Have you been thinking about incorporating CBD into your everyday wellness routine? If yes – this article’s for you! There’s a variety of ways you can use CBD daily. However, it requires a little time and effort. So, in this post, I’ll be answering all your CBD questions as well as giving you some tips on how you can incorporate CBD into your everyday life.
What is CBD?
CBD (short for cannabidiol) is part of a group of active compounds called cannabinoids that are found exclusively in the hemp plant. Cannabinoids (like CBD) interact with different receptors in the body to produce a wide range of effects.
The two most common cannabinoids are:
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) – this compound makes you feel high when you smoke or ingest marijuana.
CBD (cannabidiol) – this compound is non-psychoactive (meaning it cannot get you high). Instead, it’s been gaining more and more popularity because of its long list of health benefits.
How CBD Can Help
- Reduce Inflammation
- Reduce Pain
- Reduce Menstrual Cramps
- Reduce Anxiety and Depression
- Improve Sleep
How Does CBD Work?
Each of us has an Endocannabinoid System (ECS) in our body. This system is essential to our health and plays a crucial role in keeping everything balanced and running smoothly. It is responsible for regulating many functions throughout the body, such as immune response, pain sensitivity, mood, appetite, and even our sleep cycle.
The main goal of the ECS is to promote homeostasis (aka balance) within the body. It does this by producing chemical compounds called cannabinoids, which act similar to neurotransmitters like serotonin (the feel-good hormone) or dopamine (the pleasure hormone). Cannabinoids from plants, such as THC and CBD can interact with our ECS and assist in doing its job more effectively.
Different Ways to Take CBD
- Sublingual Tinctures (under the tongue)
- Vaping
- Edibles
- Topical Lotions or Salves
You can read more about the best ways to take CBD here.
Dosage
Everybody is different. How well each method works or how much to take varies from person to person. Many factors influence it, and so dosing is a highly individual process. I recommend checking out this article if you are interested in digging a little deeper.
How to Incorporate Cbd Into Your Everyday Life
1.) Morning Routine
Most people follow a loose schedule each morning – brushing teeth, showering, eating breakfast, etc. Adding one additional task to that schedule, such as ingesting a few drops of CBD oil, won’t disrupt that process. If you take vitamins or supplements, add a CBD capsule to the mix. Taking CBD first thing in the morning can help calm your mind as you prepare for the day.
2.) In Your Morning Cup
Most people like to enjoy a hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning. Whether you brew your own, or you like to visit the local coffee shop, it’s the perfect time to add a few drops of CBD oil into your cup. While research is still emerging on the effects of mixing CBD and caffeine, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that the combination provides the alert focus from the caffeine without the jitters. If coffee isn’t your thing, you can add it to your tea or any morning beverage.
3.) Meditation
Meditation is already a great way to calm the mind, and CBD is the perfect supplement. CBD contains terpenes, which are components that can help relieve stress and boost mood. CBD requires some time to make an effect, so consider taking a CBD tincture sublingually 15-20 minutes before a session.
4.) With Meals
Cooking with CBD is one of the easiest ways to incorporate it into your daily routine. You can make your own CBD edibles or purchase CBD edibles to keep with you for easy snacking. You can also add a few drops of CBD oil to just about anything.
Some of my favorites are:
- Adding it to anything avocado base (think avocado toast or guac)
- Infusing it with honey and adding it to oatmeal
- Infusing it with oil and adding it to dressings
- Adding it to raw energy balls or chocolate truffles
- Adding it to chickpea cookie dough
However, there are two things to keep in mind:
1.) CBD is fat-soluble, so consider adding it to recipes that contain healthy fats for optimal absorption.
2.) The boiling point for CBD is between 320 and 356 degrees, so cooking it above 350 degrees may cause it to evaporate and lose its effectiveness.
5.) Workout Recovery
Regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle, as it promotes better physical and mental health. However, as anyone who works out regularly knows cardio, lifting weights, and playing sports can put a strain on the body and needs time to recover. Whether its joint-pain, inflammation, stiffness or sore muscles, a topical CBD cream or slave can speed up recovery and provide soothing relief, both before and after a workout.
6.) Bedtime Routine
CBD is a great way to wind down from the day, especially if it’s been a stressful one. It can help balance our serotonin levels and regulate the ECS to calm the mind and prepare the body to power down. If you’re a bath person (like me), drop in a CBD infused bath bomb – its the best way to experience full-body relaxation!
As for sleep, whether you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, CBD can be very helpful. Insomnia studies have found that taking CBD oil before bed can improve the quality of sleep because of how it interacts with specific cannabinoid receptors that affect the sleep/wake cycle. Use a tincture before bed and make sure to take it sublingually for the best results.
In Conclusion
As you experiment with CBD, take the time to explore different ways and times to incorporate it into your life. These are just a few examples, but depending on your day, your routine may need to change. Be flexible as there is no right or wrong and listen to your mind and body. It should be enjoyable, stress-reducing, and a moment for you.
This was a guest post by the awesome Michelle Garland!
Michelle Garland is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, a Registered Sign Language Interpreter and Wellness Enthusiast! She is the founder of Plentyfullme Nutrition and Lifestyle Consulting, where she brings individuals’ health back into balance by working with them one-on-one to implement realistic and straightforward modifications to their dietary choices, lifestyle habits and emotional well-being.
Michelle gives talks in the community and teaches cooking classes in both spoken English and American Sign Language. When she’s not working with clients or facilitating workshops, you can find her creating recipes in her kitchen, taking photos of food, going on forest walks with her dog, or spending quality time with her fiance, family, and friends.
Instagram: @plentyfullme
Website: www.plentyfullme.com
Disclaimer: This blog post is for educational purposes only. It is not designed to diagnose, treat or cure. We are all unique, for your individual health concerns, it is essential to discuss these with a Holistic Nutritionist or relevant health professional.
FAQs How to Integrate CBD Oil Into Your Life
Question: How to incorporate CBD into your everyday life?
Answer: You can incorporate CBD into your life in different ways like in your morning routine, in your meditation, with meals, or during a workout.
Question: What are the two most common cannabinoids?
Answer: Two of the most common cannabinoids are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).
Question: What are the ways CBD can help you?
Answer: Some of the ways CBD can help is reduce inflammation, reduce pain, reduce menstrual cramps, and improve sleep.
Question: What are different ways to take CBD?
Answer: The most common ways to take CBD are through sublingual tinctures, vaping, edibles, and topical lotions.
