With the ever growing popularity of CBD oil, consumer demand has paved the way for various other types of CBD-infused products and application styles. It's easy to find CBD edibles, but now hemp-infused beverages like CBD water are becoming more prominent within the industry. What is CBD water and what are our top recommendations? Read on to find out.
What is CBD water?
CBD water has become a recent hot topic in the consumer market, especially as people question its efficacy. The primary difference between CBD water and a regular bottle of water is the addition of cannabidiol (CBD), a compound found in cannabis plants. There are many potential benefits of CBD oil that have intrigued consumers and scientists alike, since it has anti-inflammatory and calming effects.
However, the main question on people's minds is do these products actually work?
For the most part, a CBD-infused bottle of water won't have any of the pain-killing or anxiety reducing effects that a quality CBD oil tincture can provide. Instead, these trendy beverages are an easy way to get a microdose of CBD that can promote general health and wellness from the inside out.
Most CBD waters are made with nano emulsified CBD, or tiny particle sized CBD molecules that make it easier for the bloodstream to absorb the compound. These nano CBD particles are more compatible with water, despite the hydrophobic nature of macro CBD molecules that usually have to be infused with oil based products.
Our Top Picks for CBD Water
Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
- HOLISTIK Wellness Sampler - Best for the Environment
- Raw Health CBD Water - Best Flavors
- CBD Living Water - Best for Workout Recovery
How We Picked the Best CBD Waters
When reviewing CBD water, and every time we review CBD brands and products, we focus on six major factors:
- Value — how much does the product cost?
- Strength — how much CBD is in the water, and what type of CBD is it?
- Source — where does the company get their hemp?
- Flavor — does the product come in any flavors and do they flavor them naturally?
- Transparency — does the company offer third-party lab test results and information about each batch of CBD?
- Customer experience — what do customer reviews say about the product and purchasing experience?
Using these standards we were able to select our picks for CBD water. Learn more about our choices below.
HOLISTIK Wellness Sampler
HOLISTIK is a member of the IMPACT COLLECTIVE, a group of forward-thinking brands committed to making an immediate and positive environmental impact. For every HOLISTIK STIK sold, the brand will pull one plastic bottle out of the ocean — which is great. We like buying from a brand that things about its place in the world.
Why buy: It's nice to shop a wellness brand that delivers on its promise of helping people feel better. HOLISTIK has a sleep, stress, recover, and digestion blend. All of their STICKs mix directly into the water of your choice and 10mg of broad-spectrum CBD plus complimentary natural ingredients.
Raw Health CBD Water
The CBD-infused water shots from RAW Health are made with 9 all-natural ingredients and feature 25 mgs of broad spectrum CBD hemp extract. They are available in three different formulas, each with a unique flavor: Refresh (gives an energy boost with a strawberry taste), Relax (alleviates anxiety and has a blueberry flavor), and Renew (helps you get over a hangover and tastes like mixed berry).
Why buy: This product includes broad spectrum CBD, which means you get all of the benefits of CBD with zero THC.
CBD Living Water
CBD Living is well known as a company that produces CBD-infused water, which is made with 10 mg of nano-CBD in each standard sized 16.9 oz bottle of water. You can purchase one bottle for $4.99 or stock up and save by getting the 24-pack of water. Before your purchase consider the amount of plastic in the case of water. We think this is a viable option, but the STIKs have a lesser downstream impact.
Why buy: Vegan, Kosher, THC-free, and made with hemp grown on licensed farms in Oregon and Colorado.
Is CBD Water Safe to Drink?
While the jury is still out on the efficacy of CBD-infused waters, the consumption of CBD is considered to be generally safe by the World Health Organization (WHO). The 2018 Farm Bill federally legalized hemp nearly 2 years ago, but there is still some confusion when it comes to CBD. Generally speaking, CBD is completely legal to sell and purchase across all 50 U.S. states. Although it is important to note that cannabidiol products like CBD water have not been evaluated by the FDA, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
The Downside of CBD Water
CBD is a notably unstable compound that can be easily degraded when exposed to light or oxygen. Because of this, many high quality CBD oils are sold in dark glass bottles, and it's suggested they be stored away from direct sunlight.
Given the volatility of CBD molecules, some people believe CBD water is not a suitable form of CBD absorption. The doubts surrounding CBD in water form is often due to the light exposure that easily penetrates through clear water bottles, which may render the CBD ineffective. However, some brands have sought out solutions to this issue, like the nano emulsification of CBD to increase bioavailability and decrease the chance of degradation.
Although, the use of nanotechnology is still a relatively new concept when it comes to CBD, and it's still unclear whether this process truly enhances the bioavailability of CBD, or if it prevents the compound's degradation when exposed to light or oxygen.
