As more and more CBD products emerge, we’ve found that there’s quite a bit of confusion amongst consumers as to which kind of CBD they should choose.
There are three different varieties of CBD products, which include full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD, and CBD isolate.
Wondering which one is right for you? Let’s take a closer look at each of your three options.
What is Full-Spectrum CBD?
Full-spectrum CBD is wholesome, meaning that it’s created directly from a hemp plant instead of being manufactured synthetically.
Here at Elixinol, we do this using supercritical CO2 fluid extraction. This allows all of the nutritive parts of the hemp plant to distill into a pure, potent extract without the use of harsh chemicals. This preserves the entire “entourage” of components that are naturally available in hemp plants, which include:
- Antioxidants
- Essential oils
- Flavonoids
- Over 85 cannabinoids
- More than 500 phytonutrients
- Terpenes
Full-spectrum CBD is comprehensive, and it’s currently the most popular option because the full spectrum of cannabinoids can play off each other to give you the maximum effect from a single serving. This synergy isn’t possible to create synthetically, and it can’t be replicated in either broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolates, even though they do offer some benefits.
Full-spectrum CBD may contain a trace amount of THC, but it must be under the 0.3% legal limit, which is regulated by federal law. This is not enough to cause a high or intoxicating effect.
What is Broad-Spectrum CBD?
Broad-spectrum CBD contains zero mg THC content. It eliminates any potential risk--which is already small, but albeit still possible--that’s associated with consuming CBD products that contain even trace amounts of THC.
Broad spectrum CBD still contains many cannabinoids, including terpenes and antioxidants, and can, therefore, offer many of the same advantages that full-spectrum THC has. Therefore, this is an excellent choice for those who cannot have--or don’t want--any THC in their system.
What is CBD Isolate?
CBD isolates are made by extracting all of the plant matter. All traces of naturally-occurring elements other than CBD--like THC, terpenes, and chlorophyll--are completely removed. CBD isolates are therefore 99%+ pure CBD that contains absolutely no THC, but the purity levels themselves aren’t always guaranteed.
When looking for CBD oil, always make sure that you read the manufacturer’s label to see the percentage of CBD within it. Some can be 99% pure, others may promise 99.5%, but some will guarantee you 99.9% purity with no identifiable amounts of other cannabinoids. In occasional cases, there could be a small percentage of trace amounts of THC, but it’s negligible and of no importance.
In many cases, CBD isolates are created using harsh or even toxic chemicals like acetone or butane, and can take away the natural integrity of the hemp plant. This can limit the potential benefits that you could receive when compared to other types of CBD products.
The biggest thing to note here is that CBD isolates don’t include the other complementary compounds that come from hemp, which means that you aren’t getting the “entourage effect” that makes other types of CBD products more powerful and effective.
Which CBD Should You Choose?
There are so many products to choose from that it can feel overwhelming to make a choice, but picking what type of CBD oil you’d like to get is a good place to start.
Once you've decided on your chosen CBD and method of delivery, be sure to research the company you purchase from! Choose a product from a company that doesn't use any toxic chemicals that could harm the integrity of the hemp plant or pass on negative side effects to you. Our supercritical CO2-extraction process yields a clean, safe, potent extract that our consumers trust.
