Shopping for CBD products can be tough if you don’t know how to read a CBD product label. Unless you’re a chemist, you’ll probably come across terms that don’t make sense. Not to worry, though. We’ve all been there.
Reading a CBD product label is a lot easier once you know a little about how each compound affects your body. At that point, buying the best products for your lifestyle is a breeze.
Let’s dive in, and arm you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions on the best CBD products for you.
WHAT ARE CANNABINOIDS?
Cannabinoids are unique compounds that grow within a cannabis plant, boasting all kinds of beneficial properties. CBD, or cannabidiol, is just one of them. Some others include CBG, CBN, and the notorious THC — the compound with psychoactive properties. While marijuana is bred to have high THC content, industrial hemp plants do not. In the UK, hemp plants are only legal if THC content stays below 0.03%.
Basically, the more cannabinoids there are in your supplement, the better it should work. If you can, always opt for products with more cannabinoids than just CBD. One such example is our CBD + CBG Wellness Tincture.
Why It’s Better to Have More Cannabinoids
Inside all our bodies is an endocannabinoid system (ECS). It’s an old evolutionary mechanism that exists in all mammals, and it moderates functions like sleep, mood, anxiety, and inflammation.
By putting cannabinoids into your body, your ECS is activated, triggering hormones to flow and give you all those good feelings people talk about. However, each cannabinoid works a little differently.
CBD, for example, doesn’t target the ECS at all. Instead, it inhibits brain enzymes that would normally stop hormone production, allowing the process to go on longer. CBG, on the other hand, binds directly to endocannabinoid receptors to aid the system.
While the science surrounding cannabinoids is young, we do know that when they work together, they produce the “entourage effect,” where each one’s benefits are enhanced.
It makes sense if you think about it — the hemp plant grows all these cannabinoids for a reason. By keeping them intact and working together, they can do the job nature intended.
Keep this in mind when doing your supplement shopping.
CHECKING THE LABEL FOR CANNABINOIDS
Now that you’re familiar with what cannabinoids do, our next job is to spot them on the label. For the most part, CBD oil vendors are proud to display cannabinoids in a prominent spot. If you absolutely can’t find anything that reads CBD/CBG/CBN, there’s a good chance the product is nothing more than hemp seed oil, which is a totally different product.
Since cannabinoids affect each person differently, take some time to find the right serving for your needs. As a general rule of thumb, we suggest starting with small amounts and working your way up until you reach your “sweet spot.”
If your serving doesn’t do anything, wait until the next day to increase the amount. Your brain needs time to reset its endocannabinoid receptors before it responds the way you want.
Also, keep in mind that different products take effect in different timeframes. A few drops of tincture oil under the tongue will work more quickly than gummies will, so be patient.
THE CANNABIS PLANT’S OTHER GOODIES
There’s more to cannabis than just its cannabinoids. Using terpenes, the plant attracts its natural predators and propagates its genes — but terpenes do a lot more.
Terpenes are responsible for the smell and taste of plants. Whenever you smell a rose, you’re experiencing the terpenes of the rose plant. When paired with cannabinoids, terpenes make it easier for your body to derive the greatest benefit from a supplement.
On top of that, terpenes have beneficial properties of their own. If you can, it’s always better to purchase CBD supplements that contain terpenes.When inspecting the product label for your supplement, consider whether or not it contains terpenes.
WHAT ELSE TO LOOK FOR
Because CBD oil isn’t heavily regulated (so long as the product contains less than 0.02% THC), there are many vendors out there willing to sell stuff that doesn’t do much. As we mentioned earlier, hemp seed oil doesn’t contain any cannabinoids, but many of its labels would have you convinced otherwise.
By purchasing the cheapest thing you can find, there’s a good chance it won’t work the way you hope. Some products are formulated from nothing more than dry CBD isolate powders with no terpenes or other cannabinoids. While this may not sound like a problem, these products are harder for your body to absorb and use.
Higher quality CBD oils contain other products, like MCT oil, to be more easily absorbed. These make for more effective supplements than CBD isolates.
The good thing about the low regulation on CBD is that companies can try out new formulations, leading to all kinds of new products for different lifestyles. There are daily CBD multivitamins, sleep aids, muscle creams, and even protein supplements.
Being a non-toxic compound, CBD can be combined with tons of other helpful ingredients to provide you the perfect product. It’s nice if you can find a vendor that sells many different varieties of CBD, so that you always have something new to try.
VERIFYING PRODUCT QUALITY
Sure, there’s a lot to see on the product label, but is that all? No. If you really want to know what’s inside your CBD supplement, you’ve got to check its lab report. These are third-party tests run by experts whose job is to make sure your product is safe.
Lab reports tell you everything you need to know, including the types and amounts of cannabinoids, the presence of toxins, and whether or not your hemp was grown organically. These are essential details since they usually determine how well your supplement works.
Not all vendors have lab reports for customers to read. Steer clear of these. You don’t want to waste your money on a product that doesn’t work, or worse, doesn’t even contain real CBD. A little homework goes a long way.
The more you know about your product, the easier it is to purchase the best one for you. As new formulations sprout up every week, knowing how they work helps you live your best life.
Ready to shop our organic CBD gummies?
Click here to start your order today.
