The most common injuries for disc golfers? Elbow pain, muscle strain, and tendonitis.

The good news is that you don’t have to let elbow pain or an elbow injury prevent you from playing the sports you love. Here we’ll share some simple tips to heal your elbow injuries faster so you can get back on the field.

Disc Golf and Elbow Injuries

With so much importance on the throwing technique in disc golf, it’s no surprise that elbow injuries and strains are one of the most common injuries.

So, what’s the cause of elbow injuries? In most cases, an angry, inflamed tendon is at the root of the problem.

Tendonitis develops with excess wear and tear on the tendon that hinges and moves the elbow back and forth. The tendons become weakened, strained, and less elastic than usual. Elbow tendonitis can cause soreness, pain, and irritation anywhere near the elbow joint. Pain can range from mild to excruciating when you try to throw the disc.

Elbow pain tends to be most common in disc golfers who throw side-arm or forehand, but it’s possible in any athlete who overuses, overextends, or overexerts their throwing arm.

3 Ways to Stop Elbow Pain and Heal Injuries Naturally

1. Sports Massage

   Massage is a great way to encourage faster healing for the entire arm. Sports massage therapists can pinpoint adhesions, weak spots, or trigger points near the elbow that could be contributing to your pain. Massage also helps to clear away inflammation and flush the injured area with healthy blood circulation for faster healing.

1. Stretching Exercises
   

   Tendons that are tight and brittle are likely to get injured. Restore the natural elasticity to your elbow tendons, improve your mobility, and prevent future injuries with a daily stretch. Try elbow exercises that stretch both the elbow and the wrists and shoulders. You should feel some tension during these exercises, but stop before you feel pain.

2. CBD Gel

   For disc golfers who want to stop pain and get back to playing fast, CBD gel can help. Unstoppable Sports Recovery Gel was designed to help you clear the inflammation and pain from injuries like elbow tendonitis. Apply your CBD gel to the elbow and other areas that contribute to elbow pain (like the shoulder, biceps, and wrist). Use the gel consistently as your injury heals, then continue to use it before you step out to play disc golf to prevent future elbow injuries.
   

Don’t Let Elbow Pain Stop You

Pain may be part of an active life, but it doesn’t have to keep you from excelling at the sports you love.

If you’re a competitive disc golfer who wants to rise above the competition, you’ll need a way to keep your throwing elbow in tip-top shape. Unstoppable Sports Recovery Gel helps you heal injuries fast, relieve pain, and protect your elbow from future injury. 

Don’t let pain stop you. Get Unstoppable today!

If you’re a serious disc golf or ultimate frisbee athlete, you’re always on the lookout for ways to maximize your skills and bring your best to the field.

Aside from focused training, a dedicated recovery program is essential for any disc golf athlete who wants to improve their performance while preventing injuries that keep you out of the game.

Unstoppable can help you do just that. Our Sports Recovery Gel uses high-performance CBD to help you train and compete at your best. Read on to find out how adding CBD to your recovery routine can make you a healthier, better disc golfer.

How to Improve Your Disc Golf Performance with CBD

• Manage and Heal Injuries Faster

  A recent survey of disc golfers found that eight in ten athletes had an injury from playing disc golf. This is a surprising majority – and a higher rate of injury than many other sports.
  sing topical CBD regularly can help you manage and heal your injuries faster, so you can hit the field with peak performance. In most cases, CBD reduces the inflammation at the site of slow-to-heal injuries, which allows the tissue to heal fully.
  
  

• Eliminate Inflammation

  Inflammation is a significant cause of pain, stiffness, and prolonged injuries. Aside from reducing your physical abilities, inflammation also leads to an increased risk of injury and other health issues.

  CBD has been proven to reduce inflammation naturally. Apply Unstoppable’s Sports Recovery gel to sore muscles and joints. Or, use it preventatively on areas that easily become inflamed during disc golf (like the shoulder, elbow, and wrist).
  

• Improve Shoulder and Elbow Mobility
  

  Strong, flexible, and controlled arm movements are essential in disc golf. Unfortunately, stiffness and reduced mobility are common issues disc golfers face.

  Daily shoulder and elbow massage with a CBD gel enhances the health of the joints and increases their range of motion. Use CBD gel before and after disc golf practice or tournaments to maintain healthy mobility.
  

