|
|
(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Do you remember when hemp products became legal in the United States?
One day, much of the US population hadn’t even heard of CBD. The next day, CBD products appeared virtually everywhere. That sudden increase comes with both good news and bad news.
On one hand, CBD is no longer classified as a Schedule I drug, relegated — illogically — to the same category as heroin and cocaine. Finally, Americans can legally enjoy the soothing and healing properties of hemp-derived products.
On the other hand, that sudden boom has brought a lot of confusion. These days, people can buy all sorts of CBD-infused products, but do they have enough information on things like potency, purity, and how to tell good CBD products apart from mediocre ones?
Before you buy any hemp products that contain CBD, there are several things that you should know. We’ve listed the most important factors in the guide below.
How to Spot Purity in Hemp CBD Products
A few things set the best CBD hemp products apart from the less-than-stellar products, and the most important factor is purity. People enjoy CBD for its healing properties, so it’s important not to undermine those properties with pesticides and other contaminants. Furthermore, if a product contains a lot of unhelpful fillers, then those fillers leave less room for hemp-derived CBD.
Now, any hemp company can throw around words like “pure,” but the key is finding out how companies back up those claims.
Start with a USDA Organic Seal
If you take one thing away from this guide, let it be this: Always look for third-party verification. The third-party should be an unbiased source that has nothing to gain from certifying particular hemp products. In this case, the third party is the USDA. Hemp products that have the USDA’s Certified 100% Organic seal have the highest standards of purity. This seal means that the products contain no chemical pesticides or other non-organic ingredients. It also means that the products were grown under purely organic conditions.
Look for Hemp Grown in the USA
Next, a company’s hemp source location can tell you a lot about their product’s purity. Specifically, look for hemp that was grown in the USA. When a CBD product comes from American-grown hemp, it’s easy for bottlers and processors to verify growing standards. They can see the soil quality and the surrounding land for themselves.
On the other hand, some companies import their hemp from overseas. They can claim that they made their products in the USA, but you want products that were also grown in the USA, too. When hemp comes from overseas, American companies can’t verify growing conditions. While this method may be cheaper than doing everything at home, it doesn’t always result in high-quality products.
How to Spot Potency
When CBD hemp products are highly pure, there’s a good chance that they’re also highly potent. Still, since potency matters, you’ll want to know how to spot high potency on its own. After all, the more potent a product, the more the user can experience the healing effects.
Full-Spectrum Hemp Has a Higher Potency
You’ve probably noticed several “levels” of CBD products on the market. You can find full-spectrum products as well as distillate and isolate products. So what’s the difference?
Full-spectrum CBD oils contain mostly CBD, but they also have other cannabinoids and terpenes. Distillate oils are oils that have gone through processing, so they lean more heavily toward one cannabinoid or another. In this case, that cannabinoid would be CBD. Then there are CBD isolates, which consist of CBD and absolutely nothing else.
Distillates and isolates have a place in the CBD market, but full-spectrum oils have the highest potency. The additional cannabinoids supplement the CBD, creating an overall stronger impact.
Climate and Topography Make a Difference
With CBD potency, hemp growing location makes a difference, just like it does with purity. This time, though, let’s get a little more specific and look at climate and topography. Even within the US, some growing locations are better for hemp plants than others. Colorado, for example, has an excellent topography for hemp. It provides just enough moisture to nourish the plants without causing dampness or mold. The elevation also gives hemp plants plenty of access to sunshine. Under these ideal conditions, hemp can grow strong and provide highly potent CBD.
Transparency is the Key
Of course, none of the above matters if you can’t verify your information, and that’s where transparency comes in. Look for ways that you can check product quality for yourself. For example, ask about independent laboratory tests. When a third-party laboratory has tested and verified a CBD product, then you’ll know that you can trust that product’s label. Even better, look for product codes that let you verify your specific bottle of hemp-derived CBD.
You can also look for product reviews that come from third-party sites. Some hemp companies have been known to pay writers for glowing reviews. Reviews from independent sources can give you a better idea of what people really think of a product. If a CBD company points you toward third-party verified reviews, then there’s a good chance that the company’s owners truly believe in their products.
Research Based on Your Own Goals
Finally, when looking for hemp CBD products, don’t forget your own needs and goals. You may be an athlete who wants muscle relief after workouts, a person with anxiety who wants to try CBD for tension, or just someone who wants to add CBD to an overall healthy lifestyle.
Then, of course, there are people who want different quantities of CBD. Some people want to buy CBD for themselves or their families. Others want wholesale CBD for doctor’s offices, yoga studios, and other places where CBD would be welcome. Whatever your reasons for adding CBD to your life, you’ll want products that can address your goals.
Finally, it’s important to do your own CBD research. The more you learn about your options, the more confident you’ll feel about your choices.