Happy New Year, everyone! 2019 seemed to have only just started to warm up and get moving when it was mid-December and we were stuffing ourselves silly across Christmas. But here we are; at the start of the ‘Roaring 20’s’, ready to meet the challenges of a new decade. Some of those are self-inflicted New Year Resolutions. We’re here to explain how CBD can help make your promises to self-improve stick.
Before we jump in, let’s shake off the cobwebs picked up over Christmas and remind ourselves what CBD is and how it works. CBD (short for Cannabidiol) oil is a naturally occurring chemical compound extracted primarily from the hemp plant. There is still some confusion around hemp and CBD oil’s legality. Hemp and marijuana derive from the Cannabis sativa plant. However, Marijuana has high levels of THC, (Tetrahydrocannabinol), a naturally occurring chemical compound and produces the psychoactive “high” experienced when consumed. On the other hand, hemp has an extremely low THC content, meaning that CBD has no ability to intoxicate you.
Resolution 1: Lose weight
Surprise, surprise, our number one New Year’s resolution is to lose weight. According to a 2017 UK Government study, up to 64.3% of people in the UK are either overweight or obese. CBD is not a magic bullet for helping us to lose weight; however, there have been some interesting studies which have evidenced CBD reducing appetite in animals and other studies which suggest that CBD stimulates fat burning. CBD used in conjunction with fat burning products such as MCT oil may make for a stunning combination. CBD Bullet Coffee, anyone?
Resolution 2: Feel Less Tired!
Many of us want to feel more rested, which can be achieved through getting more, better quality sleep. CBD can prove fundamentally useful here. A PubMed Central study published in 2019 looked at whether CBD could improve sleep and or reduce anxiety. The study involved 72 subjects, with 47 experiencing anxiety and 25 experiencing poor sleep. The subjects were each given 25 milligrams (mg) of CBD in capsule form each day. In the first month, 79.2 percent of the patients reported lower anxiety levels and 66.7 percent reported better sleep. If used in conjunction with a complimentary bedtime routine (translation: ‘turn off the mobile phone!’), a few drops of CBD oil before bed may be the key to achieving a decent night’s rest
Resolution 3: Get more exercise
Ah, the old nemesis: the promise to move more, which instantly compromises our natural wintertime instincts to stay inside in the warm on the sofa, binge-watching Netflix and polishing off the last of the mince pies. Kickstarting a fitness routine can also be the source of sore muscles after the first few days – not the most attractive thought. Luckily, CBD is an excellent recovery tool, and the better you recover the more you can exercise! Take it as part of your post-workout routine; put a few drops into your protein shake or into your water. Alternatively, a few squares of CBD chocolate is the perfect post-exercise recovery treat.
Resolution 4: Quit smoking
Yes, some of us still smoke, despite the health warnings. But help is at hand, through CBD. Several studies suggest that CBD may have beneficial properties to counter addictions relating to opioids, cocaine, stimulants and nicotine. As one of the active (and most damaging) chemicals found in cigarettes, the study found that CBD helped participants reduce cigarette consumption
