When shopping online for CBD,
you’re likely going to come across all kinds of buzzwords, such as “organic,”
“natural” and “non-GMO.” These things
all sound good, but how many of us actually know what they mean, and their
direct impacts on the quality and effectiveness of the products that we use?
What These Terms Actually Mean
Before we talk about how these attributes impact a CBD
product’s effectiveness, let’s first break down what each one actually means.
Natural
Natural simply means derived from
natural sources.
CBD and other hemp compounds are inherently natural, as they come
directly from plant material. But, the
other ingredients in a CBD product should be mostly natural as well. Plant-based ingredients are more likely to “play
nice” with the compounds in hemp that we deem desirable, meaning that they are
less likely to interfere with the chemical stability of the product.
Organic:
The terms “organic” and “natural” are often used
interchangeably, but they shouldn’t. Natural
means naturally derived, while using the term “organic”
requires certain stringent practices that must be in place. In order for hemp to be certified organic,
the farm must not use certain chemicals that aid in the cultivation process,
such as pesticides, herbicides and other potentially toxic materials that can
damage the soil and the plant structure.
Non-organic CBD may contain toxins that come from the ingredients used
in these products. Not only is that
potentially dangerous for your health, but it can cause damage to the structure
of each compound.
Non-GMO
Tends to be the least understood of all. Non-GMO means that the ingredient has
not been chemically modified or genetically engineered. GMO means genetically modified
organism. In other
words, a GMO is a substance which has been genetically tampered with in a
laboratory. This practice is often done
to make organic substances more resilient to certain unfavorable environmental
factors, or to affect crops in a way that’s more profitable to the farmer, such
as using chemistry to produce larger crops or a greater quantity. But these practices can damage the chemical
composition of a product, and may even cause adverse health effects, according
to some experts.
How These Factors Impact the Effectiveness of Your CBD Product
It all comes down to chemical stability. Chemical stability refers to the resilience
and longevity of the chemical compounds within the product. You want them to be as chemically stable as
possible because this means that they’re less likely to break down. Once they’ve broken down, they’re no longer
useful, as they won’t provide the body with the desirable properties.
Many factors can interfere with CBD’s chemical
stability. Certain toxins found in
pesticides and other nonorganic farming materials can break down the compounds
in hemp. So can unnatural,
chemical-based ingredients. And, genetic
modification can also interfere with the strength of individual compounds due
to laboratory practices that change the chemical composition of the hemp plant.
Now, you can understand why organic, natural, and
non-GMO actually matter quite a bit.
These terms mean that the hemp has not been tampered with in a way that
will cause the compounds to lose their effectiveness by being weakened.
How to Verify That a Product is Organic, Natural and Non-GMO
You’re probably wondering at this point how you can
trust that a company is really telling the truth.
Search for Third-Party Lab Reports
These lab reports will state the presence of toxins
and additives within the actual hemp extract.
The reports come from an unbiased third-party testing facility, which
means that they are objective and honest.
Look through CBD Product’s List of Ingredients
If you see unnatural ingredients, research them to see
if they interfere with the chemical structure of the hemp extract.
A Certificate of Analysis Also Helps
This refers to a certification that the hemp used by
the company is non-GMO. Also, you can
always contact a company to ask them for more information.
Organic, Natural, and non-GMO CBD Products are, Indeed, Higher in
Quality
Therefore, they’re more likely to be effective. The key is being able to verify that these
terms actually apply to the products making these claims. Always look for lab reports from a third-party
when shopping for CBD, and thoroughly read through the list of ingredients to
verify that the terms are, in fact, accurate.
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