• Reduce Limiting Pain
  

  No athlete wants to be limited by their pain. But for disc golfers, painful joints or muscles don’t just steal the fun out of your sport – they could reduce your accuracy and speed of your throwing arm. If you suffer from tightness or soreness after playing disc golf, recover fast with a CBD Sports Recovery Gel.
  

• Stay Sharp
  

  Mental processing and clarity is a crucial skill for any disc golfer. But under a cloud of stress and performance anxiety, clarity flies out the window. Both oral CBD oils and topical CBD gels can help you become more resilient to stress, focus your mind, and play more efficiently and strategically.

Excel in Disc Golf with CBD Power

If you want to be the best disc golf athlete possible, you’ll need to give your body a little extra TLC. By reducing injury time, eliminating pain, and focusing your mind and body with CBD, you’ll be able to play and train at your best each day.

We created Unstoppable’s Sports Recovery Gel to give athletes like you the natural edge you need to play your best and stay healthy.

Boost your disc golf performance naturally with Unstoppable. Get yours today!

CBD is becoming one of the most sought-after natural remedies. From easing anxiety to reducing muscle tension, people worldwide are turning to the power of CBD to live a healthier life.

But what about more chronic pain conditions? Can CBD’s effects help soothe the joint pain and inflammation of arthritis?

Both science and reviews from countless active people say yes! CBD has been used successfully to manage pain from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Let’s learn more about how CBD works to reduce arthritis pain and how you can use CBD to keep your joints healthy and active.

Arthritis and Athletes

Unfortunately, arthritis is one of the most common reasons people miss out on doing the activities and sports they love.

Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory condition that affects the bones and joints. It is caused by excessive wear and tear, overload, repetitive movements, and injuries that cause inflammation and breakdown of the joint tissues. It leads to pain, stiffness, loss of mobility, and other issues that affect your quality of life.

As an athlete, you may be more prone to developing osteoarthritis, depending on the nature of your sport. Thankfully, CBD can help you prevent or slow the progression of arthritis.

Does CBD Work for Arthritis?

A growing number of people are trying CBD to manage their pain naturally and reporting excellent results like less pain, improved mobility, and reduced anxiety. In fact, in a recent survey, over half of CBD users report using CBD to manage pain related to arthritis.

Scientific studies are getting closer to understanding exactly how and why topical CBD works for pain and arthritis. Studies show that CBD gel can significantly reduce joint swelling, pain, and inflammation in the skin, muscles, and joints. This offers good evidence that CBD has reliable pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. As such, topical CBD is considered a helpful natural remedy for arthritis pain and mobility issues.

How to Use CBD to Relieve Arthritis Pain

While some people find relief with oral CBD products (like oils or gummies), a topical CBD product like a sports gel is the most direct way to relieve arthritis pain. Apply your Unstoppable Sports Recovery Gel over the areas where you feel joint pain and let it sit for a few minutes to absorb fully. You can use CBD gel preventatively, too. Apply the gel before you head out for a workout, practice, or training to stop pain before it starts.

Don’t Let Arthritis Pain Stop You

As an active athlete, you’re not ready to “sit out” because of arthritis pain. And thankfully, you don’t have to! Our Unstoppable CBD Sports Recovery Gel helps you defeat arthritis pain and stay unstoppable.

Shop now for the best CBD gel for arthritis. 

From oral preparations to topical CBD creams and sports gels, cannabis extract is growing as a well-researched natural pain-relief remedy.

With a CBD gel like Unstoppable’s Sports Recovery Gel, you can make major gains in your athletic goals, boost your performance, and stay on-target in your training by staying pain-free.

Using CBD is easy, but the best results come with a little bit of strategy. Let’s find out how you can make the most of your CBD gel.

• Apply CBD gel to clean, oil-free skin. 

CBD gel contains a high-quality CBD extract that is absorbed into your skin when you apply the gel. Dirt and skin oils can block the skin pores and prevent full absorption of the gel, so make sure your skin is clean before applying to get the maximum benefit.

• Apply CBD gel directly over the area of pain or weakness.

While this has an all-around positive effect on the body, the areas where you applied the gel are directly targeted and reap the most benefits. So, to make the best use of your CBD gel, be sure to apply the gel directly over the area of pain.

• Rub CBD gel in thoroughly and let it sit.

We want our CBD gel to have the highest level of impact possible, so it’s important to rub it in thoroughly and let it sit for a few minutes after applying. If you don’t rub it in entirely, or you head off to workout too quickly, the gel (and all that powerful CBD pain-relief) may end up on your clothes or in your sweat instead of on your muscles and joints.

