We all know that once autumn arrives, drier and colder weather follows. Soon dry skin problems arise, allergies wreak havoc over our immune system, and our bodies begin slowly acclimating to colder temperatures.
Before you know it, winter follows soon after.
With the transition of warm to cold temperatures, our bodies often respond with head colds, aches and pains, and decreased energy levels.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, shorter days, grey clouds, and less time outside leads many people to struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD for short.
Symptoms of SAD often include the following:
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Low energy
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Oversleeping
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Overeating
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Weight gain
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Social withdrawal
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Feeling depressed
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Insomnia
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Feeling fatigued, sluggish, or agitated
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Difficulty concentrating
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Anxiety
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Weight loss
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And much more.
You see, the winter blues is a real issue, the days are short, sunlight is limited, and energy is low, causing some people to feel down in the dumps.
Sure, joining the gym, improving your diet, and supplementing with vitamin D can improve your overall demeanor. But for some people, shaking the feelings of fatigue, unhappiness, depression, and social anxiety seems almost impossible. In cases like these, some people need a little something extra to put a pep in their step.
Yes, we’re talking about Cannabidiol, most popularly known as CBD.
According to anecdotal evidence and scientific data, CBD has been shown to address certain symptoms that are associated with SAD. And while we are in no way suggesting that CBD can prevent, treat, or diagnose unwanted symptoms or diseases, it’s worth mentioning a few studies that explore the efficacy of CBD.
So without further ado, let’s explore the many ways CBD products can enhance our winter blues.
CBD for seasonal depression and other health conditions brought on by the winter season
Multiple studies have shown that CBD is a powerful anti-inflammatory.
And according to researchers, inflammation is one of the main contributors to the following health conditions:
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Anxiety disorders
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Depression
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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Menstrual cramps
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Bipolar disorder
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Types of neuropathy
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And other serious health conditions
Scientists believe that consuming CBD oil or applying CBD creams to troublesome areas can help reintroduce balance to our Endocannabinoid System (ECS), which can in turn reduce inflammation and repair cellular health.
Now that we know prevention is key for maintaining the feeling of being happy and healthy during the colder months, the next big question is: “What CBD products actually help the human body during the winter season?”
The best CBD products for winter season
While we know that the winter blues are a real thing, there are a few CBD products that could help lift your spirit, liven your mood, and enhance your overall health.
But first…
We all know that the most popular and universal CBD product on the market today is CBD oil. It’s great for all seasons and can be used in many different ways. After all, CBD oils and tinctures can help give our immune system a boost.
Because once winter hits, our immune systems inevitably begin working overtime as our bodies acclimate to the changing of seasons.
And with drier, colder temperatures, viruses can travel much easier and faster from one person to another—which is why flu and the coronavirus often spike back up during the colder months.
But here’s what you don’t hear from social media and popular new outlets: Prevention is key to dealing with these emerging and rapidly evolving viruses.
This includes:
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Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
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Eating a wholesome diet
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Staying active (i.e. Exercise, yoga, walking)
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Getting enough sleep
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Taking vitamin C, D, and Zinc
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And more
As we mentioned earlier, CBD oil should never be used to treat, prevent, or diagnose diseases and illnesses, but its therapeutic properties could help nudge our endogenous cannabinoids in the right direction to improve how our immune system responds to certain symptoms associated with illnesses. It may even help maintain the overall health of our immune system.
According to studies, CBD is immunosuppressive, meaning it can “direct suppression of activation of various immune cell types, induction of apoptosis, and promotion of regulatory cells, which, in turn, control other immune cell targets.”
In other words, consuming CBD oil helps indirectly stimulate the production of endogenous cannabinoids that help promote homeostasis throughout the body.
But we’d like to focus on a few other CBD products that consumers don’t normally think about, or frankly have no idea that they exist.
Below is a list of the most unique and best CBD products for this winter season.
1. CBD Coffee and CBD-infused tea
Let’s start with two of the best CBD products that are sure to warm the soul and put a smile on your partially frozen face: CBD coffee and CBD infused teas.
The great thing about CBD coffees and teas is that now multiple hemp companies have found a way to infuse CBD into ground coffee beans and tea bags. So the only thing you need to do is brew your CBD coffee or add hot water to your CBD infused tea bag.
But let’s be honest: We all have our favorite coffees and teas, and sometimes these hemp companies don’t always get it right.
No problem! Simply take your favorite CBD oil and add a few drops to your favorite cup of joe or steaming cup of tea. You’ll be amazed at how calm you’ll feel without being groggy or completely stripped of energy.
Not to mention, many reddit users and CBD advocates claim that adding CBD to their coffee helps reduce those annoying, and sometimes overwhelming, coffee jitters. And those who love the taste of coffee but can’t drink it because of anxiety issues or stomach upset, might find that CBD could possibly help reduce those unwanted symptoms.
You don’t know until you try. So give CBD coffee and CBD infused teas a try. And who knows, it might even be an awesome Christmas gift for the coffee and tea lovers out there.
