CBD Leafline : The 5000g Pure CBD Citrus Twist Spray

At The Amazing Blog, we've written about countless CBD products and regular readers will know how much we love CBD with its endless benefits. This time it’s with the 5000g Pure CBD Citrus Twist Spray by a familiar award-winning CBD brand CBD Leafline. You may remember the brand from previous blog posts here.

CBD Leafline was founded in 2018 by husband and wife team and CBD enthusiasts Paul and Sonia Shrive. By doing their research and not rushing through the entire process, the company was able to go through proper research and development on CBD with the purpose to follow UK product compliance while also providing consumers with the highest quality. Another brand focus is to educate customers on CBD by making packaging easy to read and understand. "Our other main focus has been to educate our customers about CBD through reader-friendly packaging that is easy to understand – we know there is nothing worse than being left frustrated by industry terminology – we hope we have achieved that." This family-owned business aims to be transparent about its entire process. All products are batch tested by a government-accredited UK independent laboratory. CBD Leafline is CannaPro certified meaning; their products, trading standards, marketing, and conduct have been reviewed. Their products are natural, vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, paraben and sulphate free, and all made within their own facilities in the UK. CBD Leafline is an award-winning company. In fact, they have won a few awards at the 2021 and 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards. They recently won Best CBD Oil (isolate) at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards for their Pure CBD Citrus Twist Spray which we are reviewing today.

The Pure CBD Citrus Twist Spray is THC-free and has 5000mg CBD which is isolate, which means that all other compounds such as flavonoids, terpenes, and amino acids, have been extracted, leaving behind only pure CBD. It’s also made up of fractionated coconut oil (MCT oil) and Citrus flavour it has 5000mg of CBD Isolate. 

They use fractionated coconut oil (MCT) as a carrier oil (the CBD is crystalline or powder in its raw state therefore mixed with the MCT for this reason); it's naturally high in fat and has had all of the non-essential fats removed to allow the most efficient absorption of CBD. As it’s made with CBD isolate there is no taste or trace of hemp, which makes these Twist Sprays (strawberry and citrus) very popular and easy to take. CBD Isolate is an excellent option for those interested in CBD but not the compounds found in cannabis plants, particularly if you are a sportsperson with routine drug testing. The extraction is done by a unique and challenging CO2 extraction process. Extra precautions must be taken to avoid unwanted substances during purification.

Now, what are the benefits of CBD? Scientists have reviewed a variety of benefits when researching CBD. CBD is thought to improve one's anxiety and depression. When CBD is consumed, it positively interacts with serotonin receptors in the cerebrum. It may also relieve inflammation and pain and be immune-modulating. CBD sprays are more unusual than other CBD edible products in the market. This makes them a little harder to find. However, what we like is that this spray has higher bioavailability than some other edibles, and these sprays, like the oils, are applied directly under the tongue. Tongues mucus membranes have small capillaries, which allows the product to be absorbed faster into the bloodstream. The spray allows a more direct route than other forms of ingestion. To use, shake the contents first and spray the recommended dosage directly under your tongue every morning and night. For maximum effect, allow the oil to sit under the tongue for about 2 minutes, CBD Leafline recommends. For new consumers, it's best to start with the lowest dosage to see how the body handles it. This 5000ml is the most potent dose in the range, so for the CBD novice, it’s recommended to start with 1500ml, as you can always slowly increase the dosage if necessary. It’s also vegan and gluten-free, and you can even refer to one of the dosage guides here. The Pure CBD Citrus Twist Spray comes in a 30 ml bottle with an applicator at the top. We like it because it tastes great and is an easy and discreet way to carry CBD.

The Pure CBD Citrus Twist Spray contains 5000mg of pure CBD and is THC-free. It’s a great way to start off your day and end your night. The Twist Spray ranges come in 3 strengths: 1500mg, 2500mg and 5000mg. See here to purchase the PURE CBD Citrus Twist Spray for £49.99.

Wellgard : Gold Standard Vital Mushrooms Powder 100% Organic, Blend of 6 Extracts

We love trying the latest superfoods and, at The Amazing Blog, we discovered Wellgard’s  Gold Standard Vital Mushrooms Powder which has been formulated to help improve performance and cognitive resilience. It’s filled with many essential vitamins and recently came to light when it won ‘Best Health or Beauty Drink – Mix’ as a joint wellbeing award winner at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards.

