It’s a weeknight and you’re bored out of your mind. So you think, “There’s nothing better to do than watch TV.”
So you veg out on the couch and start scrolling through Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus. Sure, you had a huge dinner, packed with just the right portions of protein, carbs, and veggies. But for some reason, you need something sweet and salty to munch on as you watch the latest Netflix original series.
And before you know it, you’re surrounded by various flavors of chips, dips, and sweets.
If this happens to you more than once or even four times a week, don’t feel too terribly guilty. As it turns out, the average American adult snacks at least 1-2 times a day. Now, that might sound low to you, but notice we said “at least” 1-2 times.
While it can be healthy to eat small meals throughout the day, it’s another thing if all you’re doing is snacking on chips, cookies, ice cream, and candy all day long.
What many people don’t realize is that refined starches, sugars, trans fats, and of course the many preservatives found in these snacks can wreak havoc on your entire body. Before you know it, you’re not only gaining weight, but you’re experiencing other physiological issues like fatigue, inflammation, pain… and in some cases depression, stress, and anxiety.
We get it, snacking is fun! There are few things more enjoyable than vegging out on the couch on a cold grey or rainy day, just snacking and laughing away. And we say, by all means, go for it… in moderation that is… and with the right kinds of snacks.
So what if we told you there were snacks that you can eat that not only relieve pain, stress, inflammation, depression, and anxiety, but also taste amazing?
Say hello to CBD snacks!
Before we get into how CBD snacks promote our health, and where to buy the highest quality CBD snacks, we first need to discuss what CBD snacks are.
What are CBD snacks?
CBD snacks are simply snacks infused with CBD. For example:
- CBD gummies
- CBD lollipops
- CBD chocolates
- CBD infused drinks
- And other CBD edibles
By now, you’ve likely heard all about Cannabindiol, otherwise known as CBD, and how it contains tremendous anti-inflammatory and other therapeutic properties. You may also know that unlike its cousin THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD is non-psychoactive, so it doesn’t get you high. This means you're not going to get the munchies like you would with the infamous THC. So eating a few CBD snacks won’t cause you to snack more and more and more, like THC would.
So how do CBD snacks promote our health while allowing us to still enjoy a snack?
CBD Snacks and the Endocannabinoid System
When we consume CBD, it interacts with our Endocannabinoid System much differently than THC does. And if you don’t know what an Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is, don’t worry. This biological system was only recently discovered by medical researchers in the 1990s. So it’s new to all of us.
Now the ECS is comprised of three major components:
- Receptor cells
- Endogenous cannabinoids or endocannabinoid
- Enzymes
Whether we consume CBD or not, these three components are working within our body. And it’s our ECS that helps maintain the balance of our overall health.
But the issue is when our ECS isn’t working properly, our health becomes unbalanced, and before we know it, we start seeing signs of inflammation, pain, insomnia, and so on.
Maintaining a healthy ECS is our job, and it’s usually done through diet, exercise, and getting proper sleep. So if you’re constantly snacking on refined carbs, sugars, and trans fats, then it’s no wonder that you're feeling so down and out.
So how do we get our ECS back into balance so that the rest of our body follows?
Benefits of CBD snacks and other CBD edibles
If you notice, ECS stands for Endo-cannabinoid system, and CBD is a cannabinoid. It’s actually a phyto-cannabinoid, meaning it comes from a plant.
So in a way, CBD is a supplement to help replenish our endogenous cannabinoids, right?
Close! Scientists, medical professionals, and other researchers are still learning exactly how CBD works within the human body. But what they do know is that CBD influences our receptors to create more natural cannabinoids within our body, and that’s why we feel so much better on CBD.
Scientists have even noticed that CBD can influence serotonin receptors, which is huge for those who battle psychotic disorders. But it’s CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties that really have researchers excited.
Inflammation is perhaps the root of most, if not all, diseases. So if we could reduce our inflammation, then we can reduce many unwanted health conditions. But more studies are needed to confirm this. Still, the studies that have been conducted are pretty compelling.
For example…
CBD snacks for anxiety and stress
In one study, researchers found that CBD not only improved the mood of patients with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), but it reduced their anxiety as well. Other studies confirm this theory with patients who joined a Simulated Public Speaking (SPS) test.
In animal studies, CBD was shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and rapid heart rates in rats.
So if you’re feeling anxious, munching on a CBD oil infused snack could possibly help.
CBD snacks for pain
Multiple studies acknowledge that CBD is one heck of an anti-inflammatory, as we’ve mentioned a few times in this article already. Scientists can’t deny it, doctors can’t deny it, not even the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can deny it. Why? Because studies have confirmed it time and time again.
And according to research, inflammation is a huge contributor to pain. But here’s something you might not know: Studies show that CBD helps in relieving pain by stimulating our endorphins. It’s also been suggested that CBD can stimulate and preserve our very own endogenous cannabinoids like Anandamide, which is known as our “happy molecule”.
