CBD Gummies vs. CBD Capsules: What’s the Better Option?
Summarize
The data collection company Statista surveyed consumers to determine which Cannabidiol (CBD) products were preferred. Topping the list were CBD gummies at 58 percent. Second place on the list was capsules at 55 percent. The third preference was CBD oils and tinctures, also at 55 percent.
However, it is clear that millions of people prefer to take CBD as an edible, so are gummies better than pills? The answer is “not necessarily” because each type of CBD product has advantages and disadvantages.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read):
If you enjoy a flavorful way to take CBD and don’t mind a bit of sugar, gummies are usually the better fit. They feel casual, are easy to take on the go, and you can often trim the serving by cutting a gummy in half.
Capsules are a better option if you prefer something tasteless and sugar-free, want precise pre-measured servings, or already take other supplements and like the simplicity and discretion of swallowing a pill.
Table of Contents
What to Choose: CBD Capsules or CBD Gummies?
There is no doubt that CBD gummies and CBD capsules are popular because they are so convenient. Choosing between CBD pills vs gummies is a matter of understanding how each product form is made and how it works in the human system once consumed. There are differences in things like flavor and dose consistency. The following is a review of the advantages and disadvantages of CBD gummies and capsules.
Quick Comparison: CBD Gummies vs CBD Capsules
| Factor | CBD Gummies | CBD Capsules |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor | Typically sweet, fruity, and designed to taste like candy. | Usually tasteless or mildly herbal, taken with water like a supplement. |
| Sugar | Often contain sugar or sweeteners. | Sugar-free (especially softgels and standard capsules). |
| Need for food/fat | Often taken with food or fat to improve comfort during digestion and absorption. | Similar to other edibles, may take 30–90 minutes to notice effects. |
| Onset time | Similar to other edibles, it may take 30–90 minutes to notice effects. | Also absorbed through digestion. Onset is usually in the same range. |
| Duration of effects | Effects may last several hours. | Similar to other edibles, it may take 30–90 minutes to notice effects. |
| Dosing convenience | Easy to take. Some people cut gummies into smaller portions. | Pre-measured servings; harder to split. |
| Discretion | They look like regular candy, but the smell or packaging may draw attention. | Look like standard supplements and are very discreet to use in public. |
| Vegan options | Many brands use pectin-based vegan gummies. | Vegan capsules exist, though some softgels use gelatin-based shells. |
CBD Gummies
CBD gummies are made with four main ingredients. They are CBD, flavoring, sugar, and thickener. The thickener is fruit pectin or gelatin. Gelatin is made from animal byproducts. CBD gummies are CBD edibles, so the gummy passes through the digestive system, where it undergoes first-pass metabolism.
Do you have to chew edibles to make them work?
Technically, no, you do not have to chew edibles like gummies, but it will take longer for the CBD to reach the bloodstream if you swallow the gummy. Your stomach must break down the whole gummy to release the CBD. Also, gummies are not made for swallowing, so some people may have problems digesting whole gummies. There is also a health risk with swallowing an edible made for chewing, depending on the size of the gummy.
How long do CBD gummies take to work?
If you chew the gummy, a small amount of the CBD is released immediately in the mouth, and the rest is released as it goes through the digestive system. Though some of the CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream before reaching the liver, most of the CBD is metabolized by the liver before making it to the bloodstream.
CBD Gummies Advantages
- Can determine the CBD dose amount in a whole gummy.
- Available in different potencies.
- Available with CBD full spectrum, CBD broad spectrum, and CBD isolate.
- Vegan CBD gummies are available.
- Easy to consume.
- It tastes like candy is available in different flavors.
- Chewed instead of swallowed.
- It looks like candy, so you can protect your privacy when consuming CBD gummies in public.
- Sugar-free products are available.
CBD Gummies Disadvantages
- If you divide the gummy into smaller pieces, there is an unknown CBD dose amount in each piece.
- Due to the first-pass metabolism effect, there is a reduced concentration of CBD reaching the bloodstream.
- Since it is edible, it takes longer to feel the CBD effects.
- Some inconsistency in CBD content is possible because the compound is not water-soluble, and gummies are made with water and have different sizes and shapes.
Examples of Popular CBD Gummies
CBD Capsules
CBD capsules and CBD softgels are different in a couple of ways. CBD capsules have a hard shell; the ingredients are dry CBD and botanical extracts with perhaps some oil, like hemp seed oil or coconut oil. CBD softgels have exactly what the name implies – a soft shell encapsulating the contents.
CBD Capsules Advantages
- Capsule coating mitigates some of the first-pass effects by slowing down the metabolizing process.
- Available with CBD full spectrum, CBD broad spectrum and CBD isolate.
- Vegan CBD capsules are available.
- Precise CBD dosing.
- Convenient and simple to take.
- Odorless and tasteless.
- CBD onset time may be faster compared to CBD gummies because the CBD is delivered directly to the stomach.
