The CBD industry has exploded over the past few years and there are plenty of different CBD products you can choose from. There are tinctures, capsules, topicals, edibles, and even things like CBD bath bombs and CBD face creams. You may have even come across CBD beer in your local liquor store or CBD mascara while shopping for makeup. Some of the items even border a little on the strange side but one of the most noteworthy, effective, and legit products you can buy is a CBD isolate. If you’ve never tried isolates, or even heard of them, there are a few things you might like to know about what they are and how to use them.
What is a CBD Isolate?
A CBD isolate is a pure, or 99% pure, form of CBD that comes from the cannabis plant, be it hemp or marijuana. It may also be referred to as a CBD crystalline due to its white, powdery appearance. CBD isolates are the most potent forms of CBD you can buy and they contain only cannabidiol with no other cannabinoids, terpenes, or plant materials present.
How Are CBD Isolates Made?
Due to their white, crystalline appearance, many people think CBD isolates are synthesized in a lab. This is not actually the case, as CBD isolates are all natural and are always made purely from plant materials. They may look unusual to those who are unfamiliar with them but isolates are all natural and do not contain any chemicals, toxins, or foreign substances other than just CBD.
CBD oils are first extracted from the plant material, such as stalks, stems, and flowers, usually using a safe and non-toxic CO2 extraction process. This process uses supercritical CO2 within a pressure and temperature regulated chamber to separate the cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material. This mixture is then pumped into another chamber with lower pressure and higher temperatures in order to allow the CO2 to evaporate off of the oil. Hemp plants, which are very low in THC, under 0.3% by dry weight, is usually the plant material that is used to produce these CBD rich oils. Once the CBD oil has been extracted, it undergoes a purification process that removes all oils, waxes, chlorophyll, terpenes, and other cannabinoids aside from the CBD. Every other natural compound is removed and the end result is a 99% pure CBD crystalline powder.
Why Use a CBD Isolate?
You may be wondering, why go through the extra step and make an isolate out of a perfectly good full spectrum CBD oil? Full spectrum CBD oil definitely has its merits, which includes its ability to provide an array of benefits from the other cannabinoids present, creating what is known as the “entourage effect”, but CBD isolates have valuable uses as well.
Hemp extract CBD oil contains only trace amounts of THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, but there is still that very small amount that could be there. This amount isn’t enough to get you high and it shouldn’t even show up on a drug test, however, it can be difficult to tell how much could remain in your system, especially if you take large doses of CBD. If your occupation or interests require you to take a drug test, it’s possible that THC could show up on that test. CBD isolates contain no measurable amounts of THC and the peace of mind that can bring is invaluable to some people.
CBD isolates are also just an incredible source of concentrated CBD. In a 1g container you are getting 990mg of CBD. This is perfect for those who need to take a higher dose and it can be very handy for anyone who would like to make their own tinctures, topicals, and edibles. CBD isolates are incredibly versatile and can be diluted as much as you’d like and in many different ways.
CBD isolates can also be stored long periods of time. They don’t need to be refrigerated and can simply be stored on a shelf in a cool, dry place. They can have a shelf life up to a few years, maintaining all of their potency, if kept it away from extreme heat and sunlight.
How Do You Use a CBD Isolate?
One of the best things about a CBD isolate is that it’s extremely versatile and it can be used in many different ways, shapes, and forms. You can simply place it under your tongue and allow it to absorb into your bloodstream or you can mix it into any food or beverage. You can make your own CBD tinctures or cooking oils by mixing it with hemp seed oil or olive oil. Better yet, mix your CBD isolate with coconut oil, which is high in MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides). MCTs increase the bioavailability or your CBD and prevent most of it from being metabolized before it’s absorbed into your circulatory system.
You can make your own skin care products by adding CBD to an existing oil-based product or, if you’re crafty, by creating your own CBD beauty products from scratch using other moisturizing agents, vitamins, and oils. CBD isolates can be added to any existing cream, oil, or food, as well as other CBD products in order to increase their potency. It can be added to vape liquids, cocktails, or you can even whip up some homemade dog treats in order to make your furry pals a pet-friendly CBD snack.
CBD products can provide many health benefits, such as relief of pain, anxiety, and depression. A CBD isolate can provide all of these beneficial effects and boost your endocannabinoid system, but you’ll have many more options with it thanks to the versatility of this purified powder. You’ll also be able to enjoy the peace of mind that there will be no THC in your product. Whether used on its own or as a supplement to your other CBD products, CBD isolates are a very useful and effective way to get a healthy dose of CBD into your system.
