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Frequently Asked Questions
Biome Research
No. Biome Research does not use magnesium stearate or any other fillers or binders.
Freeze drying the organisms allows for tablet or capsule form and extended shelf life. However, in freeze dried form these organisms are still vulnerable to heat above room temperature. Temperature protection during shipping preserves viability.
Probiotic bacteria are susceptible to extreme temperatures. To protect your investment, our probiotics leave our NSF Certified cGMP facility properly insulated on ice in a box with biodegradable insulation to maintain a consistent cool temperature throughout the journey.
According to the American Pregnancy Association website, National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institute of Health (NIH), probiotics are likely safe because current data indicates probiotic supplements are rarely absorbed. The likelihood of contracting bacteremia from taking Lactobacillus probiotics is less than 1 per million, and the likelihood of acquiring fungemia from Saccharomyces boulardii is approximately 1 per 5.6 million individuals taking the probiotic. In the limited research on probiotic use during pregnancy, there have been no associations with miscarriages or malformations of any kind. The NLM and NIH conclude there does not appear to be any risk of probiotic use for expecting or lactating mothers.
P-Pak is a probiotic product to be taken while on antibiotic therapy. It is a shorter duration 10-day course of Colon Care to support the colon during and after the use of broad spectrum antibiotic therapies.
Colon Support’s primary focus is the lower GI tract with some upper GI support to balance out the formula. We suggest it for anyone experiencing less than two bowel movements per day or more than three bowel movements per day. Two to three bowel movements a day is considered normal. Total Care is a broad spectrum GI support probiotic, complete with pre and postbiotics.
Probiotics are best taken in the evening on an empty stomach when digestive activity is at its lowest level. We recommend taking them at bedtime.
Biome Research probiotics are free from gluten, wheat, soy and dairy.
Research does not support a benefit to higher CFU numbers. Higher CFU counts may be a strategy to overcome inadequate delivery systems. According to George Paraskevakos, the executive director of the International Probiotics Association had this comment on measuring CFUs: “The truth is in the science. We have seen published articles and clinical trials with probiotics that vary in ranges of total CFUs. Bigger isn’t always better.”
All life requires three basic needs, and the MAKTrek3-D delivery system addresses each:
- Protects: A brown seaweed extract barrier protects probiotics from stomach acid.
- Hydrates: Balanced activation properly hydrates probiotics as they transition from a freeze-dried state.
- Feeds: Pre and post biotic nutrients nourish bacteria for maximum survivability.
Probiotics help protect from bacterial, viral and parasitic infection. They are functionally imperative to aiding intestinal motility and gastric secretion, immune functionality and intestinal permeability. Microbiota play a role in production of enzymes, B-vitamins and vitamin K2 as well as facilitate absorption of essential vitamins (B12), minerals such as iron and magnesium, glucose and fatty acids.
The history of probiotics goes back centuries, to when people drank fermented milk for their health. In 1899, a scientist named Henry Tessler from the Pauster Institute in Paris discovered bifidobacterium in the intestine of breast-fed infants. He reported that infants with bifidobacterium in their intestines had fewer diarrheal episodes. However, it was Russian scientist Eli Metchnikoff who first proposed the idea of using probiotics for health benefits in 1907.
- The standard American diet, which is high in refined carbohydrates will impact the numbers of healthy bacteria colonies.
- Toxicities and environmental impacts such as fluoride, chlorine, herbicides/pesticides/glyphosates.
- Treatments such as antibiotics, chemotherapies, radiation.
- Lifestyle choices like alcohol, smoking, inadequate sleep and stress can all negatively impact the human gut biome.
General FAQ
Completely filling a capsule puts the live organisms at risk during manufacturing from compression heat. Leaving a little bit of room in the capsule allows for expansion during the encapsulation process.
Since we ship all of our Biome Research products cold and protected, we will only ship products on Mondays through Wednesdays, allowing time for same week delivery. Shipping time will vary based on the “ship to” destination. Please allow 2-3 business days under normal circumstances.
HF Labs
CBD is similar to those supplements that are taken on a daily basis, like vitamin D or vitamin C. While you can take CBD for a finite period of time, we recommend making it a regular part of your routine to obtain full hemp extract benefits.
At HF Labs, we offer a number of different forms of CBD products so you can find the product that best fits your daily routine. If you’re a regular supplement user, capsules may fit in as a seamless addition to your existing supplement regimen. Our oils or emulsion can be added to your favorite morning or evening beverage!
We use a unique, single pass CO2 Extraction process that protects each and every ingredient and delivers a wide array of cannabinoids.
Supplemental hemp oil is a concentrated extract of the flowering parts of the plant, and is where the cannabinoids, like CBD, and essential aromatic oils, such as terpenes, are found.
