Chocolate is one of the most beloved and revered foods in the world. Even its Latin name, Heobroma cacao, means “food of the gods.” There are so many things to love about this ancient food: it’s delicious taste, its creamy texture and how it just seems to make you feel happy. Well, it turns out […]
The new explosion of cannabis products has caused understandable confusion among those of us who grew up back in the day. What’s the difference between marijuana and cannabis? What’s all this talk about cannabinoids? And—more to the point—what’s all this fuss about CBD? What is it? What does it do? Is it legal? And what’s […]
There’s a growing interest in CBD products that are labeled THC-Free. What does that mean, anyway? And why is having a “THC-Free” CBD product desirable in the first place? The short answer: It isn’t. THC-Free isn’t really natural First of all, “zero” anything in a botanical extract is next to impossible to achieve, and would […]
Although there are several ways to extract CBD from the hemp plant, the two that are most common are ethanol extraction and CO2 extraction. Both have advantages and disadvantages, and both are capable of producing a first-rate product, but it’s important to know the difference. Ethanol Extraction When you want to extract CBD oil from […]
Unless you really want to dive into chemistry, there’s only one thing you need to know about decarboxylation: it’s a chemical reaction that takes place over time and is accelerated by heat. And it makes many elements in the cannabis plant—such as CBD—much more potent and bioavailable. (For those who care, the actual chemical reaction […]
When I was in school, there was a persistent rumor going around college campuses that smoking bananas got you pleasantly stoned. Now in those pre-internet days, I’m not sure exactly how rumors like this got around, but get around they did, and dozens—if not thousands—of college kids put banana skins in the microwave, crumbled up […]
QUESTION: My father is in his 60’s and has a number of conditions that might be helped by CBD, but he’s unwilling to try it because he thinks it’s the same as marijuana. How do we explain to our parents that hemp and marijuana are not the same thing? ANSWER: That’s a great question. I […]
There are a few things to know about certificates of analysis, also known as CoAs, and the first thing to know is this: not all companies do them. This is important. The very fact that a company goes to the expense and effort of getting a CoA performed on their CBD (and other) products—and makes […]
Before we get into whether or not cannabidiol (CBD) is an antioxidant, first let’s learn why it even matters. What is an antioxidant, any way? Picture, if you will, spring break in Daytona Beach—or at least, the way spring break is typically portrayed in movies. You’ve got a huge number of college sophomores, away from […]
CBD has a very interesting connection to the gut, and, in my opinion, should definitely be part of a supplement program that supports healthy gut function. But to really appreciate why, you have to know a couple of basics—like, for example, why is gut health so important to begin with? The gut—the whole intestinal tract—contains […]