2. CBD infused drinks (energy drinks and water)
While we're on the topic of beverages, we know that we can’t live on coffee and tea alone, no matter how much we try. Our bodies need water!
And as luck would have it, many CBD companies have found a way to infuse CBD into water without giving it a horrible taste.
Now we know what you might be thinking: “Isn’t CBD infused water just another gimmick to sell more CBD?”
And that’s a completely valid question…
But believe it or not, there are some amazing CBD infused waters out there that are pretty effective. In fact, CBD water not only helps hydrate the body, but once it enters into the digestive system it can help reduce inflammation and relax the feeling of nausea. But the key to finding high-quality CBD-infused waters is research.
Another beverage that has gotten a lot of buzz is CBD energy drinks. And let’s face it, the winter blues can often cause us to feel completely run down with zero energy.
So consuming a delicious CBD energy drink may be what you need this winter. Most of the energy drinks you find in the store or gas station are made with poor ingredients and unnecessary chemicals, so it’s best to steer clear from those.
But reputable CBD companies who pride themselves in using organic ingredients and third party tested, American grown hemp, often create high-quality CBD energy drinks that are packed with vitamins and herbs that have been studied to increase energy levels.
3. CBD creams and lotions for winter skin
It doesn’t matter if you live on the west coast or the east coast; when winter hits, the air inevitably gets drier, which can make anyone's skin feel dry, flaky, and cracked.
Lotions, oils, and creams are always the first things that come to mind for addressing cracked and dry knuckles, flaky cheeks, and chalky legs.
But did you know that multiple studies have shown CBD to have powerful anti-inflammatory effects when applied to the skin? In fact, scientists have found CBD to be more effective than vitamin C and E when addressing skin conditions. Other studies show that CBD is highly effective in moisturizing dry skin as well.
Not to mention, CBD has been found to be a pretty potent antioxidant, which is great for cellular health and replenishing skin health.
So applying high-quality CBD lotions and creams could be your skin’s saving grace this winter. But that’s not all…
Topical CBD can help fight acne, psoriasis, and dermatitis as well.
4. CBD lip balms
Have you ever been out in the bitter cold and thought to yourself, “Man, I could use some chapstick right now for my lizard lips”?
Well, you’re not the only one...
If there’s one body part that seems to take a major hit each winter, it’s our lips. Unless you’re wearing a mask, it’s inevitable that your lips will be exposed to those bitter cold and dry temperatures.
And while it seems that our male friends never have any lip protection on hand, our female friends are fully equipped with lip sticks, chapsticks, and lip gloss. Both could benefit from CBD infused lip balms.
As we just mentioned, CBD is great for reducing inflammation and moisturizing the skin. So it’s a great fit for the most sensitive skin on our body: our lips.
Applying high-quality CBD lip balm onto your lips can help keep them nourished and protected from drying out and breaking open. Not only are chapped lips painful, they can make anyone feel self-conscious about their appearance as well. So give CBD lip balm a try, and hopefully you can say goodbye to those “lizard lips” once and for all.
5. CBD sports roll on
The common thread in this list seems to be that CBD is a potent anti-inflammatory. That said, multiple studies show that topical CBD products like CBD salves or CBD sport roll ons can help relieve arthritic aches and pains.
What’s more, CBD sport roll ons are great for targeting those troublesome areas on the body and are super easy to use.
So whether you spent the cold winter day at the gym, or you’re battling muscle and joint aches and pains from the bitter cold, applying high-quality CBD sport roll ons or pain relief salves can really take the edge off this winter season.
6. CBD chocolates for winter
Who says chocolates aren’t a winter necessity?
Well, did you know that chocolate has been proven to improve “brain blood flow, oxygen levels, or nerve function as measured by imaging tests or tests of electrical activity in the brain…”?
In fact, cacao is the quintessential ingredient found in chocolate and cocoa products. While we know that it’s a fairly complex source of food, cacao is packed with many nutritional properties:
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Minerals (Iron, copper, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus)
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Antioxidants
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Flavanols
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And many other nutrients
So just imagine how beneficial chocolate could be when CBD is added.
Now, this isn’t an excuse to go crazy and eat pounds of chocolate the minute winter hits. We’re simply saying a few squares of high-quality CBD chocolates can lift the mood, increase energy, and warm the soul on those exceptionally cold winter days and nights.
CBD for the winter blues
Look, we know that the “winter blues” is a real issue and millions of people are affected by it each year. But with the few CBD products we mentioned above, maybe this winter won’t be so dreadful.
Just be sure that before you buy any CBD product, you only purchase from well established, reputable CBD companies.
Reputable CBD companies focus on organic ingredients, American grown hemp, and third party testing. This will ensure that the CBD products you consume or place on your body are free from harmful toxins like:
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Pesticides
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Herbicides
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Heavy metals
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GMOs
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And other dangerous contaminants
Remember, if you’re considering taking CBD for the first time, take it slow and start with a low dosage. Consult with your doctor before adding CBD to your daily regimen, especially if you’re on any prescription medications.
