CBD and Summer: the Perfect Combination

Now that summer is upon us, we are all dreaming of holidays, going out, and exploring. After two years of constraints, people are looking at summer as the perfect opportunity to make a fresh start and enjoy life. It’s a bit like new year’s resolutions—only in warmer, sunnier weather!

CBD can be a part of these summer resolutions. If you have decided to eat more fruit, exercise more, relax, and enjoy life more, then maybe you should include CBD in your new routine.

CBD can be added to all your summer cooking, including drinks. When you introduce CBD to your body in the summer, you give it plenty of time to start acting until autumn and winter come. By that time, your immune system will be ready to withstand viruses and keep you strong and healthy.

CBD and summer anxiety

We all think that summer is a time of relaxation and carefree happiness, but summer carries its own anxieties.

There are so many things to stress over: holidays to book, work to finish, and deadlines to remember, such as preparing for autumn and the start of school. Summer can be stressful.

CBD has been found to have potential anti-anxiety properties [1]. CBD interacts with brain neurotransmitters, particularly serotonin, which is responsible for our mood: low levels of serotonin have been associated with anxiety and depression. CBD appears to help the body produce more serotonin and maintain a healthy balance of this neurotransmitter in the brain [2].

Taking CBD in the summer may help relieve your brain of unwanted stress and anxiety. You could also give yourself the time and space you need to enjoy the longer days, the sunshine, and your holidays. Also, at night, studies suggest that CBD may help promote better sleep by relaxing you and de-stressing you before going to bed [3]. CBD may therefore help you sleep better and be more active and relaxed during the day.

CBD and summer sports

Summer is a great time to do sports. Sunny, hot weather is the best companion for swimming, but when it’s cooler you can also play tennis, walk, hike, and bike. Summer is also the time when we have more free time on our hands to do sports.

CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is the human system tasked with keeping our mood, appetite, immune system, and inflammation in balance. You may be able to relax sore muscles and painful post-sports joints with CBD, thanks to its anti-inflammatory qualities.

Muscles can get torn from sports, particularly if you are only at the start of your athletic endeavours. You could introduce CBD in your daily summer routine to help your body recover from exercise, thus getting the extra boost you need to keep at your favourite sport and actively enjoy it.

CBD and sunshine

Summer is practically synonymous with dry conditions. Your skin could feel the effects of the sun and less humid conditions, becoming drier and wrinklier.

Many manufacturers of topicals and body hydrating products incorporate CBD in their body care products. CBD seems to have moisturizing qualities and may help your skin retain its flexibility and suppleness.

The sun can also exacerbate existing skin problems such as acne, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis, with sun exposure and sweat making these pre-existing skin conditions even worse.

CBD appears to be helpful with such skin conditions [4]. It is thought that, because of CBD’s anti-inflammatory qualities and its moisturizing benefits, people with skin conditions may find CBD-enhanced skin products helpful, particularly in the summer.

The sunscreen market has also seen an increase in products with CBD. While CBD doesn’t have any sun-protecting qualities, many modern sunscreens contain CBD to add moisturizing and hydrating properties to the final product. A CBD-enhanced sunscreen could thus provide valuable relief to your skin.

CBD and summer food

You can indulge in delicious summer food while also helping your body make the most of vitamins and CBD. If that sounds too good to be true, one quick search online will show you otherwise: you will find thousands of recipes for drinks and food that include CBD. CBD has been added to beverages, cocktails, spreads, foods, and chocolates.

CBD is lipophilic, which means it dissolves in fat rather than water. Our body contains mainly water, which limits CBD’s bioavailability—the percentage of CBD that reaches the bloodstream. One way to help make the most out of CBD is to mix it with healthy fats so that it stays longer in the body, thus letting us take better advantage of it.

Summer foods such as avocado spreads, yogurt with fruit, hummus, and other delicacies that contain healthy fats can be blended with CBD. Vegetables and healthy vegetable fats, in particular, can make a great foundation to mix your CBD.

Many people choose to put CBD in their drinks, especially cocktails. Taking an evening drink with CBD can be quite enjoyable, but we would, of course, suggest you don’t overdo your drinking based on the idea that you are also taking CBD. While it’s best to keep your alcohol drinking to normal levels, you can put CBD in your milk, fruit juice, or another beverage without being concerned about alcohol content.

CBD and your immune system

Did you know that our body works better in the summer? Research is showing that our immune system is at its peak in June, July, and August [5].

CBD may help the immune system stay healthy, thanks to its interaction with the endocannabinoid system. Come autumn, your body will be well-prepared to fight colds, infections, and winter viruses. Summer is the perfect time to take CBD and maximize your immune system response.

Give CBD time to work in the summer

CBD doesn’t work overnight—it takes time for the body to get adjusted to it. You slowly build up your CBD intake to reach your health expectations. Your immune system, mental health, and physical well-being will need a few days if not weeks to feel the effect of CBD.

Summer is the perfect season to give your body time to make the most of CBD. You can relax, take note of how you feel, and evaluate the type of CBD product, frequency, and dosage that works for you. For example, some people like CBD oils or tinctures while others prefer CBD pills and capsules. Others prefer taking one large dose daily while some swear by microdosing, whereby you take small doses throughout the day.

Experiment with CBD products and see which one works best with your schedule and daily routine. If you feel it’s easier to take CBD with your food, then include CBD in your cooking. If you’d rather take it after a bath, make it part of your self-care ritual.

You can also experiment with the right time of the day to take CBD. Some people prefer to take it in the morning to boost their energy levels while others choose to take it in the evening before going to bed for relaxation and better sleep quality.

CBD in summer: a good partnership

Summer is a good time to start experimenting with CBD. Your body is at its optimum and you can give yourself time and space to evaluate how CBD works for you.

You can also take CBD for post-athletic pains and aches to help your body recover from sore muscles and joints.

Research suggests that CBD may have anti-anxiety qualities. While summer is often considered the most relaxed season of the year, many people don’t share that belief. CBD can give them much-needed stress relief and help them better organize their thoughts and lives.

Finally, our immune system is at its peak in summer. With the extra boost of CBD, you are strengthening your body and preparing it for winter’s infections and colds. You can slowly build up your immune system and have a more pleasant and quiet winter.

Choose a good-quality CBD product that carries third-party lab tests to be sure about what it contains and that it’s free of chemicals and heavy metals. Don’t be afraid to experiment with brands and product types until you’ve found the ones that best suit your body.

References

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6161644/

[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29885468/

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326553/

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7736837/

[5] https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms8000