5 Things to look for in a CBD Oil

CBD has really created a buzz in the health and wellness industry over the past couple of years. But what should you really be looking for in a tincture?

1. The hemp plant is known to absorb toxins, so make sure it's grown to its purest state and lab-tested

Hemp plants are known to absorb toxins and radiation from the soil. In fact, hemp plants were used to help pull toxins out of the soil around Chernobyl. So while you wouldn't want to ingest a hemp extract from the site of Chernobyl, it does mean that you should make certain that the hemp used to produce your oil is properly grown and harvested.

Sweet Nectar CBD is

• Vegan
• USDA Certified Organic
• Gluten-Free
• Non-GMO
• Third Party Lab verified

The full-spectrum CBD oil produced by Sweet Nectar uses hemp that employs certified organic farming practices and is hand-harvested in Texas, Virginia, and Washington. Our farmers are USDA certified to produce organic hemp through a National Organic Program.  Simply put: If the soil is clean, then your hemp and cannabinoid extracts will be clean. You'll also want to ask for a Certificate of Analysis (COA) from a third-party lab which tests for contaminants, solvents, and the percentage of cannabinoids. A COA will also confirm that the dosage is correctly represented on the packaging. Reputable CBD companies like Sweet Nectar make their COA readily available, typically on their website and, in many cases, on the product itself via QR code. 

2. Make sure its full-spectrum for maximum effect

When I first started learning about CBD oil, I had no idea what full-spectrum meant. Full-spectrum refers to the use of the whole hemp plant vs. an isolate which extracts the the desired cannabinoid from the plant. The truth is, there's a lot of marketing jargon being attached to hemp oil—phrases, like "all natural" and "pure" are commonplace—and isolates are sometimes not hemp at all and are synthesized in a lab. Full-spectrum means that you'll get the good stuff—all the additional cannabinoids and terpenes that are naturally occurring in the whole plant. There's what's called an "entourage effect"—meaning these chemical compounds work together in tandem far better than in isolation to give you the maximum benefits.

3. Learn about the carrier oil in your tincture

CBD tinctures often include a carrier oil to help stabilize it and increase its bioavailability. This works because CBD is a fat-soluble substance.

Bioavailability refers to the rate at which your body absorbs the substance into your bloodstream. You want a higher bioavailability—absorption under your tongue is much higher compared to edibles that pass through your digestive system. So back to carrier oil.Sweet Nectar uses an gluten free, vegan, MCT oil, a saturated fatty acid made from coconut oil. It's also known to be one of the fastest sources of clean fuel for your body. Sweet Nectar is made up of just two ingredients, full-spectrum CBD oil and USDA certified organic MCT oil—and nothing else.

4. Not all CBD is the same

Those who have had limited experience shopping for CBD Oil may wonder where to start, or how to find a quality product. Firstly, understand that marijuana and industrial hemp are both common CBD oil sources since they are both Cannabis plants. There are also several types and formulas on the market, which typically fall into one of three categories:

• Full Spectrum contains the full spectrum of CBD, minor cannabinoids, cannabis-derived terpenes, and trace amounts of THC found in the plant.
• Broad Spectrum contains a full spectrum of extracted cannabinoids and terpenes, but with trace amounts of THC removed. 
• Isolate is pure CBD with all other cannabis compounds removed until only a powdered or crystalline form of CBD remains. 

5.CBD oil is not the same as hemp oil

CBD oil is an oil that contains Cannabidiol. CBD is extracted from the cannabis plant and usually combined with a base oil (often olive, coconut or MCT).

Hemp oil is extracted from the seeds of the hemp plant and should not contain CBD, or any other cannabinoids. Hemp oil is associated with its own list of health benefits.

So there you have it, our quick hit list of a few of the things to look for in a CBD tincture. Hope this helps. Please feel free to visit us on facebook and instagram and be sure to share this article with anyone interested in learning more about organic cbd.