• Find patience, and reapply CBD gel as needed.

CBD is a natural pain-reliever, which means it works more holistically and gently than pharmaceutical drugs. In the end, this gives you an advantage – you’re not just blocking the pain, you’re actually healing the root issues that cause the pain. But, in the short-term, it’s easy to get discouraged if it takes a little time to feel relief.

The key here is patience, consistency, and reapplication. For some people, it takes a few uses before they feel the effects of CBD. And, since it’s a natural product, you may need to reapply a few times throughout the day to maintain your effects.

Experience the Relief of CBD Gel for Yourself.

If you’ve been struggling with joint pain, muscle aches, post-workout soreness, weakness, or inflammation, CBD gel can help. Unstoppable’s Sports Recovery Gel is formulated for competitive athletes like you, to help you stay in the game, but lose the pain.

Level-up your recovery toolbox today with Unstoppable Sports Recovery Gel and these tips for maximum natural pain-relief.

Horseback riding is where you feel most powerful. It’s how you keep striving to be the best. It’s how you blow off steam. It’s how you connect to yourself and nature. It’s your escape.

But what happens when riding makes your back light up in excruciating pain? Or when a ride leaves your back so stiff that you can’t bear to get back on a horse for days?

Lower back pain is one of the most common issues equestrians face and keeps countless riders from living their dream to ride every day. But low back pain doesn’t have to stop you.

With the right strategy, issues like low back pain in equestrians can be prevented. Let’s learn a few tips to keep your back feeling strong and flexible both on and off the horse.

Why Do Equestrians Get Low Back Pain?

Horseback riding is no walk in the park. Whether you enjoy a leisurely countryside ride, are practicing jumping, or are in the throes of a race, your body is under pressure. Even activities off the saddle, like cleaning the stalls or grooming, can put you at risk of low back injury.

Herniated discs and SI joint dysfunction are some of the most common back injuries that riders face, due to the intense strain and jostling motions to the spinal column. Even without an impact or injury, pressure on the joints and vertebrae of the low back cause increased inflammation and therefore pain, soreness, and loss of mobility.

Thankfully, we can work to prevent these issues. Here’s how.

How to Prevent Low Back Pain During and After Your Rides

• Strengthen your core.

  To strengthen your back, you should focus on building back muscles, right? Actually, the best way to prevent low back pain is to strengthen your core with targeted core exercises or pilates. The core muscles help to stabilize and balance the back and can prevent pain and injuries.

• Wear an SI joint belt.

  An SI joint belt or brace can be used to compress your joints which helps to reduce any excess movement during your ride and keep your back strong and resilient.
  
  

• Prevent inflammation and pain with CBD.

  Topical CBD is a game-changer for competitive equestrians and casual riders, alike. Usually, CBD products are used after an injury has occurred, or to relieve those frustrating side effects of riding like a stiff lower back, aching muscles, or reduced range of movement. Don’t wait for back pain to stop you – be unstoppable from the start.

  Use Unstoppable Sports Recovery Gel before your ride to keep pain and inflammation at bay. After your ride, reapply and do a few simple post-ride stretches.

Prevent Pain, Be Unstoppable

You’re a serious rider with a serious passion. Don’t let low back pain stop you from riding your best or being your best.

Get your Unstoppable Sports Recovery Gel today to help you ride pain-free tomorrow.

Have you noticed that your aches and pains seem worse in the winter months? If so, it’s not all in your head. Read on to learn some simple daily habits that will fight joint pain all winter long!

Why is My Joint Pain Worse in Winter?

Winter is a tough season for many athletes and active individuals, and it’s common to experience new or worsening pain in winter.

Colder temperatures can increase certain kinds of pain (especially joint pain) and the cold, dry, or wet weather can be harsh on your lungs. If you find yourself less active in the winter, this could also increase pain as blood circulation reduces. Weight gain and heavier diets in winter are also known culprits in aggravated joint pain, causing increased pressure and added inflammation. 

These conditions can lead to increased pain in winter and difficulty getting “back in the saddle” come spring. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Simple daily pain-relief rituals can keep your joints strong and flexible through every season.

Beat Winter Joint Pain with these Daily Rituals

If your joints ache worse in winter, it’s a good sign that they need some extra warming care. The good news is that keeping your joints healthy through winter is not difficult, it just requires some dedication to self-care. Like all good things, these rituals work best with consistency. For the best pain-relief results, practice these activities daily or several times per week. 