Culinary hemp oil is prized for its nutty flavor, and comes from a different part of the plant – generally from the seeds, and is rich in omega 3’s. It is a great addition to salad dressings, and delicious drizzled on other dishes (it is best not to heat to high temperatures.)
One essential difference is that THC will get you high and CBD won’t. Hemp plants are cannabis plants that contain less than 0.3 percent THC, while marijuana plants are cannabis plants that contain higher concentrations of THC. THC is the main psychoactive compound in marijuana that creates an intoxicating effect. Both compounds interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system in very different ways.
Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in all plants that give distinctive aromas like citrus, berry, mint, and pine. Hemp terpenes are secreted from the same glands in the plant that produce cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. Research has shown that hemp terpenes positively interact with our endocannabinoid system.
CBD oil is a vague term for a category of products made from cannabis plant extraction that yields phyto-cannabinoids among other compounds. CBD is a one of the phyto-cannabinoids naturally found in the cannabis plant.
It’s simple: both hemp and marijuana are cannabis plants. To be called hemp, the plant cannot contain more than 1.0 % (by dry weight) of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive substance found in marijuana. By comparison, if the plant contains more than 1.0% THC, it is called marijuana, which typically contains 5 to 20 % THC. You can't get high on hemp.
Because of its frequent association with marijuana, CBD has experienced a murky legal history in the United States. In 2018, the Farm Bill was signed into law, effectively legalizing hemp and its derivatives at the federal level by removing it from the list of controlled substances and classifying it as an agricultural commodity. As a result, CBD from hemp is not a controlled substance at the federal level, but individual state regulation of hemp and CBD varies. In May of 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a legal memo stating its opinion that the farm bill allows hemp to be transported across state lines so long as it complies with a state-approved hemp program.
Phyto-Cannabinoids (including THC and CBD) are naturally occurring compounds found in the Cannabis sativa plant that provide an array of health and wellness benefits. Of over 480 different compounds present in the Cannabis plant, at present, almost 150 phytocannabinoids have been detected in the cannabis plant, although few have been isolated and studied.
While more research needs to be done on this relatively new supplement, cannabidiol (CBD) is generally considered safe. CBD is a popular supplement used to support overall health and wellness. Because it contains less than 0.3% THC, CBD is an appealing option for those seeking relief for occasional stress and support for healthy sleep.
As with most supplements, combining with alcohol may produce unwanted reactions. Speak to your doctor regarding your current vitamin/medication regimen and lifestyle before using CBD.
Everyone is different, but we’ve found that in general results can be seen anywhere from a few hours to 6 weeks. Consistency is key to achieving your desired results.
Broad-spectrum extract should contain all or nearly all the compounds present in the cannabis plant. This includes CBD in addition to other cannabinoids (such as CBN, CBC, and CBG), hemp terpenes, flavonoids, and much more. Note that not all broad-spectrum products are the same! Many broad-spectrum products contain only small percentages of the other plant constituents found in the hemp plant. CBD isolate contains only CBD. Broad-spectrum products have the advantage of containing many cannabinoids and hemp terpenes, creating the potential for a wide health reach.
In short, no. You can’t overdose on CBD. CBD is not addictive, which adds to the unlikelihood of overdose. Some have reported feeling tired from higher milligram servings or multiple servings.
Always speak to your doctor before adding a new supplement such as CBD to your daily regimen, particularly if you take medications. CBD could interfere with these and cause unwanted effects.
Many people who take CBD report high quality rest and healthy sleeping habits. Our HF Labs GABAPlex product contains GABA, an amino acid and inhibitory neurotransmitter that acts like a “brake” on everyday stress to encourage mental and physical relaxation.
Every individual’s physiological makeup is different—for some, a very small amount of CBD will be effective. For others, a full serving may be more beneficial. To start, stick to our recommended usage (located on every HF labs product) and pay close attention to how your body feels.
Almost none! While CBD may contain miniscule trace elements of THC, all HF labs products are 3rd-party tested to ensure they are no more than 0.3% THC. This is the federal maximum permitted for hemp-derived CBD and does not produce an intoxicating effect.
CBD products are considered safe to take, however the research is relatively new. Continued research on hemp and CBD will uncover more information about how the human body interacts with cannabinoids. As with any supplement, we recommend speaking to your licensed practitioner before ingesting CBD products.
HF Labs Adapta Plex features ashwagandha extract (Sensoril®)—a unique herbal extract referred to as an adaptogen that supports the body’s ability to accommodate everyday physical and emotional stresses. For those individuals that are out of balance because of stress, adding Sensoril® Ashwagandha in combination with our whole food hemp complex may help you respond to stress in a healthier way.
While studies show that CBD can help individuals relax and therefore support healthy sleep, CBD oil made from hemp does not have intoxicating properties—meaning that it should not make you feel sedated. However, HF Labs GABAPlex is formulated to encourage relaxation. In addition to our organic whole food hemp complex, HF Labs GABAPlex includes GABA—the amino acid gamma-aminobutyric that encourages mental and physical relaxation without inducing drowsiness. HF Labs formulates GABAPlex according to the most recent research for sleep and stress support.