Wellgard is a wellbeing brand founded in 2016, with a variety of clinically proven supplements. All products are made in the UK, and the ingredients used in their products are simple, clean and backed by science. The company is part of the Bayagan Group, founded by Yousaf Sekander, its an organisation with a diverse group of companies in the wellbeing and beauty industry, including Swiftwhite and Procoal. The Bayagan Group has built a strong portfolio of brands and follows the emerging market trends, and taps into new opportunities. Wellgard’s philosophy is "Clinically Proven Formulas. Maximum Results.” It all started, when they noticed that some of the products in the supplement sector were either severely marked up or with exaggerated benefits. This is where they’ve strived to create beneficial supplements for their customers that are proven, and also come with prices that are not inflated, and has subsequently led to their online-only presence with a direct to customer sales model. Wellgard’s products are certified organic, pesticide-free, non-GMO and highly concentrated with many active compounds. They also ensure that every part of their packaging is 100% recyclable to ensure the smallest possible impact on the environment.

Wellgard’s latest product, the Gold Standard Vital Mushrooms Powder 100% Organic, Blend of 6 Extracts, includes the world’s six most treasured mushrooms, and as they say, this extract is to help one “feel sharper, more focused, and ready to take on the day, every day.” First and foremost, they are keen to point out it is not a ‘mushroom powder, it’s a mushroom extract powder’. Mushroom powders and mushroom extract powders are not the same thing. It’s because 100kg of harvested mushrooms yields 10kg of mushroom powder. In contrast, 100kg of harvested mushrooms produces just 1kg of mushroom extract. Therefore, this is a highly concentrated extract.

All six mushrooms used have a long history of traditional use and increasing scientific evidence on their effectiveness and benefits for overall health and wellbeing. Organic shiitake mushroom is the first ingredient listed. This type of mushroom extract is known to support the immune system, and boost white blood cells to fight off microbes plus protect against cell damage. Organic lion’s mane mushroom is known to relieve mild symptoms of depression and anxiety and help as an anti-inflammatory. Organic cordyceps mushroom boost performance and energy levels and is used in traditional Chinese medicine to soothe the lung for fatigue or any respiratory diseases. The organic chaga mushroom helps immune health and is a rich source of antioxidants. Organic maitake mushroom reduces cholesterol, maintains blood sugar, and also supports immune function. Finally, the organic reishi mushroom is the sixth mushroom, used to improving sleep, lessening fatigue, and supporting the body with physical and mental stress. With all these 6 mushroom blends, it offers over 100 biologically active compounds. It’s important to point out that this mushroom extract powder is non-GMO, gluten-free, and free from irradiation. Plus, it is free from fillers, soy, preservatives, binders, and chemicals. It’s 100% organic!

The benefits of mushrooms are countless. This mushroom extract powder supports immune health, enhances brain function, boosts energy, reduces anxiety, and even slows ageing. Wellgard claims that their Vital Mushroom Powder contains five times more active compounds than other mushroom powders and is higher in quality and richer in critical active compounds, such as polysaccharides, beta-glucans, and triterpenes. The formula is very concentrated and potent. Therefore, the daily serving is just 1 gram (recommended daily serving) and has five times the amount of active compounds containing 300mg polysaccharides; these provide dietary fibre that helps the digestive system and supports healthy gut flora. This mushroom complex is manufactured in a registered, approved, inspected state-of-the-art facility, with strict adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Each batch is 3rd Party Tested for Quality, Purity, and Potency.

What we love about this mushroom extract powder is that it’s easily dissolvable and can be added to nearly any food or drink (either cold or hot), and it’s so versatile. We’ve added mushroom extract powder to coffee, smoothies, and soups. It has a very mild and slightly umami taste (a fifth basic taste alongside sour, sweet, bitter, and salty) making it easy to add to almost any recipe. Therefore, this mushroom extract powder can be used to enhance stir-fries, stews or pasta adding a new depth of flavour without being overpowering. In fact, we’ve even experimented with using it in a batch of chocolate brownies (chocolate and mushrooms extract are an excellent combination) which were delicious!

It’s another of our #amazingfinds see here to purchase two months’ supply at 60g Wellgard’s Gold Standard Vital Mushrooms Powder for £19.99.

CBME : CBD infused dried fruit packs

We always try to find that unique little CBD 'something’; be it edible, topical or more recently, home fragrance. Well, today at The Amazing Blog, we’ve found these CBD infused dried fruits - which, as you can imagine, really piqued our interest! Created by CBME, a CBD wellness company, they’ve recently launched this range of three CBD infused dried fruits with Uplift, Relax, and Relieve.