1. Move in the morning

   After a night of rest, it’s natural for our bones, joints, and fascia to feel achy or stagnant. But the trouble starts when we let them stay that way. Adhesions and postural issues can quickly develop if we fail to give our bodies a good stretch each day. To stay loose, limber, and pain-free, warm up each morning with a simple morning stretch routine.

2. Loosen up with Epsom salt baths
   

   Epsom salt baths are a great way to improve blood circulation through the joints, warm muscle tissue, and ease soreness and pain. Consider adding pain-relieving essential oils to your salts (like lavender or frankincense) for added relaxation.

3. Use light therapy

   If you think “happy lights” are just to boost your mood in winter, think again. Daylight lamps, wake-up lights, and other light therapy devices can even help with pain. Why? In winter, the change in light, temperature, and daily lifestyle can be a difficult adjustment for your body. One of the most common things to suffer is your sleep routine, and poor sleep is a major trigger for pain. To conquer pain by perfecting your sleep, try using light therapy in the mornings, blocking blue light at night, and spending time in the winter sun whenever possible.

4. Use a CBD gel daily

   CBD offers natural and effective topical pain relief for muscle soreness and aching joints. CBD helps to reduce inflammation, encourage healthy blood flow through the joints, and relax the tissues surrounding the joints. In winter, a warming massage with Unstoppable CBD gel on your most tender joints can go a long way to fight or prevent pain.

Winter Joint Pain Relief with Unstoppable CBD

A major part of pain management is actually prevention. With a few simple routines and habits, you can reduce or even eliminate winter pain conditions and continue enjoying your active life.

At Unstoppable, we created our CBD Sports Recovery Gel to help anyone who wants to live a more active life stay pain-free, no matter the season. Buy Unstoppable today to conquer winter joint pain!

After a great workout, it’s time to refuel. But not all post-workout snacks are created equal…

What you choose to eat can have a big impact on how much your body benefits from all that hard work you’ve done. While chowing down on junk food can limit your progress and increase inflammation, eating the right snacks after your training can ensure that your body has all support it needs to recover, repair, and thrive. 

To keep pain and inflammation low after your workout, focus on anti-inflammatory foods. Here are five of the best anti-inflammatory post-workout snacks!

5 Anti-Inflammatory Post-Workout Snacks

1. Berry Smoothies
   

   Why eat berries? Berries (like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries) are some of the best anti-inflammatory foods due to their high antioxidant contents. These antioxidants reduce cellular damage and reduce your risk of chronic disease. For athletes specifically, berries can help improve the body’s ability to repair and recover from injuries.

   Try it: Berries are excellent in a post-workout smoothie. You can combine them with your other favorite post-workout ingredients (like bananas, protein powder, or leafy greens) to make a super-powered snack.

2. Salmon Meatballs
   

   Why eat salmon?Fatty fish like salmon, herring, or mackerel is rich in fatty acids that help the body fight inflammation, heal, recover, and thrive. Omega-3s offer protective and reparative benefits for the muscles and joints, while also enhancing brain power, focus, and memory.

   Try it: A simple lunch of grilled salmon, quinoa, and sauteed leafy greens would make an excellent meal after a late morning workout. Alternatively, prepare some simple salmon “meatballs” to enjoy as a quick snack after your training.

3. Avocado Toast

   Why eat avocado? Avocado is a beloved snack, and for good reason! It’s versatile, creamy, and absolutely delicious. But it also packs an anti-inflammatory punch. Avocado is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, fiber, and potassium. After a workout, it helps to repair muscle and replenish B vitamins.
   
   Try it: Avocado can add creaminess to your post-workout smoothies. Or, make a simple guacamole dip for veggies, add avocado to a veggie omelet, or make a post-workout avocado toast.

4. Matcha (Green Tea) Shake
   

   Why drink green tea? Instead of sipping on a sugary soda, an energy drink, or a heavy latte before or after your workout, consider drinking green tea. Green tea is rich in a substance called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Drinking green tea daily can be a simple way to both boost your energy and prevent disease.

   Try it: Like it hot? Brew yourself a warm mug of loose leaf green tea. Prefer something colder? Make a cup of iced green tea. Want more of a snack than a beverage? Make this high-protein matcha shake.

