CBD Energy Levels: How CBD Works in Relation to Your Energy Levels
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There's an overwhelming assumption that cannabidiol (CBD) has a sedative effect. CBD is not a sedative compound in the same way prescription sleeping pills work, but it has been shown to provide powerful relaxation benefits in high doses that may help you sleep better—but you'll also find some people using CBD for energy.
What's the deal here?
How can CBD both be used for relaxation and for energy and focus?
CBD is a unique cannabis-derived compound that when taken at the right time and in the right dose, may support energy and focus—who couldn't use more of that to study or work harder?
Some of the findings we've come across when it comes to CBD products for energy relate to two main mechanisms of CBD in the body:
- CBD regulates the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which modulates our sleep-wake cycle for sustained energy levels
- CBD may increase energy levels through increasing dopamine levels in the brain, which helps with mental alertness
This article will dive into how to use CBD for energy and ways you can use CBD effectively for a pick-me-up.
Does CBD Oil Give You More Energy And Focus?
CBD oil may provide you with a boost of energy, but timing and dosing are key.
In a 2014 study, cannabidiol was investigated as a wake-promoting agent. The research found that injections of CBD increased dopamine levels in the hypothalamus [1].
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that's tasked with wakefulness, learning, motivation, mood, and heart rate. An increase in dopamine levels can improve focus and a sense of wakefulness.
It should be noted that this was done with injections of CBD into the hypothalamus, and the Food and Drug Administration has not approved injectable cannabidiol outside of clinic use.
What Factors Can Affect Our Energy Levels?
Many of us wear a lot of demanding hats in our day-to-day lives as parents, friends, partners, employees, bosses, students, and the list goes on. It's no wonder we're always feeling drained and looking for energy boosts so we can keep up with our commitments without doubling down on high sugar energy drinks and anxiety-inducing caffeine.
Many factors can affect our energy and concentration levels including:
- Chronic health conditions
- Lack of sleep
- Stress
- Travel
- Injuries and pain
- Poor diet
- Dehydration
- Lack of physical activities
- Hormone deficiencies
If you're constantly feeling tired throughout the day, it's worth taking a look at your lifestyle to see what kind of changes you can apply that could help improve mental clarity and increased energy naturally.
For more health advice regarding your energy levels, especially if you have an underlying health condition, we strongly recommend you speak with your doctor before turning to the cannabis plant for support.
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Learn MoreHow CBD May Help With Energy Levels
CBD oil may give some people more energy—however, its mechanisms for energy and focus support are complicated to understand.
First of all, it's important to note that cannabidiol affects everyone differently as it primarily interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The endocannabinoid system has been shown to regulate energy metabolism among many other processes tasked with optimizing human function.
CBD doesn't readily bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors. Instead, it works by slowing down the release of enzymes that break down internally produced cannabinoids (endocannabinoids), which helps the ECS run smoothly to relay messages throughout the body for homeostasis (balance).
Due to genetics, lifestyle factors, and other underlying health conditions, everyone's baseline health will vary. If you naturally have low energy levels, CBD may be helpful in balancing this out, but it may also produce calming effects if you're too high strung.
The time of day you take your CBD oil can affect the outcome as well. For those looking to take advantage of CBD for energy, it's best taken earlier in the day—perhaps alongside your coffee to fuel your productivity.
Let's get into the other ways CBD may indirectly support your energy and focus throughout the day.
CBD May Support Sleep Through Its Relaxation Properties
The obvious way to have more energy throughout the day is to get more sleep. According to the Center For Disease Control (CDC), only one in three Americans are getting the recommended 7+ hours of sleep each night.
As we mentioned earlier in this article, many people turn to CBD as a natural way to support a good night's sleep without knocking you out and leaving you groggy the next day. CBD has been shown to support your biological response to stressful events by increasing GABA levels in the brain. GABA counteracts the stress response, which helps prime the body for rest and relaxation [2].
If you have trouble shutting your thoughts off at night to get your 7+ hours of sleep, you may want to consider taking higher doses of CBD (30–50MG) about an hour before your bedtime.
CBD For Discomfort May Help Boost Energy Levels
The body undergoes a lot of stress when it's healing from an injury. The body starts recovery by releasing cytokines—proteins that initiate the inflammatory response. One of the side-effects of the inflammatory response is fatigue, especially if it's prolonged.