So consuming a healthy CBD snack could quite possibly melt your inflammatory pain away.
CBD snacks for epilepsy and seizures
Now if you’ve read much about CBD, you’ve probably heard all about how it helps to reduce the frequency of seizures. But did you know that the FDA approved the first plant-derived, CBD-based drug back in 2018? That’s not that long ago.
So this is what we mean when we say even the FDA can’t deny CBD’s therapeutic benefits. Children who battle rare forms of debilitating epilepsy are finally finding relief from CBD based medicines like Epidiolex. Now that’s groundbreaking!
CBD snacks for PTSD and insomnia
One medical case study found that CBD improved a 10 year old girl's quality of life dramatically. She had suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), chronic pain, and insomnia.
For years, medical professionals monitored the young girl. But once she was given small doses of CBD, she began showing significant changes in her mood, sleep, and overall health.
Even her grandmother (who was her caregiver) was blown away… “My granddaughter’s behaviors are definitely better being on CBD. Her anxiety is not gone, but it is not as intense and she is much easier to be around. She now sleeps in her own room most of the time, which has never happened before.”
So a simple CBD oil infused snack could potentially help those sleepless nights.
Look, we could go on and on about the benefits of CBD oil infused snacks and other products, but we think you get it. CBD snacks are awesome! So what's the catch? Are there any side effects?
CBD snacks side effects
As it turns out, studies show that CBD is fairly safe to consume. In fact, the only side effects of CBD are the following:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Irritability
- Increased blood levels
Now it should be noted that these side effects are rare and if users experience these effects at all, they fade pretty fast.
Now there’s just one small hiccup with consuming CBD snacks. And this is for those who happen to be on prescription medications...
CBD snacks and prescription drugs
When we eat, our food is first metabolized through our digestive system and then filtered out through our liver. Now this might not sound like a big deal, but if you're currently on any prescription drugs, then you’ll need to take extra precaution.
CBD uses the same liver enzymes as pharmaceutical drugs. This means CBD could significantly slow the breakdown of your prescription medications. Meaning, it could potentially increase the amount of medications that are in your system. So even if you’re taking your meds as directed by your doctor, if you’re combining them with CBD or taking them too close together, you could be building up those medications in your system, and that’s not ideal.
This is partly because, with more medications in your system, the more likely you’ll experience the side effects of those drugs. Now, don’t let this turn you off from consuming CBD snacks or any other CBD product for that matter.
Many people have noticed that by consuming CBD, they can reduce the amount of medications they have to take. But this is something you must discuss with your doctor. Never take yourself off your prescription medications without consulting with your doctor first. They can help monitor your blood levels and run other tests to make sure you’re healthy enough to only consume CBD.
Still, it’s nice to know that CBD might be able to help in that area. So if you plan on consuming CBD snacks and you happen to be on prescription medications, just give your doctor a heads up, see what they have to say about it, and never combine CBD with other medications. Instead, take them a few hours apart from each other.
So now that we know CBD snacks are relatively safe to consume, where do you find high-quality snacks that aren’t filled with a bunch of junk ingredients?
Where to buy high-quality CBD snacks
As with any new profitable industry, new companies are quick to jump on the bandwagon just to turn a profit. And it’s these companies who are creating poorly formulated CBD products that are making people incredibly sick. So it’s imperative that you only purchase CBD snacks from reputable companies who use hemp-derived CBD.
If you plan to munch on CBD snacks that are filled with junk ingredients, then you’re really not doing your body any good. Just because you see that it contains CBD, that doesn’t help if what you’re snacking on is filled with chemicals, preservatives, and artificial flavors.
Our bodies need real food! And reputable CBD companies understand this when formulating their CBD snacks.
Here’s what you need to look for when searching for high quality CBD snacks:
- All CBD products must be hemp-derived
- Hemp should be USA-grown and organic
- Ingredients should always be organic and free from pesticides, GMO’s, and other harmful toxins
- All hemp-derived CBD products should be thoroughly tested by an independent third party before they hit the market
- Each product should come with a Certificate of Analysis (COA) –– this confirms your CBD snacks are accurately labeled and thoroughly tested
The great thing about CBD snacks is that they’re already pre-dosed, so guess-timating how much CBD you need to consume won't be an issue. However, it’s important to follow the instructions on the label and never go overboard when consuming CBD. While CBD is safe to consume, too much of anything can cause some stomach upset.
When it comes to CBD snacks, you really can’t go wrong, as long as you purchase high-quality CBD snacks from reputable companies. And thankfully, there are several out there; it just takes some due diligence on your part to find them. In the end, your body will thank you for it!
So the next time you find yourself vegging out on the couch during a weeknight, opt for a healthy, yet tasty CBD chocolate bar or some other CBD snack. Who knows, it might be the best night's sleep you’ve had in awhile.
