Full-Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum, and CBD Isolates: What’s the Difference?
As a consumer, you may have become familiar with the CBD products nationwide. Since the 2018 Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp and its derivatives, CBD’s sales have taken off. So, then, full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolates. What’s the difference? We see these names thrown around a lot when referring to CBD, especially CBD oil, so what do they actually mean?
We want to get down to the details and fully understand each type of CBD product. We’ll also break down the ingredients involved in making it. Let’s dive into our comprehensive guide to help simplify what makes each type of CBD extract unique.
Why So Many CBD Products?
You may start to wonder — why are there so many different CBD products available? Hasn’t the market become oversaturated yet? As the cannabidiol industry continues to skyrocket, it’s easy to make people curious about when it’s going to slow down.
That’s just one of the many things that make the CBD market so appealing. The versatility of having thousands of options at your disposal is a truly unique experience. It helps you confidently pick the highest-quality products for your specific needs.
The world caught wind of CBD oil and its beneficial compounds, including the other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, and people were eager to experience the entourage effect in full effect.
We’re happy to stimulate this effect through powerful broad-spectrum CBD products containing no detectable THC levels and our full-spectrum CBD products, which contain no more than the THC’s legal maximum per bottle.
Before discussing the significant differences between a broad-spectrum product and other formulas, we want to discuss the extraction process.
All three types of CBD formulas also start at this step. In fact, it’s one of the most vital parts of a high-quality CBD product. There is some minor variation for each type, though it depends on the method used for extraction. However, it’s only after the extraction process that differences become more evident.
How Does CBD Get Extracted from Hemp?
There is a sophisticated process involved in taking CBD as a cannabinoid in hemp and turning it into an oil extract.
To extract a specific cannabinoid from hemp, they first apply pressure to the plant. Rather than a harsh solvent that can damage the final extract compounds, pressurized supercritical carbon dioxide or food-safe ethanol produces high-quality extracts.
The intense pressure causes the hemp plant’s hairs, or trichomes, to burst open, releasing vital cannabinoids. For either method, molecules bind to the carbon in the ethanol or CO2 and are distilled, which removes any solid plant material from the formula entirely.
From there, the CBD oil may get refined. If it’s refined of all THC, it becomes a broad-spectrum formula. Broad-spectrum is a popular option for those who want to enjoy the power of CBD without the worry of failing a drug test due to THC.
While industrial hemp can legally contain a max of 0.3% THC, the substance itself is still federally outlawed. Likewise, consuming too much full-spectrum CBD can build up the amount of THC in your system. As a result, you could go over the maximum legal amount over time.
What is a CBD Isolate?
Companies could remove unwanted cannabinoids or other hemp compounds from their formula. Sometimes, a CBD brand will remove all other hemp compounds besides CBD from their final product. This hemp-derived product is known as a CBD isolate, and it typically creates something that is 99+% pure CBD.
Those who are sensitive to cannabinoids or want to take an even further precaution than with a broad-spectrum formula find their comfort zone with CBD isolates. Some efficacy is involved, as CBD by itself benefits some people. However, the results are typically not as promising as those who choose a broad-spectrum or full-spectrum CBD oil instead.
One problem with CBD isolate companies is that many only say that they offer isolates when they really offer a broad-spectrum or even full-spectrum product. Without proper batch testing, a company claiming that its product is 99+% CBD has no proof to back up that claim.
Beware of any brand that claims their products are CBD isolates if it appears there are trace amounts of any other hemp compound in the formula.
What is Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil?
Think of broad-spectrum extracts as simply the step you would take to ensure a full-spectrum product is free of THC. The refining process is an integral part of what makes a broad-spectrum extract safe and potent, and it allows brands to remove any unwanted cannabinoids or other hemp compounds from the formula.
If a company chooses just to remove the THC and retain the other compounds, users still get to enjoy the synergy of the compounds working together. All are non-psychoactive; the only cannabinoid left out of the bunch is THC.
We’re proud to offer broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD for these reasons. The power to choose if THC is in your product or not should be in your hands, not the brand’s. We work hard to give you that choice.
Both of our broad-spectrum and full-spectrum formulas are popular among repeat shoppers. We always recommend our broad-spectrum option for those who don’t want to worry about the THC side of things.
What is a Full-Spectrum CBD Oil?
There are over 400+ compounds found within various cannabis plants, and each hemp strain has its unique profile of cannabinoids and terpenes.
That cannabinoid and terpene profile is the full spectrum of compounds in a hemp plant. Without anything removed, including any trace amounts of THC, that profile left intact is what’s considered a full-spectrum CBD extract.
When you see “full-spectrum” on a CBD label, you should immediately look for that company’s third-party lab results. We recommend looking at lab reports before purchasing any CBD product, especially for full-spectrum products.
We want you to have confidence in our products. That’s just one of the many reasons we test every batch. We then have them re-tested through a third-party lab for verification and the utmost in safety maintenance.
The industry hasn’t regulated the terms so that they may have gone through a refinement process for their THC anyway, but it’s more likely that there will be trace amounts of THC in the product. You should check the lab results to ensure they test every single batch to retain the consistency of how much THC is present.
Why Choose a Full-Spectrum or Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil?
We hope our guide can inform you of the differences between full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolates. Isolates may work for some people, but they are not likely to produce the majority of the effects you’re seeking.
With a broad-spectrum and especially a full-spectrum CBD oil, you’re optimizing your chances of feeling an entourage effect. This helps intensify properties experienced from CBD, terpenes, other cannabinoids, and more.
That synergy of all the hemp compounds working together is what turns so many people towards a routine that involves CBD. Try our full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD and other cannabis products today.