5. Chia Seed Pudding
   

   Why eat chia seeds? Chia seeds are packed with nutrition. They contain healthy fats, tons of fiber, protein, and several essential vitamins and minerals. In addition to their anti-inflammatory benefits, athletes who eat chia seeds can benefit from their stable source of energy and improved fat metabolism.
   
   Try it: Chia seeds can be added to smoothies, shakes, salads, oatmeal, and more. Or, enjoy them as a protein-powered chia seed pudding.

Improve Your Post-Workout Routine with Anti-Inflammatory Habits

Eating the right foods post-workout is an excellent way to ensure you’re making the most of your training. Just like we need the right nutrients to help our bodies repair and grow, we also need the right recovery habits.

Unstoppable CBD Sports Recovery Gel makes taking care of your muscles and joints post-workout fast and easy. Simply roll our CBD gel over any areas of pain, tightness, or soreness after your workout to reduce inflammation and soothe pain.

Improve your post-workout recovery today with Unstoppable’s Sports Recovery Gel!

Horseback riding is a great way to stay active no matter your age. But if you’re only riding, it’s possible that you’re overusing some areas of your body and under-using others. Over time, this can make you more susceptible to injury, weakness, and poor performance.

So, what’s the solution? It’s easy – cross-training! Cross-training involves doing different types of exercises to help balance and perfect your performance in another sport or activity.

There are a few types of exercises that tend to pair well with horseback riding. Let’s check out the 5 best cross-training exercises for equestrians!

5 Best Cross-Training Exercises For Equestrians

1. Cardio

   Cardio is a crucial aspect of any cross-training regimen and the best way to strengthen the heart muscles to stay fit. To supplement your routine, try running, swimming, or dance to get your heart rate up and work those muscles that get neglected while on the horse.

2. Rock Climbing

   How could rock climbing possibly help with horseback riding? There is a very important connection between the two; both sports demand the use of core muscle strength. In horseback riding, you need a strong core to balance yourself on the saddle, whereas in rock climbing the muscle strength helps in scaling the hill or mountain.
   

   

   Horseback riders also often have weaker forearm, upper back, and foot muscles – all areas where rock climbing shines. The various movements in rock climbing can help you develop the required muscle strength and improve your horse riding skills.

3. Tai Chi

   
   The ancient Chinese martial art of tai chi is a secret weapon for horse riders who want to boost their performance, stamina, and confidence. This practice channels and strengthens your inner energy with slow, fluid movements and deep breathing. Tai Chi is also known to have a massive impact on a person’s physical and mental state.

   There is even a form of Tai Chi specifically designed for equestrians. Equestrian Tai Chi gives you an additional edge by harmonizing your body’s energy with that of your horse. Now that’s cross-training!
   
   

4. Strength Training

   The importance of strength training increases as we get older, especially for active equestrians. To stay healthy as you age, include strength training in your workout regime to prevent bone loss, fractures, and muscle atrophy. You could try lifting weights, but why not practice your strength training in the barn? Do a little extra cleaning and practice lifting saddles, moving grain bags, and cleaning hooves.

5. CrossFit

   CrossFit is a popular exercise style which is based on functional fitness exercises that are designed to help you in your daily life. A variation of CrossFit exercises can help you while grooming the horses, carrying water buckets and hay bales, and tacking. For example, exercises like deadlifts can help you in picking up the heavy grain bags while the clean and jerk movements can help you with the saddle.
   

   

Cross-Training and CBD for Equestrian Health

Cross-training is essential for any active equestrian to keep a healthy balance and prevent injuries. There are many different ways to effectively cross-train for equestrians, and choosing the best routine for you will depend on your body’s unique needs.

Ready to take on a new cross-training plan? Be sure to use Unstoppable Sports Recovery Gel to improve muscle recovery, healing, and relieve aches and pains along the way. Happy riding!

If you’re an active equestrian, a long day on horseback is one of the greatest joys in life. But going the extra mile on your favorite stallion is not without its downsides. Pain and tension from horseback riding is one of the most common complaints of active and amateur equestrians, and we’re here to fix that. 

Along with Unstoppable’s easy-to-use Sports Recovery Gel, natural therapies are some of the best ways to relieve pain and stay in the saddle. Let’s take a look at the top therapies to reduce pain and strain and improve your overall sports performance. 

