3 MIN READ | GEORGIA SMITH
choose your Zolt: cbd isolate vs full-spectrum hemp
You’ve heard the rave reviews from people who have added CBD to their wellness routine. You want to try it, but the options are overwhelming you a bit. Should you take CBD isolate or full-spectrum hemp? Is there really that much of a difference? Each brings its own blend of benefits, so read on for what to consider when choosing between CBD isolate vs full-spectrum hemp.
AN INTRODUCTION TO FULL-SPECTRUM HEMP
The hemp plant contains a number of beneficial compounds, including: cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, all of which are included in full-spectrum products.
Cannabinoids: Found only in cannabis plants, these compounds have been tied to a range of wellness effects. While there are well over 100 known cannabinoids found in the hemp plant, you’re probably most familiar with the cannabinoids THC and CBD.
Full-spectrum hemp utilizes the entire plant, including a trace amount of THC. How small is the trace? Less than half a percent—0.3% to be exact. Although such a low dose of THC is not psychoactive, there is a small possibility that it could trigger a positive drug test. If drug testing is a concern for you, consider taking CBD isolate, which is THC-free.
Full-spectrum hemp contains all cannabinoids, though never more than .03% THC. CBD is the predominant cannabinoid found in the hemp plant, so any full-spectrum hemp product should contain a significant level of it.
Flavonoids: There are about 20 different types of flavonoids in the hemp plant. These powerful antioxidant agents can help protect your body against everyday toxins and stressors.
Terpenes: These compounds give plants their distinctive odors. Terpenes found in hemp have been credited with various therapeutic effects ranging from sleep support to cognition and focus. Each hemp strain contains its own unique terpene profile, and terpenes are a key contributor to hemp’s entourage effect — the cumulative enhanced power of hemp by consuming a whole-plant product, like any of Zolt’s full-spectrum varieties.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CBD ISOLATE
CBD is one of the 113 cannabinoids in the hemp plant. CBD isolate is extracted from hemp by stripping away all of the flavonoids, terpenes and other cannabinoids in the hemp. What’s left is pure CBD. It’s been “isolated.”
Because CBD isolate is so refined, it has no discernable taste or odor, which makes it perfect for anyone who doesn’t enjoy hemp’s earthy flavor. It’s also a great choice for people who want the benefits of CBD but without THC, the psychoactive ingredient in hemp.
Tinctures, vapes, and edibles can all contain CBD isolate, but Zolt mixie sticks have been formulated for maximum bioavailability. That means your body has better access to all the useful molecules in the mix. In fact, Zolt is up to 5 times more effective than other CBD formats.
CBD ISOLATE VS FULL-SPECTRUM HEMP: WHICH DO I NEED?
So, back to the big question: CBD isolate vs full-spectrum hemp. Which one should you choose? In the end, it comes down to your lifestyle and wellness goals. While most drug tests will not pick up full-spectrum hemp products, if you have to get drug tested for work, you might be more comfortable with a CBD isolate.
If you’re new to using CBD products, starting with CBD isolate is also a good way to test how your body will respond to it without hemp’s additional components. CBD isolate has still been linked to dozens of potential benefits including pain relief, anxiety reduction, immune system support and more.
Of course, if you want the biggest wellness boost hemp can offer, you want full-spectrum hemp. The combination of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids deliver something called the entourage effect. Basically, they work best when they work together. For example, full-spectrum heump has been shown to be more effective for managing pain and inflammation than CBD alone because of the interaction between CBD and THC.
Whether you choose full-spectrum hemp or CBD isolate, look for a product that has been third-party tested and verified with a Certificate of Analysis (CoA), such as like Zolt. Because hemp is a bioaccumulator plant, it can contain toxins that are only detected through lab testing. Ensuring your hemp of CBD’s purity is essential to your health, so make sure yours is the purest possible.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR CHOICE
If you’re still undecided, Zolt’s Variety Pack is a good way to test out both CBD isolate and full-spectrum hemp. The 14-pack contains a combination of convenient and tasty mixie sticks, some with CBD isolate and some with full-spectrum hemp, and varieties for different energy levels and times of day. Try them all and decide which variety and flavor you like best.
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