Should You Buy CBD Water?
If you're looking for an easy way to get a dose of CBD and stay hydrated, CBD water is a fun way to do that. With that being said, I would consider CBD water to be a luxury item that perhaps not everyone can afford. And if you're looking to see real results like anxiety relief, pain reduction, sleep improvements, and even seizure reduction, you'll probably be better off purchasing a regular pack of bottled water and a high quality CBD oil.
A full spectrum hemp oil extract with higher amounts of CBD is more likely to elicit any potential health benefits associated with this compound. Although if you're really into the idea of drinking your hemp extracts, there's other options like CBD tea and CBD coffee, as well as water soluble CBD oils that can be mixed into any beverage to create a CBD-infused drink of your choice.
- Full Spectrum CBD Oil: What To Know - EcoWatch ›
- The Best Organic CBD Oils Available in 2020 - EcoWatch ›
- The Best Water Soluble CBD Available Online - EcoWatch ›
Here are three new films to watch this Earth Week that will transport you from pole to pole and introduce you to the scientists and activists working to save our shared home.
1. The Year Earth Changed
Where to Watch: Apple TV+
When to Watch: From April 16
The coronavirus pandemic has brought home the stakes of humanity's impact on the environment. But the lockdowns also proved how quickly nature can recover when humans give it the space. Birds sang in empty cities, whales surfaced in Glacier Bay and capybara roamed the South American suburbs.
The Year Earth Changed captures this unique year with footage from more than 30 lockdowned cities between May 2020 to January 2021. Narrated by renowned wildlife broadcaster David Attenborough, the film explores what positive lessons we can take from the experience of a quieter, less trafficked world.
"What the film shows is that the natural world can bounce back remarkably quickly when we take a step back and reduce our impact as we did during lockdown," executive producer Alice Keens-Soper of BBC Studios Natural History Unit told EcoWatch. "If we are willing to make even small changes to our habits, the natural world can flourish. We need to learn how to co-exist with nature and understand that we are not separate from it- for example if we closed some of our beaches at for a few weeks during the turtle breeding we see that it can make a huge difference to their success. There are many ways that we can adapt our behavior to allow the natural world to thrive as it did in lockdown."
2. After Antarctica
Where to Watch: San Francisco International Film Festival
When to Watch: 12 a.m. PST April 9 to 11:59 p.m. April 18
In 1989, Will Steger led an international team of six scientists and explorers to be the first humans to cross Antarctica by dogsled. Steger and his team weren't just in it for the adventure. They also wanted to draw attention to the ways in which the climate crisis was already transforming the icy continent and to rally support for the renewal of the Antarctic Treaty, which would keep the continent safe from extractive industries.
In After Antarctica, award-winning filmmaker Tasha Van Zandt follows Steger 30 years later as he travels the Arctic this time, reflecting on his original journey and once again bringing awareness to changes in a polar landscape. The film intersperses this contemporary journey with footage from the original expedition, some of which has never been seen before.
"Will's life journey as an explorer and climate activist has led him not only to see more of the polar world than anyone else alive today, but to being an eyewitness to the changes occurring across both poles," Van Zandt told EcoWatch. "But now, these changes are happening in all of our own backyards and we have all become eyewitnesses. Through my journey with Will, I have learned that although we cannot always control change, we can change our response. I feel strongly that this is a message that resonates when we look at the current state of the world, as we each have power and control over how we choose to respond to hardships, and we all have the power to unite with others through collective action around a common goal."
After Antarctica is available to stream once you purchase a ticket to the San Francisco International Film Festival. If you miss it this weekend, it will screen again at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival from May 13 to May 23.
Tasha Van Zandt
3. The Race to Save the World
Where to Watch: Virtual Cinema
When to Watch: From Earth Day, April 22
While many films about the climate crisis seek to raise awareness about the extent of the problem, The Race to Save the World focuses on the people who are trying to stop it. The film tells the story of climate activists ranging from 15-year-old Aji to 72-year-old Miriam who are working to create a sustainable future. It follows them from the streets to the courtroom to their homes, and explores the impact of their advocacy on their personal lives and relationships.
Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker Joe Gantz told EcoWatch that he wanted to make a film about climate change, but did not want to depress viewers with overwhelming statistics. Instead, he chose to inspire them by sharing the stories of people trying to make a difference.
"Unless millions of people take to the streets and make their voices heard for a livable future, the politicians are not going to get on board to help make the changes needed for a sustainable future," Gantz told Ecowatch. "I think that The Race To Save The World will energize and inspire people to take action so that future generations, as well as the plants, animals and ecosystems, can survive and thrive on this planet."
Check back with EcoWatch on the morning of Earth Day for a special preview of this inspiring film!
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