CBD Isolate vs. Full-Spectrum: Which Is Best for You?

Today, 88% of Americans have heard of CBD and 18% have actually tried it. CBD is one of the most recent health crazes, and it doesn’t look like it’s going away anytime soon.

This cannabinoid has almost all of the same effects as its cousin, THC. But the great thing is, it doesn’t get you high! This means people can enjoy the benefits of cannabis without feeling intoxicated.

But CBD comes in several forms, such as isolate vs full spectrum. What’s the difference anyway? Find out by reading on!

What Is CBD Isolate?

You might’ve guessed from the name already, but CBD isolate is a product where you get CBD and just that. There are no other compounds.

To get CBD isolate, it’s usually extracted from hemp plants rather than cannabis ones. This is because hemp plants have a high CBD, low THC content, while cannabis plants have a high THC, low CBD content.

There are several ways you can extract CBD for isolate products:

  • Steam distillation
  • Carbon dioxide extraction
  • Solvent extraction
  • Lipid extraction

After the extraction process is finished, CBD is in a crystal form, which is why they’re called “CBD crystals” on labels. It’s then ground up and sold as a powder.

Benefits of Using CBD Isolate

Because CBD isolate gives you CBD in its purest form, it can be great for people who are just starting out with using this cannabinoid. As it only has CBD, you can quickly figure out if it actually helps you with the ailments you’re seeking to treat.

Also, CBD isolate doesn’t really have a taste or odor. If you’re worried about ingesting something that’s unpleasant, you won’t experience that with CBD isolate.

As for what CBD isolate can do, many people use it to help with:

  • Pain
  • Inflammation
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Cancer symptoms
  • Epilepsy

However, do note that more human studies need to be done before we can say if CBD is actually beneficial for these things.

What Is Full-Spectrum CBD?

Full-spectrum CBD is where you basically get the entire profile of the cannabis or hemp plant. This means all the natural chemicals are extracted along with CBD. You’ll get other cannabinoids (including THC), as well as flavonoids, terpenes, and essential oils.

If you’re wondering how to make full spectrum extract, the same methods for CBD isolate can be used. It’s just that with isolate products, extra steps are taken to remove everything but CBD.

Considering that you’re using CBD products for CBD benefits, why would you want to use full-spectrum CBD?

The answer is the entourage effect.

The entourage effect is where all chemicals and compounds complement one another and actually amplify one another’s effects. This synergy means you can really take advantage of all a cannabis or hemp plant has to offer.

Benefits of Using Full-Spectrum CBD

As we’ve said, one of the biggest benefits of using full-spectrum CBD is that you’ll experience the entourage effect. This means the products will have a more potent effect.

Like with CBD isolate, you can use full-spectrum CBD for things like pain, inflammation, anxiety, and depression. 

Isolate vs Full Spectrum CBD

While full-spectrum CBD has the advantage of the entourage effect, there is the slight possibility that you might fail drug tests at work.

To minimize the chance of this happening, you should opt for full-spectrum products from hemp plants, as these have a much lower THC content. In fact, there should be no more than 0.3% THC. 

If you want to take high doses of CBD, then you might be better off taking CBD isolate. This is because these products offer you pure CBD, without anything else in your doses.

CBD isolate also allows you to use products that have no THC in them. That way, you won’t have to worry about failing drug tests.

As far as which product is right for you, it really comes down to your personal preference and lifestyle, as well as what you hope to achieve with CBD. If you don’t have to worry about drug tests, we’d suggest giving both a try to see how they work out.

Broad-Spectrum CBD

Another option available is broad-spectrum CBD, which is like a happy medium between isolate and full-spectrum.

With broad-spectrum CBD, you’ll get everything that full-spectrum has, except there’s no THC. If you want to experience the entourage effect but would like peace of mind for work, then broad-spectrum can be something to consider.

Legality of CBD

Considering that some CBD can come from cannabis plants, you might be worried about the legality of using CBD products.

On this front, it’s a bit tricky. Many states have legalized marijuana, which means you can purchase both THC and CBD products legally.

However, on the federal side of things, marijuana is still illegal, so you can technically get in trouble for doing so. But will they really go after you? Probably not.

To reduce stress over using CBD, you should just opt for products that come from hemp plants. Hemp-derived products were made federally legal thanks to the Farm Bill of 2018.

So long as you do your due diligence and research reputable companies, you should be able to purchase CBD that has exactly what it says it does. Always make sure to look for third-party test results for confirmation!

Try Out CBD

Now you know the difference between isolate vs full spectrum CBD. Also, if you want to take advantage of full-spectrum CBD but don’t want any THC in it, there’s also broad-spectrum CBD.

So take advantage of CBD and see what it has to offer you. For the best results, get full or broad-spectrum to experience the entourage effect and maximize CBD’s benefits.

To read more on the trending lifestyle topics you need to know, please check out our blog page now!

Similar Posts