The internet and media are chock full of claims about hemp extract thanks to federal and state laws. Consumers are now faced with an onslaught of choices for hemp extract products. As an unregulated industry, the medical claims made by supplement makers are basically on the honor system. Unfortunately, most hemp extract products aren’t what they claim to be. So, how do you know if a hemp extract is high-grade? With a little research, you can find answers to these seven questions.
How to Identify a High-Grade Hemp Extract
- Where and how is it grown?
Unless the hemp is grown in the United States, then it has lost a significant amount of nutrients during the time and distance that it traveled. Plus, if the hemp farm didn’t have health-conscious practices, then the hemp may still hold toxins from chemicals and pesticides, preventing it from absorbing nutrients that you need.
- Which parts of the plant are they using?
Does the product contain hemp seeds? You should know that hemp seeds don’t contain CBD and have none of the highly-prized medical benefits of hemp extract. Hemp seeds are cheap. For less than $8, you can buy a pound of hemp seeds. It’s misleading when the products described as “all natural” and “100% Hemp” are filled with ineffective hemp seed oil. Quality hemp extract comes from the leaves, stalk, and the flower of the plant.
- Is the Hemp Extract an isolate or a full-spectrum extract?
Years ago, there was a belief that separating only the popular component of hemp extract, CBD, the consumer would get a stronger and quicker medical benefit. However, a major study in 2015 found that the results were the opposite. Full spectrum hemp extract had a faster and more powerful effect.
- How is it processed?
To get health-producing oil, the hemp plant must be processed. A favorite way to process involves chemical solvents, heat, and pressure. Each of these techniques destroys the healing
ability of the hemp or leaves a toxic chemical residue. The efficient and healthy method is called supercritical CO2 processing. This process extracts the valuable oil without damaging its properties or introducing poisonous chemicals. The goal is to have a clean and potent version of the hemp extract.
- How much are you getting?
Many hemp extract products dilute the hemp extract in a sea of hemp seed oil or coconut oil. So while there is slight nutritional value to hemp seed or coconut, they do not deliver the health benefits of CBD. Read the label carefully or study the website. See how many milligrams of hemp extract or CBD are in each serving.
- How is it delivered to the bloodstream?
The most hidden or ignored aspect of comparing hemp extract products is the factor of
absorption. Most hemp extract products don’t discuss how many milligrams of the product is absorbed by your body. The truth is that most hemp extract products have an absorption rate of about 2-3%. Stomach acids destroy most of the extract. There are biochemical methods of delivering the hemp extract into the liver and eventually the bloodstream. The science is called liposomal delivery. Essentially, a liposome is a coating around the active hemp components. It protects the hemp until it can pass through the wall of the stomach or intestines. Trials have shown that liposomal hemp is about 15 times more bioavailable compared to standard hemp extract oils. The reason this aspect is so critical is that it’s an essential element of comparison between hemp extract products. For example, let’s assume that we have two bottles of hemp extract that both contain 500 mg of hemp extract. However, one bottle has liposomal hemp. Since the absorption rate is 15 times higher than the standard hemp extract oil, the liposomal extract has the same effect as 15 bottles of conventional oil.
- Is it tested and free of THC and contaminants?
Hemp extract manufacturers are not required by law to have their products tested by independent third-party labs. However, reputable manufacturers pay for this testing at multiple stages of processing. As a consumer, you may be most interested in two test results: the test for contaminants and the test for THC, the psychoactive element sometimes present in hemp extract. Ask or look on the manufacturer’s website for the certificate of analysis. The test can include many results, but reputable manufacturers will be testing for at least contaminants and THC.
Shop Our High-Grade Hemp
At Optivida Health, our hemp is grown on certified organic farms in Colorado. The hemp is then processed nearby using CO2 in place of heat, pressure, or solvents to maintain its nutritional integrity.
