Full Spectrum vs. Broad Spectrum vs. Isolate, and How We Approach it at CBD Luxe

Are you an avid hemp user? If so, you likely have a good idea of how different delivery methods work, how to choose the ideal milligram strength and how to make sure that a company that you’re buying from truly makes high-quality products. But, there’s another key factor to having a successful CBD experience that’s often overlooked, and it’s the type of extract that a hemp product contains.

Maybe you’ve heard the terms “CBD isolate,” “broad spectrum” and “full spectrum” along your hemp journey. The thing about these terms is that they play a critical role in helping you personalize your individual CBD routine so that you can better achieve your wellness goals.

For anyone who is still unsure as to what these terms mean and why they’re so important, we’d like to help. We’ll also explain why we at CBD Luxe make sure that users can customize their CBD regimens based on the types of hemp extract that are available.

The Compounds in Hemp

To appreciate and understand the three different types of hemp extract that are available, we first have to fully grasp the unique compounds in hemp and what they can each offer to the body. The compounds in hemp that are deemed desirable are split into different categories.

Compound #1: Cannabinoids

First and foremost, we have cannabinoids. It’s the cannabinoids that naturally exist in the hemp plant that makes hemp such a unique and desirable plant in the first place. Of course, CBD is the most popular cannabinoid in hemp, and it’s also the most prevalent out of all of them. However, many people don’t know that hemp actually has over 100 cannabinoids. Other desirable cannabinoids include CBN, CBC, CBG and THC. Bear in mind that in the hemp plant, there is not enough naturally occurring THC to produce psychoactive effects. And, THC has many unique properties that can be especially useful.

Cannabinoids are a fascinating class of compounds because of the way in which they are utilized by the body. Cannabinoids feed the endocannabinoid system which exists in every mammal. This system performs regulatory actions throughout the body by sending cannabinoids like CBD to cannabinoid receptors located in every bodily system.

Compound #2: Terpenes

Terpenes refer to a class of compounds that exist in every plant. Terpenes determine the color, flavor, and aroma of a particular plant, and they provide each plant with properties that mainly ensure its survival by warding off diseases, predators and more. These compounds are also useful to us. For instance, many terpenes have antifungal properties that prevent fungi from damaging the plant. But, when applied to humans, these antifungal properties can help us manage fungal infections of the body.

The hemp plant naturally boasts a wide variety of terpenes, and many people seek out particular ones because of their known effects.

Compound #3: Flavonoids

Flavonoids are another class of compounds found in hemp that offer even more unique properties, similar to terpenes. Flavonoids also seem to boost the bioavailability of cannabinoids thanks to synergistic properties.

Compound #4: Phytonutrients

The hemp plant boasts a wide variety of phytonutrients, which are nutrients that are derived from plants. These nutrients include vitamins, amino acids, and essential fatty acids.

How Hemp is Turned into an Extract

So, how does a CBD company produce each type of extract? Well, each one begins with the same process. The hemp plant is run through an extraction method which typically involves the use of pressurized CO2. This gently lifts the compounds such as the cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids from the hemp plant, so that the leftover plant material can be discarded, and what remains is a highly concentrated oil that’s rich in the full variety of compounds as they naturally occur in hemp. From there, they decide whether or not to isolate and remove particular compounds.

Breakdown the three Types of Hemp Extracts

Knowing these hemp extracts can help you better understand how to apply this information to your CBD purchases.

Full Spectrum CBD

is essentially a hemp extract that has been left alone, meaning that no compounds have been removed from it. It’s called full spectrum because it contains the full spectrum of compounds as they occur in nature. This means that only full spectrum CBD products provide you with the complete variety of cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and nutrients.

One major note about full spectrum CBD is that it contains the trace amount of THC that exists in hemp. But, being a trace amount, it won’t get you high no matter how up there your dosage level is.

The other thing to know is that only full spectrum products can give you the entourage effect, which refers to the synergistic effect that takes place when the plant’s chemical composition is consumed all at once. This allows for increased bioavailability as the presence of each compound supports the absorption of the others.

Broad Spectrum CBD

Broad spectrum CBD is a THC-free alternative to full spectrum. It contains every compound found in hemp except for THC.

CBD Isolate

CBD isolate is simply pure CBD. The CBD compound has been isolated from the hemp extract and turned into its own unique concentrate. As a result, each dose of a CBD isolate product offers more actual CBD.

Choosing Which One is Right for You

They’re all great in their own way, and no single one is better than the other two, objectively speaking. It’s all about experimenting with each to figure out which provides you the best results.

At CBD Luxe, we want our customers to be able to explore different types of hemp extracts that are available, which is why we offer unique options within our formulas. As you explore our products, you’ll be able to find the type of extract that we’re looking for. And, knowing that many people seek out CBD isolate specifically, we’ve created a category that contains all of our CBD isolate products so that you can easily see what’s available.