How Much CBD Should You Take? (A Serving Size Guide To CBD)

CBD 101

"How much CBD should I take?" is by far the most often asked question our company receives. That is why we have taken the time to show you how to accurately measure CBD and take a scientific approach to determine your perfect CBD serving size. Understanding how to approach finding a serving size of CBD that is right for you has multiple benefits. Not only will it help you find the right product but it will enable you to avoid consuming more than you need or break your budget for CBD-based products. 

Appropriate serving sizes vary widely because how much CBD you should take depends upon reasons a person is taking CBD, as well as their weight, metabolism and body chemistry. 

KNOW HOW MUCH CBD YOU’RE GETTING

Understanding CBD product labels is helpful for calculating the amount of CBD in a serving size and figuring out your optimum daily amount.

The size of the package containing lotion, oil, softgels or other product says little about the actual amount CBD in the product. To determine CBD quantity, look at the total milligrams (mg) of CBD in the package and milligrams of CBD per serving. 

Liquid products, such as a tincture or a lotion, indicate CBD content as milligrams. Remember not to confuse milligrams (mg) with milliliters (ml), which measures the total volume of liquid in a package or a serving.

For instance, when you have a tincture with a dropper that is gauged with “1ml” and contains 50mg of CBD, that is the serving size we recommend.

If you are after a smaller serving, say 25mg, simply fill the dropper to 1/2ml, which is halfway to 1ml. Please note that most droppers when filled hold more than 1ml, so it is important to pay attention to markings indicating accurate measurement. 

HOW MUCH CBD SHOULD I TAKE?

Everybody is different, which means not everyone has a similar response to CBD. One physician said people find effectiveness of cannabinoids at serving sizes that vary wildly from person to person. “Some patients effectively use tiny amounts of cannabis, while others use incredibly high servings,” said Dustin Sulak, D.O. He is director of Integr8 Health. “I’ve seen adult patients achieve therapeutic effects at 1 mg of total cannabinoids daily, while others consume over 2000 mgs daily without adverse effects,” Sulak said. When choosing the amount of CBD for your first experience, it’s generally best to start out with the serving size recommended by the company you are purchasing from, and working your way up. Like caffeine, alcoholic beverages and other foods we ingest, cannabinoids are capable of producing “biphasic” effects.  

Biphasic effects explain why some people may feel more sociable and boisterous after consuming a cocktail or two, but after consuming additional alcohol begin to slow down and even feel sleepy. The same can happen with CBD, or any cannabinoid.

Some people report experiencing effects of CBD nearly immediately; others note desired effects after a couple days of regular use.

Further, it is also recommended that consumers seek CBD products with ingredients verified with testing by third-party, independent labs of high esteem. Low-quality products may contain pesticides and other contaminants that could contribute to more serious side-effects. 

Before beginning your CBD journey and/or increasing your serving amount or CBD strength:

• Speak to your doctor prior to starting a CBD regimen.
• Identify potential for conflicts between CBD and any current medication regimen
• Consider your body size
• Consider your metabolism, sensitivity and tolerance in general
• Always check potency of any CBD product before using
• Look for CBD products contents as verified by a third-party lab
• Track how you respond to each serving so you can make adjustments

Further, it is also recommended that consumers seek CBD products with ingredients verified with testing by third-party, independent labs of high esteem. Low-quality CBD Oil products may contain pesticides and other contaminants that could contribute to more serious side effects. 

Finding an effective CBD serving size

CBD products come in a variety of forms and intended uses, as well as with amounts of CBD that vary wildly.

CBD that is ingested delivers a generalized effect, with users reporting that it helps maintain a healthy lifestyle and supports balance in body and mind. However, all CBD products are not the same—a dropperful of one CBD tincture isn’t necessarily the same as what you’ll receive from a dropper from another product, even when they’re the same brand. Manufacturers usually offer products of more than one potency.

CBD's effects are highly individual. CBD Serving sizes can range from 25-200mg. To find the amount of CBD that’s right for you, we recommend starting with 50mg. Consider trying this serving size once daily for a couple of days, then increasing your daily intake until it feels right for you. You may find 150mg to 200mg per day is right for you. Lazarus Naturals recommended serving sizes are as follows:  

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU TAKE WHEN CONSUMING A CBD CAPSULE OR SOFTGEL?

