How do I make sure I’m getting the best quality CBD? A guide on what to look for in a high-quality product

If you’re confused about how to choose which CBD products to try, you’re not alone. Lack of comprehensive research and regulations in the CBD industry can make it hard to know what to look for, what you’re getting, and which product to choose. It leaves a lot of room for grey areas which – we get it – can be confusing to say the least.

That’s why it’s so important to do your research so you can ensure that you’re choosing a high-quality CBD brand you can trust.

Need a little advice for shopping CBD? Here’s what to look for when choosing a reputable CBD company: 

At a glance:

• Read the label
• Has it been third party tested?
• Does it claim to cure diseases?
• Is there a batch number?
• Does it contain additional ingredients?

A reputable brand will have all the information you need on the packaging or the bottle. It should outline the type of CBD extract, the batch number, the THC content as well as any additional ingredients for transparency.

It should also have a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) disclaimer, such as “not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women” and “consult your GP or discontinue use if you’re feeling unwell”.

A high-quality CBD brand will be one that focuses on strict quality control processes. These quality control results should be available on their website; ideally, they will be third party verified or independently tested with the lab results to prove it.

Dr Julie Moltke, a medical doctor specialising in sleep and stress management, recommends that you “check the amount of cannabinoids and traces of other minor cannabinoids such as terpenes that go into the product. Having these results readily available is a good indicator that it’s a serious company.”

At CBII, we source legally grown hemp in the EU. Every batch receives a Certificate of Analysis and is independently tested by Interlabor Belp AG in Switzerland to verify its CBD content, so you know you’re in good hands.

We’ve listed our lab results of each product below:

• 200mg lab report
• 500mg lab report
• Total lab report
• Balance lab report
• Nourish lab report
• Move lab report
• Immune lab report
• Gummies lab report

CBD is not akin to snake oil so avoid any brand that claims to cure illnesses, despite there being anecdotal evidence. As research is still preliminary, CBD companies are definitely not allowed to make medical claims that aren’t yet backed up by science.

While this stops brands from being able to make scientifically unproven claims, it also makes it hard for companies to explain how CBD can help their customers, which can add to the confusion.

Many brands have been taking advantage of this regulation grey area with endless claims that can’t be backed up with approved scientific studies.

However, brands that self-regulate and pay for independent testing will be more likely to gain consumer trust now and maintain that relationship for the long term – so stick with us!

As with any eCommerce business, it’s important for CBD companies to have batch numbers. This will ensure that were there to be any defective products, they will be able to recall them and you will be able to verify the batch’s test results.

You should be able to find the batch number for each product available on the product bottle and/or packaging as well as on the third-party test results.

Some CBD companies will add additional ingredients to their products to increase bioavailability, nutrition, and support overall wellbeing.

There are all sorts of CBD supplements on the market with additional ingredients, such as vitamin B3 for maintaining a balanced body and mind, vitamin C to support an active lifestyle, zinc for the maintenance of hair, skin and nails or nutrients to support the immune system.

High-quality brands will also choose high-quality carrier oils, rather than cutting corners. One of the best ways to support absorption into the body is by using medium-chain triglycerides (MCT oil) as a carrier oil like we do at CBII.

Unlike most other long chain molecules that can take a while to be digested, MCT oils are more easily absorbed into the bloodstream from the gastrointestinal tract, traveling straight from the gut to the liver without requiring bile to break them down like longer-chain fats do.

If you’re looking for a high-quality CBD brand you can trust, CBII is one you can enjoy with confidence.   

References:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18296368/
https://med.virginia.edu/ginutrition/wp-content/uploads/sites/199/2014/06/Parrish-February-17.pdf