CBME came to life thanks to Bhavin Morjaria, the founder and chief product creator. As a registered pharmacist with over ten years of health and wellness experience, Bhavin created CBME to provide his customers with everyday food products, for a ‘personalised CBD experience’. The primary mission of the brand is to try to redefine CBD to make it more adaptable. The CBME idea started when Bhavin noticed that he and his mother were using the same CBD products, but to relieve different issues. He was using the CBD to help reduce stress and improve his wellbeing, whereas his mother, Mina, was using the CBD to relieve her joint pain. Although Mina still takes other prescription medications, she has since taken a lower dose of her prescribed painkillers by using CBD.. This inspired him to develop products that are tailored to tackle specific issues more effectively. Bhavin said, “We saw that the same CBD products were being recommended no matter who you were. We are all not the same, so why should our wellness product be the same? So we went on our mission to create and personalise our CBD products.” He further harnesses this with a more holistic approach using CBD as the key ingredient. However, by adding other minerals and botanicals to enhance further the positive effects of the CBD, it offers more amplified effects of wellbeing. Using his pharmaceutical knowledge, he has combined CBD and Ayurvedic medicine to make these first CBD coated dried fruit packs. The three blends, Uplift, Relax and Relieve  (see our review below) are all made with organic broad-spectrum CBD distillate, CBG, and natural terpenes, to optimise the full plant energy. The dried fruit packs are vegan, have no allergens, and are THC-free. These Uplift and Relax dried fruit packs have added sugar or sweetener whereas the Relieve dried fruit pack is sugar and sweetener free. CBME want to offer consumers a natural and healthier alternative to the other high-calorie CBD infused edibles available. Apart from selling CBD edibles, they are also committed to educating people about the benefits of hemp and CBD through short informative videos, which can be found here, and have a CBD dosage calculator here to help the consumer determine how much they should take. All the hemp used is grown and sourced from Columbia, and 3rd party lab-tested in California.

We received all three CBD dried fruit packs, Uplift (pineapple), Relax (papaya), and Relieve (apricot). These CBD snacks are unique, where each pack contains a blend of different ingredients designed to target a variety of needs. These dried fruits are enhanced with other ingredients; so let’s start with the ones they all share. There is CBD broad spectrum distillate in each fruit, meaning it is THC-free and the whole plant is used to retain full-plant synergy. All the combined terpenes encourage the ‘entourage effect’, which allows the consumer to get the maximum benefits from the CBD. All the dried fruit are coated with CBD, which they claim will enable it to be absorbed faster, promoting its effectiveness. While they all include this kind of CBD, the fruits are also fortified with CBG, another cannabinoid found in hemp plants. This natural CBG cannabigerol has several extra enhanced health benefits known for reducing pain and inflammation and also acting as an anti-depressant. Many CBD products contain only a tiny quantity of CBG, so we were pleased to see a more substantial presence in all these dried fruits. Each pack has a different mix of natural flower derived terpenes, minerals and botanical elements, that when added with CBD, enhance overall wellbeing. 

In Uplift, there’s a combination of dried pineapple and ashwagandha root. Each piece has 35mg CBD and is designed to help regulate stress hormones and relieve anxiety. Ashwagandha is a revitalising herb that’s known to ease anxiety and promote calmness. It is an adaptogen, a substance known to help your body adapt to everyday physical and emotional stressors. This product is also infused with what they call ‘happy terpenes’, which are derived from a flower strain rich in limonene and myrcene. Limonene is a very energising terpene, and myrcene has antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. The organic stevia found in Uplift contributes to its sweetness giving this triangular pineapple slice an almost candied-like appearance. Another very important ingredient are the probiotics, which are here to help improve gut health and balance the natural microbiota. CBME recommends eating one of these rejuvenating pineapple slices to help get your day off to a good start!

Next, we tried the Relax pack, which also has 35mg of CBD, infused into each papaya piece. These are aimed to help inspire calm, with the infusion of botanicals and relaxing plant terpenes working together to recharge and aid sleep. The other addition is magnesium, an essential mineral that is crucial for keeping balanced levels of GABA, a neurotransmitter that relaxes the brain and encourages restorative sleep. There are also hops that are closely related to cannabis sativa, and include xanthohumol, an antioxidant that helps induce a deep sleep.  Finally, the griffonia seeds, with natural 5-htp an element that increases serotonin which is known to improve mood and increase levels of calmness. And also raises melatonin production levels, the hormone that is connected to our sleep-cycle.  They also add back any of the natural terpenes that are lost during the extraction process, so in this pack they’ve put back the ‘relaxing terpenes’ high in linalool and terpinolene. Linalool has soothing and sedative properties, and terpinolene, can help treat insomnia. Again, like the pineapple pieces, these papaya slices look like candied fruits, although these have cane sugar instead of sweetener. The brand explained to use why they have the addition of either sweetener or sugar in both ‘Relax’ and ‘Uplift,’ “The sweetness in the pineapple and papaya is because without the added sugar they would become super sour when dried. So need a bit of sugar at curing, the ashwagandha and the other ingredients are very bitter so the added sweetness keeps them palatable.”. We like the idea of eating a piece or two to relax at the end of a busy day - but if taking before going to sleep, be sure you brush your teeth!