CBD has been studied to provide a lot of support for a healthy inflammation response to minimize discomfort and other side effects of cytokines [3].
Tips For Taking CBD For Energy And Focus
1. Try 10–20MG Of CBD Doses
CBD has been shown to be more effective as a sleep support supplement at high doses, so to use CBD for energy and focus, try taking 10–20 MG of CBD.
If you're new to CBD, stick to the lower range so your body can adjust to higher levels of cannabinoids.
2. Take CBD in the Morning
There's really no scientific findings to suggest when the best time to take CBD oil is, but many enthusiasts swear by taking CBD first thing in the morning around the same time each day, alongside their stack of vitamins to support their energy levels throughout the day.
3. Look At The Ingredients List
There are some CBD products on the market that have complementary ingredients that work towards sustainable energy and focus. For example, you might find CBD + Caffeine combinations for a short burst of energy. Ingredients like vitamin B, ashwagandha extract, and Rhodiola are found to increase energy levels when taken long-term.
Even the flavor of CBD oil may change its effects. For example, Citrus CBD oil has uplifting and energizing properties that can provide support towards CBD use.
4. Try Stacking CBD With Your Coffee
A popular bio-hack many people swear by is combining CBD oil with their morning brew for long-lasting energy. Since one of the side-effects of coffee is the jitters, CBD helps to offset this with its relaxing effects.
Blending coffee with your CBD MCT oil also provides a slow, long burn of energy throughout the day in what's called Bulletproof Coffee.
Don't let the thought of oily coffee deter you from making this drink. If you blend it well, it tastes like a creamy latte, making you feel full and alert for much longer than black coffee.
5. Use a Full Spectrum CBD Extract
Experts and CBD enthusiasts agree that you'll gain the most health benefits and experience fewer occurrences of side effects with a full spectrum hemp extract or a THC-free broad spectrum extract.
The other popular CBD extract on the market is called CBD isolate—and it contains only one active ingredient, CBD.
CBD isn't the only beneficial cannabinoid. There are over a hundred cannabinoids and terpenes that lend their unique flavor and effect profile to a CBD oil. CBD will be much more effective when working alongside its other naturally occurring compounds than on its own as an isolate and produce more well-rounded effects, thanks to a phenomenon called the entourage effect.
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Learn MoreThe Takeaway: CBD Products For An Energy Boost
CBD is not a cure-all compound, despite all the marketing claims you'll find on the web. Its unique interaction with the ECS system gives CBD its wide-ranging set of effects.
While CBD oil is a promising health supplement that has increased the quality of life for many people, there are many ways to improve your energy levels and overall health, which can also further CBD's efficacy towards energy and focus.
If you're struggling to find the energy to keep up with life's demands, be sure to stay hydrated, manage your stress, eat nutritious meals, and get plenty of rest each night. You can find premium CBD on our website to help you out with the rest.
All our CBD oils are tested by an independent lab to demonstrate their quality and purity. If you're not completely happy with our products, don't fret—we offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, so you can try CBD products for energy risk-free.
Frequently Asked Questions For CBD Oil & Energy:
Why Does CBD Keep You Awake?
CBD affects everyone differently, depending on their genetics and other lifestyle factors, but it could also be the doses and other ingredients in the formula that's keeping you awake.
Generally, CBD oil should make you feel more relaxed, but not drowsy.
If you're looking for something to help you get a good night's sleep, looking for CBD products that also contain ingredients that help with sleep like melatonin, lavender, and valerian root. CBN alongside CBD can also support a better night's rest.
References:
- Murillo-Rodríguez, E., Sarro-Ramírez, A., Sánchez, D., Mijangos-Moreno, S., Tejeda-Padrón, A., Poot-Aké, A., ... & Arias-Carrión, O. (2014). Potential effects of cannabidiol as a wake-promoting agent. Current neuropharmacology, 12(3), 269-272.
- Bakas, T., Van Nieuwenhuijzen, P. S., Devenish, S. O., McGregor, I. S., Arnold, J. C., & Chebib, M. (2017). The direct actions of cannabidiol and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol at GABAA receptors. Pharmacological research, 119, 358-370.Chicago
- Henshaw, F. R., Dewsbury, L. S., Lim, C. K., & Steiner, G. Z. (2021). The Effects of Cannabinoids on Pro-and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines: A Systematic Review of In Vivo Studies. Cannabis and cannabinoid research.
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