CBD is one of those wellness products that seemed to explode overnight and these days, there’s no shortage of options.

There are CBD facials to reduce acne and redness, CBD lattes to start your morning off right, CBD lotion for a calming effect, and even CBD gummies that are crafted to ease pain and inflammation while also calming the mind.

While CBD has infiltrated almost every industry, there’s still a lot of confusion and misconceptions about what CBD is and isn’t. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about CBD, including the ins and outs of CBD gummies.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, best known as CBD, is a chemical compound that naturally exists in the marijuana plant. The substance is used in oils and edible products as a way to produce relaxation and calmness.

One of the biggest misconceptions about CBD is that it’s the same as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC. THC is another naturally occurring active ingredient in marijuana, but the biggest difference is that THC is psychoactive while CBD is not. This means that by consuming CBD, you won’t get high.

So, you won’t experience any feelings of euphoria. Instead, you’ll simply feel calmer and more at ease. However, it’s worth noting that everyone’s body responds differently to CBD. There are a small percentage of people that feel altered after taking CBD. Generally these are the same people who experience side effects when taking common over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or Advil.

If you’ve never taken CBD before, it’s impossible to know how your body will react. When taking CBD for the first time, be sure to do so under supervision.

What are the Benefits of CBD?

CBD oil and CBD-infused products aren’t popular just because this is the latest and greatest health fad. CBD has become so widely sought after because of the many health benefits that the compound has proven to have through various studies.

One of the biggest benefits that CBD has shown to offer is reduced stress, anxiety, and depression. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system in the brain, which controls mood and social interactions. By consuming CBD, people have reported feeling less stressed and worried.

Another benefit that CBD offers is improved sleep. Because CBD calms the mind, you’re less likely to experience racing thoughts or stressful thoughts that keep you up all night. There are even CBD gummies that contain melatonin to support quality sleep.

Other benefits that CBD offers include:

• Natural pain relief
• Improved heart health
• Faster recovery
• Treatment for epilepsy
• Quitting smoking
• Drug addiction treatment

While there haven’t been too many studies conducted on CBD, those that have been done have shown promising results. As we learn more about CBD and how it can benefit us on a daily basis, you can expect even more CBD-based products to be available.

Choosing High Quality CBD Gummies

It’s important to remember that the CBD industry isn’t regulated by the FDA. This means that there’s an increased risk of low quality products as well as mislabeling. As someone who is interested in CBD, chances are that you aren’t looking to get high, which means you need to be particularly careful in choosing quality products.

Read the Third Party Testing Report

Before buying CBD gummies or any other kind of CBD product, be sure to review the company’s third party testing report. Third party testing is used to check for a variety of things, including the presence of pesticides, terpene content, heavy metals, solvents, and microbial contamination.

Always choose CBD products from brands that offer a third party testing report. As a consumer, this is the best way to get neutral, unbiased information about a specific product. Companies that use third party testing are more likely to offer products that are safe for short and long-term use.

Check the THC Content

While you surely care about all of the other “stuff” that may be in a CBD product, one percentage that you don’t want to overlook is THC content. Third party testing also pinpoints any traces of THC that a product may have.

Though THC is legal in some states, in most states, it is illegal. According to the Farm Bill, in order for a CBD product to be legal, it must contain no more than 0.5% CBD. This amount of THC is generally considered to be safe, and is small enough to not produce any of the psychoactive effects.

Check the Ingredients List

Just as you check the ingredients that are in the food you consume, you’ll want to know what ingredients are used in the CBD gummies that you want to purchase. The shorter the ingredients list, the better. If there are tons of ingredient names that you can’t pronounce or have never heard of, you may want to conduct a little research before making a purchase.

Be sure to also check for any premium ingredients. Many CBD companies sell CBD gummies that are made for a specific purpose. For example, some contain melatonin in order to promote healthier sleep, while others contain ginger and turmeric for their anti-inflammatory properties.

Start Low & Slow

If you’re new to taking CBD, more isn’t always better. In fact, starting off by consuming high levels of CBD can do more harm than good, as you may react badly to the compound or you may experience unintended side effects.

As a rule of thumb, choose a CBD product that has a low concentration of CBD. For example, there are many companies that sell CBD gummies that contain just 5-10mg of CBD per gummy. By starting at a low dosage, you can monitor how your body reacts to CBD, which allows you to adjust the dosage as necessary.

Conclusion

CBD gummies and other CBD products are everywhere, but it pays to be an informed consumer. If you’re interested in trying CBD gummies, make sure that you do your due diligence to ensure that you’re purchasing a high quality product that won’t cause any unintended side effects.

Here’s to calmer days and more restful nights!