Maker of CBD Infused Beverages Claims Their Product Helps GI-Tract

A Vancouver-based company recently released three varieties of CBD infused iced tea products that claim to help GI-tract diseases such as Crohns and Colitis. Phivida’s “Nano-CBD” infused ice teas come in three flavors: green tea mint, lemon ginger and peach passion.

According to the company, Phivida uses polymeric nanoparticle carrier processes to produce their Nano-CBD products, which results in enhanced drug delivery in nutraceutical applications. The process can also allow the cannabinoids to be absorbed by the GI-tract more easily, resulting in faster acting, longer lasting and time-released treatment.

A 2014 report by the Crohns and Colitis Association of America (CCFA) found 1.6 million Americans are affected by inflammatory bowl disease, a number that increased 12.5 percent since 2011. A resulting study on the effect of cannabinoids on such diseases found that CBD compounds can provide effective control and relief from common IBD symptoms such as abdominal pain and nausea. The use of cannabidoil had been certified as safe, non-toxic, non-psychoactive and medicinal by the World Health Organization in 2017.

“The global health care community is paying close attention to CBD and gut health. Phivida presented a lecture on the connection between cannabinoids and the gut-brain system at the Global A4M Conference and the response was very positive. The GI tract has endocannabinoid receptors for a reason as CBD studies show strong clinical outcomes in the treatment gut health” stated Dr. Chris Meletis, Phivida Clinical Advisor, in a press release.

Phivida’s formulation is vegan, non-GMO, and soy and gluten free, making it an appealing beverage for the health-focused millennial market. Although these CBD infused iced teas are designed for GI health, they are safe for consumption by other consumers.

Hemp is becoming an ingredient in many food formulations including hemp oil, hemp hearts and even hemp milk. In 2016, sales of this ingredient reached a total of $688 million, a number expected to rise in the coming years as CBD compounds become more widely accepted. Between 2015 and 2016, sales of hemp products increased by over 100 million, primarily in the food sector which rose 44 percent between this period. According to a recent report by Brightfeild Group, the market for hemp-derived cannabidoil (CBD) is expected to be a billion dollar business by 2020.

Phivida’s iced tea products will be available in select stores in the US and Japan as well as online. It is not clear whether these new products will be successful in the food space, as hemp is usually associated with cannabis, a drug that receives mixed reactions with consumers. However, if Phivida is able to grow consumer acceptance of this ingredient through proven results, the market for CBD will likely expand in the food space.