Using CBD softgels, or capsules, is a convenient way to ensure consistency in your CBD serving sizes. We recommend:

25mg: To find the amount of CBD that's right for you, start with two capsules (50 mg), wait two hours, and increase as needed.

50mg: To find the amount of CBD that's right for you, start with one capsule (50 mg), wait two hours, and increase as needed.

New to CBD? Consider trying this serving size once daily for a couple of days, then increase your daily intake until it feels right for you. You may find 150mg to 200mg per day is right for you.

STARTING WITH A TINCTURE?

Using CBD tinctures, sometimes referred to as oils, are an easy way to start exploring CBD because these packages typically have a built-in dropper that allows measuring an exact amount that is right for you. If you are taking CBD via a pre-measured dosage method such as capsules, measuring it is as simple as checking the product description. However, measuring out the CBD serving size via tinctures requires a bit of math and an understanding of the metric system. Tinctures may seem hard to measure at first, but the reason companies sell them is to help ensure accurate serving sizes. Once you know the potency of a CBD tincture, you can quickly calculate how many milliliters of oil you will need to get a desired number of milligrams of CBD. 

We recommend trying one of our high potency CBD oil tinctures, available in a variety of flavors, as well as flavorless. Fill the dropper to the mark indicating 1 ml.

Standard Potency: To find the amount of CBD that’s right for you, start with 50mg, wait two hours, and increase as needed. The dropper is marked every 0.25 ml (5 mg CBD.) Each milliliter contains 20 mg of CBD.

High Potency: To find the amount of CBD that’s right for you, start with 50 mg, wait two hours, and increase as needed. The dropper is marked every 0.25 ml (12.5 mg CBD.) Each milliliter contains 50 mg of CBD.

CBG Isolate: CBG's effects are highly individual. Serving sizes can range from 25-200 mg. To find the amount of CBG that’s right for you, start with 50 mg, wait two hours, and increase as needed. The dropper is marked every 0.25 ml (12.5 mg CBG.) Each milliliter contains 50 mg of CBG.

1:1 CBG:CBD Full Spectrum Tincture: To find the amount of CBG-CBD blend that’s right for you, start with 1 ml, wait two hours, and increase as needed. The dropper is marked every 0.25 ml (12.5 mg CBG & CBD.) Each milliliter contains 25mg of CBG and 25mg of CBD.

HOW MANY CBD EDIBLES DO I TAKE? 

CBD edibles are a portable, delicious and discreet way to experience the high-potency CBD you know and trust. To find the amount of CBD that's right for you, start with two CBD hand candy Fruit Tarts (50mg), wait two hours, and increase as needed.

HOW TO MEASURE CBD TOPICALS

Using CBD topically in the form of a lotion, balm or oil is convenient to focus the benefits of CBD. CBD topicals are beneficial when you want to care for a specific part of your body. Topical CBD products incorporate coconut oil, mango butter or another fat that allows your skin to absorb the CBD. 

We recommend trying our Lazarus Naturals Full Spectrum CBD Lotion, one teaspoon of which contains 100mg of CBD.  Try 1 teaspoon once daily for a couple of days, then increase the amount you use daily until it feels right for you. You may find several teaspoons of 100mg— perhaps as much as 150mg to 200mg daily is right for you.

BE CONSISTENT WITH SERVING SIZES

As you experiment, we recommend sticking to one type of product at a time to understand whether it is working well for you. 

We also suggest taking time with each experiment to reflect on your results. Depending on the product type and your situation, noticeable effects may take hours, days or weeks to occur. If results aren’t immediately apparent, resist the urge to change course or increase serving size dramatically. Instead, be patient and intentional about adding new products or extra servings.  

Keep in mind, doctors and other health care providers who are not familiar with cannabinoids often are wary about it. However, with the increasing accessibility, research and innovation within the industry, many consumers are adopting CBD into their wellness regimens. In turn, health care providers are becoming more aware of CBD and its potential to contribute to wellness. 

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS?

Do you feel confident in finding your perfect CBD serving size or are you still confused? If you have a question, let us know and we will do our best to respond.

Disclaimer

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Lazarus Naturals shall not be held liable for any direct or indirect damages caused in any way through the use of information, services, or products provided or sold by Etz Hayim Holdings DBA Lazarus Naturals. This disclaimer of liability applies to any damages or injury which may be perceived to be caused by the information or products sold or provided by Etz Hayim Holdings.