CBD Buyers Guide: 9 Tips for First Time Shoppers

Before rushing to purchase your first bottle of CBD, it helps to consider why you want to use CBD.

In A Cross-Sectional Study of Cannabidiol Users by Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, it states that their results are “Almost 62% of CBD users reported using CBD to treat a medical condition.”

You might want to use CBD for your own reasons, though. Understanding why you want to use CBD can help you use this CBD buyer’s guide more effectively. You can choose different types of CBD based on your specific goals.

CBD and other plant compounds called phytocannabinoids work on the body’s natural endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is actually named after cannabinoids like CBD and THC.

Your body’s ECS is responsible for regulating several bodily functions, including your:

• Pain
• Immunity
• Stress
• Skin and nerve function
• Appetite and digestion
• Sleep
• Metabolism
• Mood
• Muscle formation

These are only a few of the functions your ECS maintains, though. Your ECS is designed to keep your body in a state of equilibrium. CBD can act on your ECS to help your body maintain balance.

An article on Healthline by their expert nutrition team states there are potential health benefits of CBD.

These include:

• Reduces acne, psoriasis, and other skin conditions
• Reduces inflammation (aiding patients with arthritis, MS, and other conditions)
• Anti-tumor effects (preventing the spread of certain types of cancer)
• Diabetes prevention
• Substance abuse treatment (reducing addiction-seeking behaviors)
• Reduces anxiety and depression systems
• Offers neuroprotective benefits (for patients with Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s)
• Improves heart and circulatory health (reducing the risk of stroke, heart attack, etc.)
• Antipsychotic effects
• Chronic pain relief

Before using the rest of this first-time CBD buyer’s guide, it’s important to note that everyone reacts to CBD differently. Keep an open mind before trying CBD for the first time. And be sure to consult with your doctor before adding any holistic products to your wellness routine.

Once you understand why you want to start using CBD, you can choose the right types of CBD based on your goals. For example, are you looking for effects on skin or joints? You might want to purchase a topical CBD cream.

Nearly 50% of all CBD users choose oils, lotions, and gummies. However, you might consider tinctures, bath salts, or other CBD products.

As a first-time CBD user, consider trying CBD oil or tincture. CBD oil involves a carrier oil like hemp seed, olive, MCT, or coconut oil. You can take CBD either sublingually (under the tongue) or orally.

Taking CBD sublingually can bypass the first-pass metabolism process. Your liver won’t have to metabolize the CBD. Instead, it can enter your bloodstream from the capillaries under your tongue.

Other types of CBD include vape, edibles like gummies and capsules. Edibles and capsules offer more discretion. They’re also predosed. Take the time to explore different types of CBD before making your choice.

CBD is also available as an isolate, full-spectrum CBD, or broad-spectrum CBD.

Isolate only contains the phytocannabinoid CBD. Broad-spectrum CBD contains terpenes, healthy fatty acids, and other phytocannabinoids. However, broad-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate doesn’t contain THC.

THC is the phytocannabinoid that causes hallucinations and other psychoactive effects.

If you’re required to complete random drug testing, consider broad-spectrum CBD or an isolate, as it won’t contain any THC.

Otherwise, consider full-spectrum CBD. Full-spectrum products do contain THC and other compounds. This mix of phytocannabinoids could trigger the entourage effect.

The entourage effect could help you experience additional benefits of CBD.

Don’t rush to start buying CBD just yet! First, make sure you’re choosing a quality brand.

Learn more about the brands on your list by checking CBD forums. You can learn more from customers who were once in your shoes.

Try to find an established business, too. You’ll have peace of mind knowing they won’t disappear overnight.

As you use this CBD buyer’s guide, make sure to check the label of each product you’re interested in.

The FDA issued warnings to companies that market unapproved drugs that supposedly contain CBD. Many products don’t contain as much CBD as they claim to.

Check each label for the products:

• Concentration level
• Whether it’s full-spectrum, isolate, or broad-spectrum
• Expiration date
• Ingredients list

Make sure the product doesn’t contain heavy metals, pesticides, or mold. If you can’t pronounce an ingredient, it probably isn’t organic. Research the ingredients listed to make sure they’re safe.

If you want to learn how to pick the best CBD, look for third-party lab results. The company should list the lab results on their website.

These lab results can tell you if the product meets quality standards. Look for a Certificate of Analysis as well.

Confirm that the third-party lab is accredited, too.

Try to determine where the brand’s hemp was grown. Finding high-quality hemp plans can ensure high-quality products.

Try to determine how much CBD is in each dose as well. Understanding the concentration can help you determine the dosage you need.

When learning how to use CBD for the first time, start low and go slow.

Start with a slow concentration. Wait to see if you experience results. If you feel drowsy, reduce your dose.

If you don’t feel effects, increase your dose over time.

When making your final decision, take the time to compare shops. A more expensive product doesn’t always mean a high-quality product. Instead, use the rest of these tips to make an informed decision before you make a purchase.