Whats the Difference between Isolate and Full Spectrum?

Let’s talk about CBD. So, you have made the decision to start implementing CBD into your life, but you are not sure where to even start. It would be good to have a single product that works for everyone. However, Its not that hard and rather a really a simple process. Health starts within and each product can be tailored to YOUR needs!

There are a few different variations of CBD products: CBD Isolates and Full Spectrum. It is important to understand that no CBD category is necessarily better than the other. We all have different bodies that require a diverse set of needs and preferences. It is key to remember that what may work for one person may not work the same for another. The decision to go one way or the other may feel difficult at first, but with a little bit of knowledge on the topic it will be quick to understand that it is not as complicated as one would think.

What so complex about CBD?

Let’s take a look as to why CBD is simple yet complex. CBD or cannabidiol, is one of many naturally occurring compounds in the cannabis plant. CBD products are derived from the hemp plant which is a member of the cannabis family. These naturally occurring compounds are actually called cannabinoids, with CBD being one of the most researched of all the cannabinoids. However, over 100 cannabinoids are actually present in the plant. Now, it is important to note that CBD is not something that is synthetic but rather it is a single molecule extracted from a plant, making it completely natural. This plant is made up of a lot more than just CBD, though and the reason it is important to remember that CBD comes from a plant and not created in a lab is because in order to obtain the CBD you have to extract it. You have got to pull it out somehow as we are obviously not all sitting here munching on leaves. Now there are different ways to do this. You can extract the CBD and leave it intact with other beneficial plant material or you can extract it and process it down to the level where nothing else is left but CBD.

Due to the heavy research that has been conducted on CBD and all of the promising and positive findings on what it can do for not only your body, but your mind as well, it was originally thought that CBD alone was all that was necessary. While CBD is a powerful natural agent and can certainly stand on its own, it has since been discovered that CBD that has not been completely isolated away from the rest of the plant has its own unique set of advantages. The reason that one form has not been eliminated in the favor of the other is because they both have their place. Serving the same purpose, helping your body and mind be the best that it can be, they each have unique reasons as to why one person may choose one over the other. We will explain those differences in detail for you.

Full Spectrum CBD Oil

You may sometimes hear full spectrum CBD Oil, referred to as “whole plant” or “full plant.” The reason for this is because the full hemp extract is included in this CBD product. In addition to CBD, which is the most abundant cannabinoid in a full spectrum hemp extract, you will find additional cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytonutrients. Included in this are minimum quantities of THC, another cannabinoid that is found in trace amounts in hemp. However, it is only present at 0.3% or less which is within the legal federal limit for CBD products. Full spectrum products are still non-intoxicating and that tiny amount of THC carries great therapeutic benefits even without the “high.” The benefit of leaving these additional plant compounds intact is due to a phenomenon called the “entourage effect.” The entourage effect is the phenomenon of using all the compounds in the hemp plant to create a CBD oil where they all work together for maximum health benefits. This product is closer to the way that nature intended it to be as it does not undergo the level of processing that a pure CBD product would go through. The terpenes and flavonoids that are also naturally present, while providing great benefits, can give the product a distinct taste and aroma that may be unpleasant to some. The biggest deciding factor when it comes to a full spectrum product is drug testing. While there are only trace amounts of THC, within the legal threshold of 0.3%, there is no guarantee that it will not show up on a drug test. There are too many factors that come into play for anyone to make that guarantee such as weight, diet, metabolism, and dosage. For some, even the slightest possibility of a false positive is not worth the risk. This is the very reason that we provide options because we believe that should not have to stop you from experiencing all of the wonderful benefits that this plant has to offer.

CBD Isolate

CBD Isolate is just as it sounds; isolated CBD, all by itself. There are no active compounds present other than cannabidiol (CBD). There are no additional cannabinoids, terpenes, or phytonutrients here. Which means there is also no THC. Remember, both pure CBD and full spectrum hemp oil products are extracted from the hemp plant. In this case, all other plant material is stripped away leaving you with a product that is purely CBD. You can visualize it like this, you take the hemp plant and turn that into full spectrum hemp oil. You then take that full spectrum hemp oil and turn that into pure CBD. That is a simple explanation of the order of processing the plant needs to undergo in order to get to a specific end point. Now, don’t get too hung up on the word “pure” as many people tend to do. The word “pure” does not translate into “better.” What it means here is that there is nothing else but CBD. This also means that there is no “entourage effect.” Due to the lack of the entourage effect, pure CBD is often taken in higher doses than a full spectrum product. In addition, pure CBD is also tasteless and odorless which makes it ideal for those with a sensitive palate.

Let’s make a quick comparison to make it easier to understand. Look at the difference between fresh juice and whole produce. Fresh juice contains a lot of nutrients but without the whole fruit or vegetable are you really getting all of the nutrients you could be and are those nutrients absorbing optimally? A whole fruit or vegetable contains additional nutrients and fiber that get lost when processed into juice. That’s not to say that whole produce is always better because fresh juice certainly has its place.

Think About it This Way

Let us provide you with a couple more quick analogies to help simplify things. Let’s say you have a bowl of varying fruits. You’ve got strawberries, mangoes, apples, and bananas all mixed together in a delightful and nutrient dense snack. Okay, now remove everything but the apples. Your fruit bowl is now “pure apples.” Is that better? Not necessarily. Your apple still has nutrients and benefits all on its own. Could you benefit from having even more nutrients as you would if you still had your big bowl of mixed fruit? Yes, but maybe you are allergic to strawberries or mangoes give you heartburn. So, the apple alone is what is best for you in this case and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. You can also compare it to the world of superheroes. CBD is the superhero in this scenario and the superhero by itself is the Pure CBD. Now, let’s give our superhero a few sidekicks. This is your full spectrum hemp oil. A superhero is great on its own but wouldn’t that superhero be even better with the help of a few sidekicks? If you are looking to get the most out of your CBD, trying to target specific ailments, and have no worries of drug testing then you may want to consider a full spectrum hemp oil product. If you have sensitivities to THC and other plant material, are looking to cook with something flavorless, and are concerned about regular drug testing then you may want to consider a pure CBD product. It can be a little bit of trial and error, too. Everyone’s body is unique and thus, so will be their experience with CBD. Regardless of the form you choose, CBD carries numerous benefits and it is easy to see why it’s becoming increasingly prevalent in the world of natural health.