Lastly, Relieve, where each dried apricot has 50mg of CBD, and been infused to help ease aches and pains, or sore joints. To meet its purpose of naturally reducing inflammation or pain, the dried apricots are infused with turmeric, black pepper and soothing terpenes from ‘pain-relieving flower strains.’ Turmeric is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. The compound, curcumin, found within turmeric are known to aid conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and support anti-inflammatory issues. As for the black pepper, it increases the body’s absorption level of curcumin by up to 2000%.  The anti-inflammatory terpenes that the apricots contain are rich in beta-caryophyllene. Beta-caryophyllene has several health-benefits like decreasing cholesterol levels, reducing anxiety and pain, and bringing down inflammation. These are great for combatting the sore muscles after a workout, or for relieving any arthritic or joint pain, and were our favourite of the three. Mainly because they’re the only the natural fruit with no added sugar or sweetener, and also in this cold damp weather, we notice more joint pain and these have the more relevant benefits for us.

We think these dried fruit packs are perfect for each of their intended purposes. We know what you’re all dying to ask; how do they taste? Like dried fruit (or candied fruit) with a slight hemp tang as an after taste, which is probably why some have been sweetened. For us, as CBD aficionados they tasted delicious, but for the uninitiated, they might take a little bit of getting used to. If you are looking for a day with reduced stress, take an Uplift piece in the morning to kick off the day. And if you want to give your body a break and unwind for a good night's sleep, then the Relax papaya piece might do the trick. Or for those days when muscles are sore, or you’re suffering from the after-effects of a big gym workout, then try a Relieve dried fruit piece before sleep. NB: The FSA recommended dosage of CBD is 70mg per day - so bear that in mind if you are tempted to eat the whole packet in one go! We were sent the ‘Try Me’ packs which you can buy here which contain 5 pieces for £13 for the Uplift and Relax, and for £15 for the Relieve.

CBME are also happy to offer 30% off your first purchase exclusively to our readers, all you have to do is enter discount code AMAZING at the checkout. - valid until 31/02/22.

Eden's Gate: CBD English Breakfast Tea, and CBD Chamomile Tea

If you’re like us and reach out for a pick-me-up mid-afternoon, then keep reading on. This is when tea is our preferred drink of choice, and at The Amazing Blog, a comforting cuppa is just the ticket. Regular readers will know that we're big fans of all things hemp and CBD, and today, we're introducing to you another of our #amazingfinds with these refreshing and delicious CBD-infused teas from Eden's Gate.  

Eden's Gate is a family-run British business established by Tyler Woodward in 2018. Apart from their own brand, they are also an online store that supplies various CBD brands and products. Fueled by his love for nature and all of its remedies, Tyler launched Eden's Gate sharing his passion for effective and safe CBD products that provide all of nature's benefits without using any synthetic compounds. Tyler told us, "We strive for clarity, whether it's the CBD itself, production methods or the knowledge of our users. We're not hiding anything - transparency is key!" This is where Eden's Gate provides clear and detailed information on all of its products. They are also triple batch tested with lab test certification for each one. In addition, they pride themselves on being ‘from seed to shelf’ and are GMO and cruelty-free, and contain high-quality, broad-spectrum CBD sourced from the most reputable US hemp farms that have organic plants grown without pesticides. Eden's Gate uses CBD that is extracted through super-critical CO2 extraction. In this process, carbon dioxide (CO2) pressure and temperature are manipulated until it's in a liquid-gas form known as ‘super-critical liquid’. The method allows Eden's Gate to safely extract only the purest CBD while leaving behind bi-products such as THC, waxes, and chlorophylls. This resulting CBD is solvent-free, meaning that no extra compounds or chemicals are involved in the extraction process, making this CBD environmentally friendly too!  They are quick to point out that they use their own equipment and oversee every aspect of production without any 3rd party involvement.

