Today, the purest form of cannabidiol (CBD) available is an isolate. High-quality isolates test at 99-percent pure CBD and are still a relatively new product on the market. If you are new to the recent developments in the world of medicinal cannabinoids, using products like isolates might seem risky. After all, isolates look nothing like the original hemp material they came from.
Because isolates look so unfamiliar, people often assume they are dangerous or have some illicit application. This assumption couldn’t be farther from the truth. A cannabidiol isolate is simply CBD in its purest format. When sourced from reputable companies, CBD isolates contain no additives, no contaminants, nothing besides the therapeutic product you have come to know and love.
What is a CBD isolate?
Cannabidiol isolates are 99-percent pure CBD. Isolates are so pure that they no longer contain any of the other organic compounds found in hemp or medical marijuana plants. If you are only familiar with CBD products that are a dark earthy green color, or even those that have small visible particles, isolates look much different.
Isolates totally remove the terpenes, non-CBD cannabinoids, chlorophyll, and organic matter. The remaining substance, a white crystalline powder, is pure unadulterated CBD. It should have no scent and no taste, making it a perfect option for those who struggle with the earthy flavors of more conventional CBD oils.
Isolates are a much more versatile substance than other CBD formats. Because they have no flavor, no smell, and are so incredibly potent, they are easily incorporated into coconut oil, honey, or other edibles.
Full-spectrum CBD oil contains a variety of other components naturally found in the hemp plant, including:
- Lesser cannabinoids, like cannabigerol and cannabinol
- Flavonoids
- Terpenes
- Fatty acids
- Trace amounts of THC
By comparison, CBD isolates contain only “pure” CBD. The extraction process excludes all the plant materials from the hemp plant, preventing the inclusion of the above components. This leaves you with an isolated form of CBD that is free of other cannabinoids and compounds.
What Are the Benefits of CBD Isolates?
While full-spectrum CBD is often preferred, CBD isolates offer a variety of benefits on their own. Most prominently, CBD isolates offer higher concentrations of CBD in smaller amounts.
CBD isolates are also helpful for those who live in states or districts that have strict laws in place that regulate the amount of THC allowed in CBD products. CBD isolates, which are THC-free, ensure that you won’t have to deal with any legal repercussions involving THC content in CBD products.
CBD isolates otherwise offer the same potential benefits you can expect from a CBD product, including:
- Reduced inflammation
- Improved mood
- Physical calm
- Reduced nausea and vomiting
Are CBD isolates synthetic? Aren’t they bad for you?
There is a lot of discussion out there about whether pure CBD isolates are better than the whole-plant products. It’s really hard to make sense of it all. Often, one side of the argument is pitted against the other, and there is no clear-cut answer.
The truth of the matter is that there is nothing wrong with either side of the CBD argument. There are two sides to every story, and in this case, there are benefits to each type of product. Less-processed CBD products aren’t any more natural than hemp-derived CBD isolates. They both come from the same wholly natural plant matter, but the major difference between the two is the amount of refinement.
Companies extract isolates from industrial hemp, as they do with oils, tinctures, and other CBD products. Usually, the extraction process is either done with ethanol or CO2. Extractions are more potent than straight hemp material, but in order to reach 99-percent purity, processors must continue to refine the product. (1)
Despite what its white appearance may suggest, almost all isolates on the market today are not synthetic. Some big pharmaceutical companies have synthesized the CBD compound, but the Food and Drug Administration has not approved these synthetic substances for use outside the laboratory. The CBD isolates available online today are not from a petri dish; they originate from organic hemp plants.
How do you use CBD isolate products?
The honest answer depends on your personal preference. Isolates are so incredibly versatile; they make easy additions to any number of foods, capsules, topicals, and more. But before you get started mixing up your next CBD isolate serving, it’s essential to understand the incredible potency of the product.
Even if you are comfortable with higher doses of CBD hemp oils, incorporating isolates into your health and wellness routine takes a little more skill. For example, if you regularly take twenty milligrams of CBD oil, have you considered what that translates into with an isolate? Remember, isolates are 99-percent pure, so twenty milligrams of an isolate is much stronger than twenty milligrams of an oil-based product.
Speak with your doctor if you are confused about serving sizes, or reach out to a knowledgeable CBD distributor. They can help you break down the calculation to work out the equivalent CBD isolate serving to your usual CBD oil serving.
Having a precise scale at home can help with accurate measurements as well. Kitchen scales are often not accurate enough to measure down to the milligram. However, there are many options online, often sold as jewelers’ scales, which will have up to four-decimal precision. Measuring out the perfect serving helps ensure you aren’t wasting any valuable product.
Do you need to dilute CBD Isolate?
Again, the appearance of a CBD isolate can be deceiving. Many products that come in the form of a white powder often need to be diluted or dissolved before consumption. But yet again, a CBD isolate is much different. You can easily and safely take pure CBD isolate sublingually (under the tongue), without any increased risk of side effects.
If you decide to dissolve the isolate under your tongue, take the time to let it linger there. A good 60 to 90 seconds should do it. Allowing the CBD isolate to dissolve in your mouth reduces the time required for the CBD to enter the bloodstream. Edibles, oils, and other ingestibles can take much longer to enter the bloodstream through the digestive tract.
It’s not uncommon for people to dissolve CBD isolates into liquid coconut oil or other healthy MCT oils. Still others prefer to sweeten the deal by mixing it into agave nectar, maple syrup, or honey. For some, it’s much more pleasant to use a measured serving of CBD honey in their afternoon tea than to dissolve CBD isolate under the tongue.
The mode of consumption is always based on personal preference. There isn’t a right or wrong way to use CBD isolate, although taking the time to calculate a precise serving is crucial. Just because you’ve combined CBD isolate with an oil or honey doesn’t mean you can forget about the importance of serving sizes.
Are CBD isolates as safe as CBD oils?
According to a recent publication from 2017, research has determined that CBD has a good safety profile, especially when compared to pharmaceuticals. The researchers concluded that “the most commonly reported side effects were tiredness, diarrhea, and changes of appetite/weight. In comparison with other drugs… CBD has a better side effect profile.” (2)
Their potency is no reason to dilute CBD isolates. In fact, the authors of the same review found that even higher doses of CBD were relatively safe to use, at least according to the available information. There are some low-risk side effects to know about, but in their words, “Chronic use and high doses of up to 1500?milligrams per day have been repeatedly shown to be well tolerated by humans.”
Although CBD research is still in the preliminary phases, the safety profile of CBD seems to be much better than many comparable pharmaceuticals. While it’s always a good idea to speak with a medical professional before starting any new therapy, the current body of evidence suggests that even 99-percent pure forms of CBD are safe to use.
Have you tried any CBD isolates recently? What was your favorite way to ingest them, and did you find it easier than straight CBD oil? We’d love to hear your experiences.
Where Can I Buy the Best CBD Isolates?
CBD isolates are readily available in most stores that sell CBD goods. Healthy Hemp Oil offers the best selection of CBD isolates. All of our products come from some of the top brands in the business that use high-quality, natural ingredients that have been third-party tested for safety and effectiveness. Browse our current selection of CBD isolates, and feel free to contact us if you need any recommendations.
Have you tried any CBD isolates recently? What was your favorite way to ingest them, and did you find it easier than straight CBD oil? We’d love to hear your experiences.
FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products sold by Healthy Hemp Oil are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on our website is intended to provide general information regarding our products and is not to be construed as medical advice or instruction. Read more