Many riders assume that pain just comes with the territory of being an equestrian. With 85% of horse riders experiencing pain in the neck and back, and up to 66% of riders having pain in the other parts of the body, it might seem like riding in comfort is an impossible goal.

Thankfully, holistic therapies can help you relieve or prevent pain with little to no side effects. Let’s review the top three therapies for equestrians:

Massage

Massage is not just a great way to relax, but a way to release muscular tension and prevent pain in the whole body. Therapists use their hands to strategically press and soothe the muscles and tissues. There are various styles of massage, but sports massage, deep tissue massage, and fascial stretch massage tend to be the most effective for athletes.

Along with pain relief and better riding performance, it is common to notice benefits like stress reduction, reduced mood swings, better energy, and deeper sleep after enjoying a massage.

Acupuncture

 Acupuncture is best known for its ability to relieve pain and tension and it has become a popular therapy among amateur and professional athletes alike.

Acupuncture works by using tiny needles to painlessly stimulate the body’s acupuncture points. These points are like energetic messaging centers that, when stimulated, can help to regulate pain signals traveling to the brain. Acupuncture naturally releases endorphins to relieve pain immediately, while encouraging healing blood flow to any injured or tense areas for long-lasting relief.

Chiropractic Care

Along with massage and acupuncture, chiropractic care is one of the most popular ways for athletes to improve their recovery and performance. Chiropractors mostly focus on improving the alignment of the spine, using adjustments to set the bones in their correct place and initiate self-healing. This method has been proven to be effective for pain syndromes in the lower back pain, carpal tunnel, headaches, neck pain, and sports-related injuries.

Chiropractics can help with a wide range of pain issues. But for equestrians, this therapy is most helpful in one particular area: back pain. Many horseback riders complain of low back pain, back tension, and reduced range of motion in the back. With chiropractic, riders can rehabilitate a strained back, improve the alignment of the spine, reduce back pain, and prevent future back injuries.

Natural Therapies + CBD = An Unstoppable Plan

For active riders and athletes, there’s no better way to fight pain and prevent injuries than a natural health plan and Unstoppable CBD. Become unstoppable today by ordering your Unstoppable Sports Recovery CBD Gel! 

When it comes to CBD products, the current climate of limited federal regulation is a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, it’s great that the government hasn’t come in and imposed a lot of restrictions on what kind of CBD products can and can’t be sold. As long as you’re buying ingestible products with less than .3% THC –then you know you’re enjoying products that make use of the best qualities of cannabidiol, without the psychotropic effects of THC.

In the current climate, you can browse and buy the best CBD products for internal and topical use — including CBD tinctures, CBD softgels, CBD gummies and more. You can shop for yourself, your family and your dog, with no prescription required. Talk about modern marvels!

But it’s not all good news. As the CBD industry grows and evolves, less scrupulous companies are jumping on the bandwagon, marketing CBD products under dubious or outright false claims.

Meteoric Rise of CBD Industry Causes Confusion, Mislabeling and False Claims

The CBD business is growing exponentially each day, as more and more people find relief from this miracle product. It’s easy to see why everyone’s getting into the CBD business — everyone wants a piece of the green gold rush.

As the saying goes, though — haste makes waste. Unsuspecting customers might not know how to recognize the markers of top-quality, safe CBD. Shady businesses may simply copy the claims of their competitors or invent them out of thin air.

That’s where 3rd party testing comes in. In the absence of rigorous government standards and regulations for the CBD industry, 3rd party companies can provide unbiased assessments of the ingredients and potency of CBD products.

Again, thanks to the lack of government regulations at the moment — CBD companies are not obligated to conduct 3rd party testing. When a company chooses to submit its products to a 3rd party laboratory for verification at its own expense and inconvenience — you can feel highly confident that the company is committed to transparency and excellence in its offerings.

Needless to say, this isn’t the norm — most companies don’t bother with this step, and in fact, numerous journalists have randomly tested CBD products to see how they stack up to label claims. Disturbingly, many of these white hats have uncovered troubling differences between what the CBD products claim they contain and what their actual ingredients are.

For instance, a Milwaukee-based news team analyzed 20 different CBD items from a variety of Milwaukee and Waukesha County shops.[1] The items included popcorn, gummies and oils. Those CBD products were then submitted to Nascient, an independent cannabis testing lab licensed in California, and Wisconsin Hemp Scientific, a lab in Waukesha County.