- Longer-lasting effects compared to gummies because the outer coating must dissolve first, slowly releasing the capsule’s contents.
- It can be cut into smaller segments to adjust the CBD dosage amount.
CBD Capsules Disadvantages
- Best when consumed with a high-fat meal, so not as convenient as CBD gummies.
- You must take the whole CBD capsule, so you cannot adjust the CBD dosage amount.
- It goes through the first-pass metabolism process like any edible, so some CBD does not make it to the bloodstream.
- It has a longer onset time than gummies since the capsule shell must dissolve to release the contents.
Examples of Popular CBD Capsules & Softgels
Points to Consider When Deciding on Gummies vs Capsules
There are other things to remember when deciding whether to take gummies or pills.
1. Oils are liquid fats, and some people experience fat malabsorption, which is low absorption of fats in the small intestine. When considering softgels vs gummies, keep in mind that softgels contain CBD oil and one or more carrier oils. CBD gummies are a better choice for people experiencing fat malabsorption.
2. People with allergies to various foods should look carefully at the ingredients. Products may contain foods like carrots, pineapple, strawberries, and other berries, sweet potatoes, and dragon fruit. These items are used in CBD gummies for color and flavor. For example, CBD gummy flavors are made with fruit juice concentrates, and for color, it could be a vegetable or fruit extract. CBD capsules and softgels are not flavored or colored.
3. There are CBD capsules, softgels, and gummies formulated for vegans and vegetarians. However, you need to check product ingredients and descriptions to find suitable products because not all products are vegan or vegetarian. You should look for fruit pectin as the hardener in gummies and for plant-based capsules in softgels.
4. Though you can break a CBD gummy into pieces, you lose control of the amount of CBD consumed in one segment. It is safer, easier and more convenient to purchase a variety of products with different potencies. This gives you options for dynamic dosing to meet your needs as they change.
5. If you avoid sugar, CBD softgels are the best choice. Since they do not need flavoring, softgels do not have processed sugar or sugar obtained from fruits.
6. You can alternate these two products. CBD gummies taste like candy, so people enjoy the flavor, but capsules have a more exact dosage. The two product forms can balance each other out.
7. Do CBD pills or gummies work faster? The capsule goes directly to the stomach, but the capsule has to dissolve in the stomach to release the contents. A gummy begins dissolving when you put it in your mouth and chew. Saliva coats the gummy material to start the process, and the acids in your stomach break it down.
Many factors influence how fast CBD gummies and capsules work, including your metabolism, weight, the presence of food in the stomach, product potency, and product solubility.
Summary
CBD is non-psychoactive, a primary reason people choose CBD products over products containing more than 0.3 percent THC. Both CBD gummies and capsules are available with full spectrum, broad spectrum or isolate CBD. They are also available in different CBD potencies. Another similarity is that CBD taken orally has a bioavailability of approximately 13-19 percent.
In general, the bioavailability of oral CBD is six percent. The higher end of the bioavailability estimate is more likely achieved with CBD capsules because a fat-soluble carrier oil added to CBD oil makes it easier for the body to absorb the fat-soluble CBD. Some researchers found that eating a high-fat meal with CBD in a sesame carrier oil resulted in 25 percent bioavailability.
It is important to check the ingredients to make sure you know what you are consuming. Brands add ingredients to gummies like other cannabinoids (CBG, CBN, etc.), coloring, coconut or lemon oil, tapioca syrup, vitamins, minerals, botanicals like Boswellia Serrata Extract, and melatonin. CBD capsules also contain ingredients in addition to CBD. For example, they might contain coconut MCT oil, d-Limonene, Cassava root extract, melatonin, vitamins and various herbs.
Always read the Certificate of Analysis (COA) before buying gummies or capsules. The COA tells you if there are any potentially toxic elements in the product, like pesticides and heavy metals. If you are uncertain about the best product to meet your needs, try each product with the same potency for 30 days and compare the effects.
Sources
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/1182718/leading-reasons-why-american-adults-use-cbd/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214799319300141#bib0110
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551679/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7558665/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6275223/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8417625/
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Thomas Yates
How often do you take a CBD gummie.
Does CBD gummies help in stop smoking.
Michael Levin
Hi Thomas,
Generally the manufacturers recommend starting with one gummy and gradually increase the dosage until you achieve the desired effects. As for the second question, more research is needed in this area, but this recent study suggests that CBD could potentially be useful for those looking to quit smoking.
Julian Reyna
looking for **** so i can sleep and work in the daytime **** is at 8 out of 10
Carolyn
What does CBD do for my body ? Is it for joints, aches, and muscle ****. Thank you
Michael Levin
Hi Carolyn,
CBD users have written numerous reviews indicating they use CBD for relaxation, to enhance sleep and to improve mood. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the body, which plays a crucial role in maintaining balance and homeostasis. To learn more about ECS, check out these posts: What is the Endocannabinoid System and Do You Really Need to Take CBD Every Day?