We were sent two of Eden's Gate's CBD teas to try, the first being their CBD English Breakfast Tea with 300mg of CBD. Each tea bag contains 20mg of broad-spectrum CBD combined with black tea, resulting in a rich tea with a full-bodied English Breakfast black tea. Eden's Gate uses unbleached tea bags made from cellulose fibres, meaning that they don't contain chemicals like dioxin or microplastics like polypropylene that are harmful to both your body and the environment. Being  broad-spectrum CBD means that it has no detectable THC levels, but does have dozens of the different isolates and terpenes naturally found in the hemp. We imagine that the broad-spectrum CBD here will be a water-soluble CBD distillate (Eden’s Gate, please correct us if we’re wrong!) ideal for infusing into beverages. It also makes use of the "entourage effect", as these compounds help the CBD work better, so you're getting all the goodness of the hemp plant without the THC. The tea leaf becomes black tea and gets its dark colour from a lengthy oxidation and fermentation process. The tea leaves and picked, and then left to dry where they are either rolled and cut and left the oxidise. It’s a process that helps to develop the flavour and aroma changing the colour from green to brown. Let's not forget that black tea itself also has a long list of benefits; it contains antioxidants that decrease the risk of chronic disease, boost heart health, reduce blood pressure, and improve alertness and focus. So when combined together with the CBD it helps to provide reduced stress and anxiety and a whole host of other benefits too. The process of brewing CBD Tea also allows your body to ingest more of the CBD than other forms like drops so that you can get the same intense effects with a smaller dosage. All we did was place a teabag in freshly boiled water, brew for 3-6 minutes and added oat milk. it has a good rich flavour of English Breakfast tea, but it does take a little longer to infuse than a regular black tea, but well worth the wait! What does it taste like? Well, like black tea, but very mild with the slightest hint of fruitiness from the hemp. Delicious and great for keeping away those mid- afternoon blues! It is pricey compared to your everyday cuppa, so we tended to drink this as and when. To purchase the English Breakfast Tea 300mg here at £16.99 for 15 bags.

The second tea we tried was the CBD Chamomile Tea 300mg. Each unbleached tea bag contains chamomile sourced from the Nile River Valley in Egypt, lemon balm, and again 20mg of broad-spectrum CBD, so you're still getting the same complete CBD health benefits as the English Breakfast Tea mentioned above. Chamomile tea is thought to reduce inflammation and menstrual pain, slow down osteoporosis and lower blood sugar. We general drink chamomile tea to help with sleep and relaxation. So what could be better than getting the amplifying relaxation effect when the two are combined here! The chamomile flower is not alone; the lemon balm also has mood-boosting properties and improves cognitive function, turning this into quite a potent mix. Again, recommended brewing between 3-6 minutes like the CBD Black Tea. Since Chamomile tea doesn't become bitter if you leave the teabag in it for too long, we steeped it for up to 6 minutes to fully reap all the benefits and enjoy its sweet floral (no hemp taste) chamomile and lemon-y flavour. It’s the perfect choice for a nighttime cuppa, and sent us swiftly off into the land of nod. To purchase the CBD Chamomile Tea 300mg see here at £16.99 for 15 bags. 

2022 Beauty Shortlist & Wellbeing Awards - Are Now Open for Entry!

Good to grow: 2022 Beauty Shortlist & Wellbeing Awards open for entries with new blue beauty and plantable beauty categories and fresh faces on the judging panel.

Entries have opened for the upcoming Beauty Shortlist Awards which will celebrate the highest-scoring brands and products that celebrate NATURE on Wednesday 2 March 2022.

Honouring the most-loved earth-safe and ocean-safe beauty and wellness products – all tested by experts – the ethical, natural and organic showcase returns with over 40 new categories embracing blue and green beauty, more age-specific skincare and self-care categories, eco-packaging, holistic health, eco innovation, nutrition, aromatherapy, CBD and more.

2022 BEAUTY SHORTLIST & WELLBEING AWARDS ENTRY FORM (ENTRIES CLOSE 29 OCTOBER)

ENTRY FORM

If you had to pick the most stellar month of the year for beauty and the planet, September would be up there: Organic September, a new season with lots of new launches, the Great British Beach Clean, World Car Free Day - and it’s FSC week soon, celebrating & raising awareness of responsible forestry 🌳

Never have we lived through a time when comforts and joys have been more important to our wellbeing - and it’s exactly those that are celebrated every year at the Beauty Shortlist Awards:

You are warmly invited to celebrate the top-scoring beauty, grooming and wellness of the year with the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards on Wednesday 2 March.

These independent and 100% sponsor-free global Awards celebrate the highest-scoring ethical brands and products of the year, evaluated by beauty and wellness industry experts:

• natural + organic beauty, personal care

• nutrition, wellness, health supplements, CBD & eco cleaning

• men’s hair, skincare, self-care, body & shower products

Happy September!