With the flood of CBD products on the market, how can you tell which ones are high quality? Don’t worry, we’ve got a few tips to help you out.
Just yesterday, a friend sent me a picture to show me CBD Water she’d purchased at the mall. A relative started raving about the CBD Dog Treats she just purchased for her poodle, and even my grandmother is asking about what CBD tinctures to use to help with her arthritis. Suffice to say, CBD products are widely available and they come in many forms.
But how are we supposed to know if the CBD we’re using is high quality? Everyone raves about the many benefits of CBD, If you’re putting something into your body with the intention of altering your physiology in some way, you have an obligation to your health to ensure that it’s the highest quality possible. So when deciding which products to purchase, keep these tips in mind.
Decide Whether You Want Full-Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum or Isolates
If you’ve looked at a few CBD products, you’ve probably seen these terms already. These words help you understand what all is actually IN your products. While it IS possible to get high and low quality products within each of these categories, starting here will help narrow your search for your perfect CBD product.
CBD Isolates
If you purchase something that’s labeled a CBD Isolate, then it means that everything except for the actual CBD has been removed from the product. The Brothers Apothecary states, “During the CBD isolate extraction process, everything contained in the plant matter is removed, including any traces of THC, terpenes, waxes, oils, chlorophyll and more. What’s left is 99+% pure CBD.”
If this is the first time you’re hearing about it, it may come as a bit of a shock. But even CBD derived from hemp can contain trace amounts of THC. It’s not enough to give you any psychoactive effects (it won’t get you high) but some people are sensitive to it, or avoid it for any number of other reasons. If that sounds like you, then start your search with CBD Isolates and avoid Full-Spectrum or Broad-Spectrum Products.
However, there’s actually a huge benefit to using products that aren’t so heavily processed. CBD Isolates are missing out on what’s called the “entourage effect.” That’s when all the different parts of the plant work together to be more effective. So all the things that CBD Isolates have removed are potentially substances that could make that CBD product more powerful. If you don’t have any ethical or medical reasons for using isolates, Broad-Spectrum or Full-Spectrum CBD products are the way to go.
Broad-Spectrum and Full-Spectrum
You can think of Broad-Spectrum CBD as a step up from isolates. It contains all of the goodies from the hemp plant with the exception of THC. Full-Spectrum, on the other hand, has everything including trace amounts of THC.
Again, let me remind you that the trace amount of THC in these products is negligible. CBD Oil Review put it perfectly when they said to, “…think of it in terms of human interactions. We all have gifts and abilities that can carry us to a certain point in life. Sometimes, we’ll meet another person who has different gifts and abilities. When partnerships are formed between two people, and abilities are combined, achievements can be made that were otherwise unimaginable.” Essentially, Full-Spectrum products just pack more of a healing punch than the other two.
Ultimately, you have to figure out which one is right for you. If you’re looking for a product with the maximum therapeutic effect though, you should definitely consider Full-Spectrum CBD. Research has shown that Full-Spectrum CBD has a greater success rate than CBD Isolates at reducing inflammation.
Ensure Your CBD is From High Quality Hemp
Just like with the food and water you drink, you need to know where it came from. You may need to do a little bit of research, but it should only take a few clicks on a smartphone to find the information you need on any CBD brand.
The first rule of thumb is to stick with hemp grown in the United States. Hemp grown in the US is subject to state and federal testing and should follow the FDA’s guidance for good manufacturing practices. After you’ve determined the country of origin you should then start looking for any test results. Because of the huge amounts of CBD products on the market, the only ones you should trust are those with a COA (certificate of analysis).
Consumer Reports describes COA as the results gathered when products are checked for CBD, THC, and contaminant levels. Along with looking to see if their lab meets ISO-17025 standards (an indicator of strict scientific adherence), they also recommend looking, “to see whether a company uses testing methods validated by one of three respected national standard-setting organizations: the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC), the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), or the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP).”
Another important point is to make sure that the CBD has been 3rd party tested. This means that an independent organization has reviewed the manufacturing processes of the product. These results should be made public, but if you come across a brand that doesn’t disclose this information, it’s best to avoid it. Better safe than sorry.
Find Out About the Extraction Method
Extraction is how CBD is removed from the hemp plant in order for it to be processed into tinctures, vapes, gummies, etc. If it helps, think about Vanilla Extract. It’s a relatively common kitchen ingredient, but it first has to be extracted from the vanilla bean before it can be bottled up to end up in your kitchen cabinet.
And if you think that all extraction methods are created equal, think again! When researching your CBD, look for brands that use a C02 extraction method. New manufacturing processes are being experimented with everyday, but right now the C02 extraction method is the most advanced and the most understood.
Newer technologies include using water, ice, or even water vapor to extract CBD. The point is that you want a company that uses the cleanest method possible. For years ethanol was used in extraction processes, but it’s been replaced by the cleaner option of using CO2.
Find a High Quality CBD Product Today
Everyday people are discovering better, safer ways to grow hemp, to extract CBD, and to manufacture their products. And a company you can trust is one that is about their practices. If you have a hard time finding this type of information on a product or brand, then avoid it.
The only person who can decide what products are right for you is YOU. That’s why it’s important to stay up-to-date on the newest information about CBD. When it comes to your body and your health, you deserve nothing but the best. That’s why we promote good manufacturing practices by actually using them! If you ever have any questions about Singy’s products then be sure to contact our Support Team.