There are many reasons you might be interested in trying CBD, whether it’s to unwind from stress or manage symptoms of other conditions. Even if you’re already familiar with CBD, it doesn’t hurt to delve deeper, learn about other options, and broaden your horizons.
As CBD enters the mainstream, manufacturers are expanding their catalog to include a wider variety of CBD products. As a consumer, this means that there’s plenty to choose from, but it’s important to know the industry lingo before entering the market. This will help you make better, more informed decisions about what you buy, and who you buy from.
Before adding anything to your cart, there’s a few things you should know about CBD, where it comes from, and what sets it apart from marijuana. This guide will also give you some more specific insight into how CBD works within the body, what kind of products you can buy, and how to tailor your CBD catalog to your preferences.
An Introduction to CBD
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a compound derived from the Cannabis sativa plant. By law CBD in the United States is derived from industrial hemp, or C. sativa plants containing less than 0.3% THC. Plants with higher concentrations of THC are considered marijuana, and managed according to state law.
THC and CBD are both cannabinoids, but they are closer to cousins than sisters. THC, and by extension marijuana, has a psychoactive effect. Studies into the risks and benefits of THC are ongoing, but it is subject to strict regulations in some states.
By comparison, CBD, along with many other cannabinoids found in industrial hemp, are non-psychoactive. For many years, CBD and THC were unfairly lumped together, but formal research has confirmed that CBD should be treated as a separate compound with its own unique benefits.
With these scientific developments, there was a push to lift restrictions around CBD and other cannabinoids. As of now, industrial hemp is legal in all 50 states, and CBD products are gaining traction as natural supplements.
Science of CBD
Believe it or not, the human body is already equipped to produce and process cannabinoids. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) was discovered in the 1990s, and scientists are still trying to understand the complex role it plays in human health.
Our body’s ECS actively produced natural endocannabinoids to regulate bodily functions like sleep, appetite, mood, and fertility. This is why humans are able to benefit from cannabinoids produced by plants, called phytocannabinoids.
Some research has suggested that certain symptoms and conditions are caused by an endocannabinoid deficiency, and that supplementing with phytocannabinoids in CBD products can improve overall wellness.
Benefits of CBD
Perhaps the easiest way to describe the benefits of CBD would be to emphasize the importance of balance. If just one facet of your health is compromised, it can lead to cascading symptoms in other areas.
For example, stress and anxiety can lead to poor sleep, which can cause your mood and energy levels to plummet. This feeds into a vicious cycle that can keep you feeling tired, overwhelmed, and unmotivated.
The endocannabinoid system’s primary purpose is to balance the body: managing stress and reducing feelings of anxiety and discomfort. CBD products can help supplement those cannabinoid levels, providing benefits in numerous areas of your health.
Stress
Stress is one of the most common health concerns today. As we learn more about the consequences of chronic stress, it’s becoming clear that many adults aren’t just stressed, they’re sick with it. However, despite the many detrimental effects, stress continues to be downplayed and hand-waved away.
Doctors and media outlets emphasize the importance of self-care and relaxation, but it can be hard to unwind when your work, studies, or concerns keep crossing your mind. Even ‘relaxing’ pastimes like yoga and meditation can be difficult to benefit from when you’re persistently stressed.
If you find it difficult to settle down at the end of the day, CBD might be able to provide relief from recurring thoughts and worries. This can give you an opening to engage with loved ones, hobbies, and other forms of stress relief.
CBD isn’t the only cannabinoid from hemp with these benefits. For example, cannabinol (CBN) has been shown to modulate how the immune system responds to stressors, helping to relax the body and reduce physical responses.
Discomfort
Before CBD was accepted as a supplement, some of its most vocal advocates were those suffering from cancer, fibromyalgia, inflammation, and other chronic health conditions. The symptoms of these conditions can be severe, and the treatments and medications can only cause further discomfort and pain.
Living with this level of malaise can disrupt every aspect of your life, and traditional pain relievers can’t cover it all. While CBD products cannot replace proper pain management, they can serve as a natural supplement to an existing program.
CBD’s relaxing properties can help reduce feelings of discomfort, taking the edge off and providing enough relief to carry on with your day. Other cannabinoids like cannabigerol (CBN) can enhance the experience, alleviating inflammation and boosting energy levels.
Anxiety
Like stress, anxiety can have a subtle, insidious effect on your health. It can creep up on you, making everyday tasks seem taxing, difficult, and draining. Depending on the source of your anxiety, you might find it hard to simply avoid triggers and manage symptoms as they come along.
If you want to reduce anxiety without committing to a prescription, natural supplements like CBD can provide a viable alternative. CBD has been highlighted for its anti-anxiety properties, and other cannabinoids like CBN and CBG can encourage further feelings of relaxation and motivation.
There are many ways to take CBD for anxiety; a morning dose is enough for some people, while others take it as-needed throughout the day. When it gets close to bedtime, CBD products designed for sleep can help you drift off and forget your worries.
Sleep Disturbances
With a culture that puts hard work and overtime at the forefront of every discussion about success, we’ve begun to underestimate how debilitating lack of sleep can be. After 17 hours without proper sleep, the brain becomes notably less alert, comparable to the effects of alcohol intoxication.
However, even if you’re making time to sleep, you might not be able to get any actual rest. Insomnia and restless dreams can lead to a state of chronic fatigue, affecting your performance and health in every way. You might make thoughtless mistakes at work, struggle to cope with your moods, and even put others at risk while driving or caring for children.
