What is CBD isolate? All you need to know
When you decide to start taking CBD, you'll have to choose among the three extracts: isolates, full-spectrum, and broad-spectrum CBD. The chances that your first experience with CBD will be an isolate is high as manufacturers infuse most CBD products with CBD isolate. Manufacturers prefer CBD isolate because its production is standardised.
Unlike other forms of CBD, isolate CBD allows users to experience CBD goodness without a trace of the other cannabinoids and terpenes. Full-spectrum CBD may not cause a high but contains traces of THC. Legal hemp-derived CBD should not have more than 0.3% THC.
Sometimes due to the negativity associated with THC, some people do not want to ingest even the slightest bit of it. Others, such as athletes, avoid any trace of THC due to potential drug tests. Even legally allowed hemp-derived full-spectrum CBD may cause a false positive in your drug test results.
In this article, we'll further discuss this hemp extract and its many benefits over full and broad-spectrum CBD. We will also show you where and how you can use this product.
What is CBD isolate?
CBD isolate is the most basic and purest form of CBD you can get. Unlike full-spectrum, CBD isolate consists of a single cannabinoid, and it exists either as a powder or in crystalline form. One of the reasons many CBD products use this extract is because it is also tasteless and odourless, making it a favourite with manufacturers.
The process of extraction and refining results in CBD isolate that is 99% pure. This process also eliminates all the other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Some manufacturers add terpenes back to the pure CBD isolate to form Terpsolate. So, beware while you are purchasing your CBD products.
How is CBD isolate made?
It requires complex and expensive equipment to produce quality CBD isolate. The DIY crowd may produce full hemp plant extract, but isolate needs a different set of skills. Achieving the required percentage purity takes an experienced chemist.
The two extraction methods mainly used are ethanol and CO2 extraction. The resulting extract then undergoes the process of winterisation and decarboxylation to separate and activate CBD.
CO2 extraction
Because there is no chemical use, this method produces the cleanest residual-free CBD. It is considered the gold standard in the CBD manufacturing industry. An advanced laboratory and skilled chemist are required to carry out this method of extraction.
The carbon dioxide gas under pressure passes through a machine holding the plant matter. A liquid collects afterwards that contains all the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. The next step is to evaporate this liquid further until you end up with a crude form of full-spectrum oil.
Ethanol extraction
The method does not use overly expensive equipment as compared to CO2 extraction. But one will still need to possess some skills to achieve a pure quality CBD isolate.
The first step is to soak the plant matter in alcohol. Note that this process uses only pure alcohol. When the plant remains suspended in the alcohol overnight, the alcohol absorbs the hemp plant’s entire chemical profile, resulting in alcohol-infused full-spectrum CBD.
Once you strain the plant matter, the next step is to evaporate the alcohol leaving behind the full-spectrum CBD crude oil.
Winterisation
Regardless of the method of extraction, the crude oil that results is the same. At this point, we isolate the CBD from the crude oil using the winterisation method. The process removes lipids and waxes from the crude oil.
By further refining by evaporation, the result is individual cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. The refinement takes advantage of the fact that all the compounds have different evaporation points.
Decarboxylation
By using low heat and time, decarboxylation activates the CBD making it potent and ready for use. In the plant, the abundant form is usually CBDA which needs decarboxylation to become active. The final product is active CBD isolate which is 98-99.7% pure.
CBD isolate vs. full-spectrum
Depending on who you direct the question to, you will get varying answers. Some people claim the entourage effect provided by full-spectrum CBD makes it so effective, while others cannot stand THC, even the trace amounts present in this extract.
For instance, athletes who have to take drug tests constantly should avoid the full-spectrum CBD, but that does not mean they can’t enjoy CBD. You can use broad-spectrum or CBD isolate, which provides the best way for such groups of people to enjoy CBD without fear of failing a drug test.
There is no right or wrong way to enjoy CBD. It is all a matter of personal taste, and in this regard, do you and take the form you are most comfortable with.
How to use CBD isolate
You can use isolate CBD as a powder or crystalline form, or it may be mixed or infused with other products. Here are ways to enjoy this product.
Sublingually
You simply place the powder under your tongue and hold it for about sixty minutes. If there is some residue in your mouth, swallow it down with some water. Since CBD isolate is tasteless and odourless, most people tolerate it.
The sublingual method is a quick and easy method of delivering CBD to your body. The CBD peaks in the blood after fifteen minutes.
Ingesting
One can ingest CBD isolates in various ways. The first one is by putting the crystals in a capsule or pill and swallowing. Tablets and capsules are suitable for those who are also taking other supplements.
From sauces, soups, and dressings, you can add CBD isolate to spice up the meal. Any type of food will receive an extra kick and do not worry as it doesn’t affect its taste. You can also enjoy this extract in a smoothie or any drink for that matter.
While cooking with CBD, it’s always good to remember that it loses its potency at very high temperatures. Avoid cooking it in too much heat.
The body does not readily absorb CBD, and a neat trick to use is to infuse it to oil or butter before cooking to make it more bioavailable.
Vaping
Vaping makes CBD bioavailable to your body in less than fifteen minutes. When you vape CBD passes through your lung membranes and into your bloodstream. Since you inhale the vapour directly to the lungs or through the mouth to the lungs, you can feel the effects quickly after taking the first puff.
Simply add the crystalline powder into the premade vape juice or make yourself a new batch of CBD isolate vape juice to use with your refillable vape device.
Topical application
Making a topical application such as a balm or cream is easy. You only need to add CBD isolate to a base such as coconut oil and apply it to your skin. They are a great way of getting CBD to targeted areas, and you can feel the effects of CBD immediately. But you can also buy balms and other topicals containing this extract.
Benefits of CBD isolate
Some of the reasons one would choose to enjoy CBD isolate include:
No THC
Since it does not contain any THC, you do not have to worry about THC getting into your system. Always check the product’s packaging to ensure you don’t buy CBD isolate with trace amounts of THC.
Always ask for third-party test results to ensure you are getting quality CBD isolate. If a trader refuses to give you these results, run and don’t look back. Credible suppliers are always willing to share the information.
CBD isolate is versatile
There are so many ways to take CBD to isolate powder. You can ingest or place it under the tongue, or you can use it in your cooking. Since it does not have a taste or aroma, it works for everyone.
Easy dosage
Since it is purely CBD, you just need to measure the amount you require in mg, no calculations are necessary, and you are good. We advise you to start with a low dose, preferably 10mg if it is your first time. Stay on this dose for a few days and monitor how you feel.
So many CBD isolate products are available in the market. Here at Supreme CBD, we offer a wide variety of quality pure CBD products for you to enjoy. From tinctures, oils, vapes, and edibles, we have them all.
Take away
CBD isolate is the purest and most basic form of CBD. It requires a lot of skills and special equipment to produce a hemp plant extract that's 99% pure. This extract is odourless and tasteless, making it suitable for manufacturing CBD products like edibles, tinctures, oils, and topicals.
Thanks to its versatility, you can enjoy CBD isolate powder in so many forms. It can be ingested or taken sublingually for quicker results, or you can use it to prepare edibles for your enjoyment. The best way to prepare edibles is by infusing the CBD isolate with oil so the body can easily absorb it.