CBD, short for Cannabidiol is a naturally-occurring compound found in hemp and cannabis. CBD isn’t psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t have hallucinogenic properties. CBD is not addictive, and studies show no dependence potential. Is it legal? At the time of writing, CBD is legal in the UK and US, along with many other countries but not in Australia. However, with the increasing amount of evidence building, many people see this changing in coming years. What are the benefits? Most people take CBD to reduce anxiety and pain, and to aid sleep. Given how much I bang-on about sleep, you might not be surprised that I personally take CBD because it gets me into a much deeper sleep, which helps me think more clearly and make better food choices, and the deeper sleep also helps me recover faster, which helps me train more consistently, which helps me … you can see why I love this positive cycle! I’ve been using CBD for 1 year (not every day, but a few times a week), and I’ve experienced some of my most restorative sleeps during this time. I use CBD most during times of intense training when I need to recover quickly. My wife thinks it really helps with anxiety and helps her sleep even when she’s been burning the midnight oil at the office and would usually find it difficult to switch-off Although research exploring CBD’s effect on sleep specifically is in its infancy, it is showing a positive connection between the two[1]. Studies also show that it can help with anxiety, which for some is the major cause of their sleeplessness.[2] Researchers have also found that CBD is effective in improving inflammatory-related conditions, including arthritis, and in assisting pain management.[3] [4] Inflammation is a normal part of the body's defence mechanism, but our lifestyles have deviated so far from what our bodies were built for, that so many of us exist in a state of constant defence (and inflammation! A study found that two of the things I bang-on about most – DIET AND SLEEP – are independent risk factors that promote inflammation![5] They found a diet rich in saturated- and trans-fats, or refined sugar is associated with higher levels of inflammation. They also found that individuals with sleep problems and irregular sleep patterns are more likely to have chronic inflammation, compared to consistent sleepers. In a nutshell: High-sugar and processed diets, lack of sleep, poor cardiovascular fitness and increased fat mass all heavily contribute to inflammation. CBD helps me sleep better, recover faster and feel better. When these three things happen, I make better food choices, train harder, feel great and see better results. I don’t promote much, but I have been using CBD for 1 year, and I certainly consider it to be an overall lifestyle, sleep and recovery aid. However, not all CBD is equal, and like everything in life, quality matters. TruthNatural’s CBD is what I use. I love their gel capsules for when I’m travelling, but prefer to take their Curcumin and Tryptophan products at home. To be fair, I’ve tried most of their stuff, and their whole range is outstanding and definitely worth the investment. If you want to see how we include it in recipes, check out @Nutri-Wife’s blog. Just to clarify, this post is not sponsored. I’d love you know if you’ve tried or are thinking about trying CBD, reach out below. Speak soon, JC. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326553/#!po=45.8333 [2] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09540260500104524 [3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/ [4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851925/ [5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/
3 Comments
1/8/2019 04:59:23 pm
Yes, a relief for someone who has insomnia like me...
Reply
Lucie
5/8/2019 09:26:47 am
I use CBD to calm my nerves if i have a big presentation or if i am feeling really anxious. I also have great sleeps when i take it before bedtime. You've just got to make sure you get the THC-free stuff, as you say.
Reply
Craig
6/8/2019 05:48:00 am
This was really interesting and good to get my head around why I would use it. Have heard loads about cbd but never really got why non-stoners would use cannabis. Thanks JC.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorsJC and The Nutri-Team Archives
November 2020
Categories
All
|