats, such as butter, coconut oil (MCT oil), olive oils, and others, your body is better at absorbing them because fats help your small intestine form something called micelles. Micelles are the tiny delivery trucks that help carry cannabinoids into your bloodstream.
Simply adding fats into an edible recipe helps increase micelle production, which in turn increases the absorptions rates of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids. Studies have determined this can be as much as 2.5 times for THC and three times for CBD.
The Best Edibles for Improved Bioavailability
At Hometown Hero, we formulate our edibles with a fatty element to help increase the effects of every single bite. So, how do we do it?
All our baked goods are made with real butter, including the cereal bites and the brownies.
Then, inside our soft gels, you'll also get a serving of healthy MCT oil made from organic coconuts.
Finally, every single gummy contains a unique formulation with MCT oil to ensure peak effects. Our edibles are effective thanks to these not-so-secret fatty ingredients.
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What Does Fat-Soluble Mean? Your Edibles Need Fat!
The key takeaway from all this is that because of the fat-soluble nature of all cannabinoids, you'll want to find edibles with healthy fats on the ingredients list. Even a small serving of fat will help those little euphoric cannabinoids make the difficult transition from your digestive tract into the bloodstream, ultimately delivering stronger effects from each bite.
Lucky for you, we've already considered the unique nature of cannabinoids when we create our Hometown Hero edibles. We know we can make our edibles stronger simply by ensuring they contain a fatty component. From gummies and baked goods to soft gels, our edibles already come with a dose of healthy fats to ensure you're set up for success from the start.
Get more out of that next bite, and until next time, Mind Your Mind.
FDA Disclaimer: The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires this notice.
