Due to the rapid growth of the CBD industry over the past few years, there is a flood of hemp-derived CBD players hitting the market daily. Some of these brands make promises that cannot be fulfilled, while others lack quality control. Educating yourself is key as it allows you to find brands and products that you can trust. Luckily for you, you strong independent human, you’ve found Yesterday. We work with a third-party tester so you know exactly what you’re getting. And we provide the test results (called COAs) to back this up.
To ensure that you choose high-quality CBD, follow these three simple steps.
1. Look for a full-plant extract
CBD is not the only healthful compound found in the hemp plant. Alongside CBD are hundreds of other unique plant nutrients that may support wellbeing, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and phenolic compounds. These compounds work together synergistically—a concept termed the entourage effect. To get the greatest benefit, look for a hemp product that contains more than CBD. By combining CBD with the other naturally-occurring hemp nutrients, you may find enhanced effects. These full-plant hemp extracts are found in two varieties. Full-spectrum hemp extracts contain THC, a psychoactive compound that can result in a failed drug test. Broad-spectrum hemp extracts, like those we use to create Yesterday’s products, have removed all of the THC while keeping the other plant compounds. Thanks to this, broad-spectrum products are non-psychoactive while still offering the benefits of a rich, full-plant extract. CBD isolates, on the other hand, contain only CBD. As such, they do not offer the natural synergy that Mother Nature provides in whole-plant extracts.
2. Ask for test results
Trustworthy CBD brands who want their customers to feel confident in their products take extra steps to ensure the quality, safety, and consistency of their CBD. These companies have every batch of their CBD line tested by a third-party laboratory and share these results with their audience. These test results are presented via a Certificate of Analysis, or COA. The independent laboratories test for many things. The first is the concentration of healthful compounds, like CBD, other cannabinoids, and terpenes. Many will also test for a variety of impurities to check for safety. These include tests for heavy metals, pesticides, and residual solvents from the extraction process.
Look for a COA that is batch-specific. When you receive a product from a company with batch testing, you will be able to look up the COA for that individual product. Because every batch can vary in things like the quantity of CBD or the existence of impurities, it is essential to have a COA for the specific product you are considering purchasing.
3. Focus on transparency
The quality of a product is dependent upon steps taken from seed to final goods. Where the hemp is grown and how the CBD is extracted from the hemp plant are two factors that contribute to CBD quality. There is no one growing location or extraction method that is superior to all others. However, a company that produces high-quality CBD will be proud of how their hemp is grown, where their hemp is grown, and the extraction method that they use. Be sure that the company provides detailed information on their hemp-growing process and extraction method.
Yesterday offers a full-line of hemp derived CBD oil, containing broad-spectrum hemp extract and zero THC. Feel free to check out our full selection of oils and softgels to help bring a sense of calm to your daily life. To learn more about the CBD basics, we recommend reading more from our CBD 101 articles, available here.
