Looking for the perfect way to consume cannabidiol? If so, you are not alone. As laws change around the United States, an increasing number of researchers and consumers are reporting promising outcomes for individuals who turn to products containing CBD, the well-known non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant. As they do, more people are trying to learn how they can give this natural remedy a try. CBD may offer substantial relief from pain to anxiety, but despite its potential benefits, knowing which form of it to take can be confusing for many.
When it comes to CBD, there are three kinds: CBD isolate, full-spectrum CBD, and broad-spectrum CBD. With some key characteristics setting each type apart, different kinds of CBD products have the potential to address different needs. If you are trying to figure how the two most common types, isolate and full-spectrum, compare, then look no further. Here are five ways the two products differ.
1. What Is Inside
One of the main aspects that separate these two forms of CBD products is what is inside. With CBD isolate being the purest form of CBD and full-spectrum products containing other plant extracts such as oils, terpenes, and additional cannabinoids like tetrahydrocannabinol, each kind of product has a different composition. If you are looking for THC free CBD, then CBD isolate is the way to go. If, on the other hand, you want a more blended experience, a full-spectrum product might be better.
2. What the CBD Extraction Process Looks Like
Because each type of product has a different makeup, you can also expect the CBD extraction processes to differ a bit. Whether you buy CBD isolate or you buy a full spectrum CBD product, it has gone through the following steps:
- Carbon dioxide extraction
- Steam distillation
- Solvent extraction
- Lipid extraction
That said, the process takes things further with CBD isolate. Because these types of products are more refined, extracting CBD isolate requires additional steps.
3. How You Can Benefit
Knowing what a natural remedy contains is important, but so is understanding its effects. If you are trying to choose between CBD isolate or full-spectrum CBD, the potential benefits of each can have a big impact on your decision. For those looking for the purest form of CBD without worrying about any other cannabis compounds, the isolate can be a great choice. Because it only contains CBD, it can be ideal for first-time consumers. In addition, this form lacks a noticeable taste or smell due to its refinement level, so it can be easier to consume.
On the other hand, full-spectrum CBD has the potential benefit of offering consumers the experience of the entourage effect. While researchers are still working to understand this phenomenon, many people have reported positive outcomes when combining different cannabis compounds.
4. How Each Product Looks
Another difference between these two products is how they look. While CBD isolate comes in a crystalline solid or powder, full-spectrum CBD often appears in the form of oils, tinctures, and edible gummies.
5. Which Product Will Work Best for You
Determining which product will work best for you depends on your personal preferences and health care needs and your experience with CBD. If you want something flavorless and odorless while entirely avoiding THC, CBD isolate may be the best option. In contrast, if you want to see how you might benefit from the entourage effects of combined compounds and terpenes, you might prefer a full-spectrum product.
In the world of CBD, you have a lot of choices. While this is good news in terms of having options, it can also be overwhelming. You can make your selection easier by understanding some of the key differences between product types.
Featured Image by Erin Stone from Pixabay