Hemp and marijuana both come from the same botanical family called “cannabis.” However, the legal community makes a distinction between marijuana and hemp that revolves around the THC content (more specially, the “delta-9-THC). For something to be considered hemp, it must contain no more than 0.3% THC. The bottom line is this: marijuana contains higher levels of THC, which is intoxicating. Hemp, on the other hand, is a plant that doesn’t have intoxicating THC concentrations beyond 0.3%.
Our mission is to support the endocannabinoid system in a more comprehensive way than simply providing a single cannabinoid such as CBD. We feel that the synergistic benefits between curated botanical compounds and hemp is vastly superior to the benefit of one isolated molecule alone.
First, it’s our raw material: We developed a Whole Food Hemp Complex from European heirloom cultivars boasting a robust profile of never-isolated cannabinoids with higher ratios of minor cannabinoids and polyphenols compared to common commodity extracts. Our Whole Food Hemp Complex also features terpenes, fatty acids, and even cannaflavins. We believe this is among the least refined hemp extracts ever offered. In addition to this unique raw material we create a true fusion of hemp and other powerful botanicals such as ashwagandha, turmeric, and black cumin seed to our formulations in order to provide an array of health and wellness benefits above and beyond hemp oil extract benefits alone!
“More is better” isn’t always a wise idea. There’s still so much we don’t understand about CBD and different bodies respond to cannabinoids in different ways. Start with the recommended dosage and see how you feel! The goal should be to find what works for you personally.
It can be tough to figure out how much CBD you should take and there are no official recommended serving sizes. Different people respond to different amounts of CBD depending on individual body weight, body chemistry, and the concentration of CBD in each tablet, capsule, drop, or gummy. There’s still a lot about CBD that we don’t know! As the cannabis industry grows, researchers will likely conduct additional studies. It is crucial that more research is done so that we can more accurately define not only what CBD does, but also the ideal potency and the amount we should ingest in order to properly support the endocannabinoid system.
Often referred to as the ECS, the endocannabinoid system is a unique, self-regulating system located throughout the human body whose primary goal is to maintain a sense of homeostasis (or balance) within the body. This complex cell-signaling system was identified in the early 1990s by researchers exploring THC, the intoxicating compound found in cannabis. Experts are still trying to fully understand the ECS, but we know it plays a role in supporting a range of healthy functions and processes, including:
- Sleep
- Mood
- Appetite
- Memory
- Reproduction
The entourage effect is the interactive synergy between all of the cannabis compounds that is believed to support the health and wellness benefits of CBD. This concept maintains that CBD is far from the only compound that’s important within hemp products. Many different constituents and more than a hundred identified cannabinoids (including CBD) plus multiple terpenes, beta caryophyllene, flavonoids and more all work together for beneficial results.
HF Labs provides broad-spectrum hemp extract products. Broad spectrum refers to the extraction of ALL compounds and constituents within the hemp plant; not just its CBD. Broad-spectrum extract includes important hemp terpenes and other phytocannabinoids that occur naturally within the hemp plant (in addition to various vitamins and minerals). The resulting synergy between these compounds is called the entourage effect, which many feel is vastly superior to the benefit from one isolated molecule alone. (see the following FAQ to learn about the entourage effect).
There are many compounds found in hemp extract including cannabinoids, terpenes, fatty acids, polyphenols, and pigments like chlorophyll. CBD stands for cannabidiol, a molecule with a whole family of related compounds called “cannabinoids” found in the hemp plant. CBD was among the first cannabinoids to be studied (out of over 100 in the plant). Important to note that CBD is not intoxicating in nature. This naturally occurring substance is used in products like oils and edibles to support a feeling of relaxation and calm. In 2002, cannabidiol was patented by the US Department of Health for its antioxidant and neuroprotectant properties. It shows great promise for a variety of health benefits.
All HF Labs products are 3rd-party tested to ensure that THC levels are below 0.3% THC—so it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll fail a THC test. However, it is a risk. Be open with your employer (or whoever you feel should be involved in the conversation) and explain that you’re considering taking hemp oil or CBD oil. The consumption of certain hemp products, such as this one, may lead to a positive drug test for tetrahydrocannabidiol (THC), as THC is inherently present in trace amounts in hemp plants. We test our products to for THC levels; however, sensitivities of drug testing methodologies may vary.
Nope! The cannabis plant is made up of two major players: CBD and THC. It is Important to note that CBD is one of the non-intoxicating cannabinoids of the plant, so you shouldn’t feel high. All HF Labs products are 3rd-party tested to ensure they are below 0.3% THC—the maximum allowed under federal law for hemp products. With such low levels of THC, you should not experience any “high.”