Interestingly, the results from both testing facilities matched up. Of the 20 products tested:

• 2 products had more CBD than advertised (10% of sample size)
• 16 products didn’t have the amount of CBD that was claimed on the label (80% of the sample size)
• Only 4 of the tested products had between 75-100% of the CBD quantity claimed on the package (20% of the sample size)
• And, perhaps most alarmingly — of the products that had less than the CBD amount claimed on the label:
• 1 product had only half of CBD quantity claimed on the label
• 8 products had less than a quarter of the CBD it promised
• 4 products didn’t contain any CBD at all

False Advertising on CBD Product Labels Can Lead to Misdosage

These vast inconsistencies can cause particular problems where dosage is concerned. Further, there’s a concern about toxicity and impurities. Simply put: When you find out that the CBD product you’re using isn’t what it says it is on the label, what does that mean about the safety and hygiene of the product as a whole?

Firmly believe that transparency and accountability are critical. Only use CBD products that are fully tested through an independent 3rd party laboratory. The results of these tests are summarized in a Certificate of Analysis (COA). This article will cover what a COA is, what it tells you and how you can read it to know exactly what you’re getting.

How to Read a Certificate of Analysis: This Is Exactly What Your CBD Products COA Tells You

These are the standard pieces of information that a COA tells you about a given CBD product:

• Potency & Other Cannabinoids
• Terpene profile
• Residual Pesticides
• Residual Solvents
• Microbials / Microtoxins / Heavy Metals

Let’s discuss what each of these things means:

Potency & Other Cannabinoids

Terpene Profile

You’ve likely heard of terpenes. In the words of Leafly, terpenes are “aromatic oils that are secreted in the same glands that produce cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Terpenes are color cannabis varieties with distinctive flavors like citrus, berry, mint, and pine. Terpenes play a key role in differentiating the effects of various cannabis strains.”[2]

Why does it matter how many terpenes, and of what variety, you can find in our products? Simple: Terpenes offer additional therapeutic benefits, pleasant flavors and distinct aromatic bouquets in CBD products. (Translation: Terpenes help determine how your CBD product will smell, taste and work.)

Generally, terpenes are considered desirable — seeing that your product contains them is a good thing. But if your product doesn’t contain terpenes, that’s not a bad thing.

Fun fact — α-limonene imparts a lemony smell, and α-pinene gives CBD products a pine needle scent. At the bottom of the terpene section, you may find a “Primary Aromas” note — this gives you some insight into how the presence of terpenes affects the final flavor and scent of your CBD product.

Contaminant Analysis

It’s important that your CBD product contains the amount of CBD that its label claims, and that the level of THC does not exceed 0.3%. As we’ve discussed, the COA also gives a breakdown of the terpene profile in your CBD product.

Pesticides, heavy metals, solvents and microbials

— yuck! Those aren’t the kind of things that you’re looking for when you set out to buy CBD products. That’s why Unstoppable is committed to testing for harmful pathogens, contaminants and microorganisms like arsenic, lead, mercury, salmonella and more. Unstoppable works hard to source its hemp, and we keep strict quality controls over each of our production and packaging processes. But some steps of the complicated process of making CBD products take place in different locations, and we want to be absolutely certain that no contaminants are entering your product directly or indirectly during any stage.

Testing Details

Finally, any good COA includes details related to the testing procedures that each product has undergone. This section includes loads of important information — including:

• The date of testing
• The type of tests used
• What different acronyms used in the report mean
• Contact information and specific point person for the tests conducted
• Information about the sample or strain submitted for testing

One More Thing: Watch Out for What’s NOT Tested, Too

Now that you know how to read a COA, you may be surprised when you look at some companies’ test results whose COA may be a lot less robust.

Most retailers that test, are only testing for potency — not necessarily offering an analysis of any other relevant facts about the CBD product. This isn’t enough – ingestibles should provide full panel testing, with results published on their corresponding COAs.

Conclusion: Always Look for a COA

You wouldn’t buy a used car without having a mechanic or trusted individual to confirm its condition. You wouldn’t consume a homemade food item unless you knew and trusted where it came from.

When you look for CBD products, it’s important to be just as picky about sources and testing. We feel legitimate CBD companies make their COAs available because they care about transparency, and we always use independent, 3rd party testing to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the results.

When it comes to your health, don’t take chances.

[1] https://www.cbs58.com/news/cbd-test-shocking-results

[2] https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/terpenes-the-flavors-of-cannabis-aromatherapy