Stress and anxiety play a large part in sleep disturbances as well. It’s not uncommon for people to carry stress into their sleep, leading to restless dreams and nightmares. When the quality of your sleep is poor, it doesn’t matter whether you’re getting 4 or 10 hours, your body and brain aren’t refreshed when you wake up.
CBD has been proven to relax the body, which is helpful in preparing it for a good night’s sleep. Other cannabinoids, such as cannabichromene (CBC), have been known to rejuvenate and protect the brain while you sleep, so you wake up feeling more well-rested.
Appetite
There are many reasons you might have trouble working up an appetite. As mentioned above, stress and anxiety have a way of disrupting bodily functions, including sleep and hunger. However, even if you don’t feel hungry, your body will still suffer from the lack of nutrients. This can lead to irritability, lightheadedness, fatigue, and more.
Unlike THC, which interacts directly with the central nervous system to induce psychoactive symptoms like paranoia and “the munchies”, CBD is processed by the ECS and peripheral nerves. This allows it to subtly balance the metabolism and encourage better appetite. Over time, integrating CBD into a healthy lifestyle routine, may help you build healthier eating habits, keeping you in shape.
Mood
There is a bit of a stigma surrounding mood swings, attributing them to hormones or mental instability when really, any of the previous problems can contribute to sudden changes in mood. Hunger and lack of sleep often cause people to become irritable, while stress and anxiety can leave them prickly and defensive.
When taken as a regular supplement, CBD can help regulate all of these functions, which may help you feel more level-headed and in-control of yourself. While CBD likely won’t suppress mood swings entirely, people find that it help make mood swings less extreme and easier to manage. As you learn to recognize your moods and what’s causing them, you can find better ways to cope.
Surveying the Spectrum
If you’ve never shopped for CBD products before, some of the lingo might seem unfamiliar to you. Before buying anything, make sure to verify the manufacturer and ingredients. This information should be readily available online and on the packaging.
First, you’ll want to make sure that the CBD is sourced from industrial hemp, or Cannabis sativa plants containing less than 0.3% THC. This means that the product is legal and safe to use. From there, you can decide where on the spectrum you want to land.
There is a full spectrum of compounds in cannabis, including cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes. You can purchase CBD isolate, which contains nothing besides CBD, but some people find themselves disappointed by this alone.
This is because CBD isolate fails to provide the entourage effect. When taken by itself, CBD can only do so much. The additional compounds in cannabis build off one another, boosting their effects. This helps the CBD last longer, work better, and feel more satisfying.
Broad-spectrum CBD includes select cannabinoids and other compounds, while full-spectrum CBD makes use of the entire plant, which includes a trace amount of THC, but not enough be intoxicating or breach the 0.3% threshold. Instead, the hint of THC rounds out the overall experience, helping to get the most out of the CBD oil and gummies.
The Yummy CBD Catalog
All Yummy CBD products are full-spectrum, containing a complete array of cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes. The CBD is sourced from organic, industrial hemp; and each batch is tested by a third party lab to ensure potency and quality.
Yummy CBD has launched with four flagship products, though our CBD catalog is constantly expanding. In the meantime, you can enjoy the benefits of our oils and gummies, which come in both regular and sleep formulas.
Taking CBD Oils
If you’re looking for fast-acting results, the sublingual drops might be a good place to start. Some people avoid CBD oils because they don’t like the taste or texture of the oil, but Yummy CBD has designed a smooth, sweet tincture that’s easy to hold in your mouth.
To take a dose, use the measured dropper to pull the oil from the bottle. Empty the dropper under your tongue, and hold the oil there for a minute or two. The capillaries under your tongue will quickly absorb the CBD into your bloodstream, where it can quickly get to work.
Taking CBD Gummies
Gummies are edibles, which means they have to be partially digested to begin working. Yummy CBD has designed our gummies with this in mind, making sure to preserve their potency. Each gummy is small, sweet, and discreet, making them perfect for those who want to use CBD on-the-go or without judgment.
Just make very sure to store your gummies somewhere cool and dry and away from pets, children, or roommates who might accidentally ingest them not realizing what they actually are.
Your Yummy Options
Yummy CBD currently has two oil tinctures available:
- Orange Zest Organic CBD Oil, a daytime solution that contains 33mg of CBD per mL, with a total of 1000mg CBD per 30mL bottle.
- Mellow Mint Sleep CBD Oil, a nighttime solution that combines 33mg of CBD with 1mg of melatonin, a natural sleep aid. Each bottle contains 30mL, with about 1000mg CBD in total.
Our tinctures are made using MCT coconut oil, a light carrier oil easily sweetened using natural flavors like orange or mint. Each bottle contains about thirty 1mL servings, though the measured dropper makes it easy to adjust your dose as needed.
If oils aren’t to your taste, gummies might suit you better. Yummy CBD gummies also come in day and night versions, so you can enjoy the same benefits.
- Fruity Delight Original Gummies are best taken during the day, and contain 24mg CBD per gummy.
- Fruitful Dreams Sleep Gummies also contain 24mg CBD per gummy, with an added 1mg melatonin to encourage better sleep.
There are 30 gummies in each pouch, totalling 720mg CBD total. Like our CBD oils, Yummy CBD gummies are made using MCT coconut oil and natural sweeteners. Each pouch contains four flavors: grape, pineapple, green apple, and watermelon.
Interested in trying full-spectrum CBD? Take a look at our Buyer’s Guide for more information, or visit the SHOP page to begin exploring your options.