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GreenBox x Innermost Presents: Cannabidoil (CBD) Explained

8th October 2021

Community Health Life

8th October 2021

By Innermost

It’s that time again… time to introduce you to some exciting new brands that we are proud to partner with here at Innermost. The lovely folks at GreenBox have guest written a little something to share with you.

GreenBox work with us to raise awareness about a holistic approach to health and wellness, and sell some of our award-winning supplementations such as The Relax Capsules, The Detox Booster and The Focus Capsules. We bonded over our love of natural alternatives and the rest was history. But who are GreenBox? What do they sell? And can they explain to us the ins-and-outs of CBD?

GreenBox: The Lowdown

GreenBox sell a variety of plant-based wellness products focusing on improving overall health. Their goal is to create an environment supporting sustainable wellness versus following the latest fad diet or ingredient, not too dissimilar than our goal here at Innermost. At GreenBox, they introduce CBD, while providing you with the information you may need to learn more about this wonder ingredient, taking all the hard work and confusion out of it for you.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of 116 cannabinoids that can be extracted from the hemp plant. The hemp plant is grown throughout the world, and its importance in human history is well documented as a medicine. CBD gets a bit of a bad reputation as it gets lumped in with other cannabinoids from the hemp plant which are highly regulated like THC. The difference with CBD is that it cannot get you high, it is legal and regulated in the UK and Europe and has an emerging reputation for its positive therapeutic benefits. It is also the only cannabinoid on the list of approved medicines by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

How does CBD work?

All of us have a natural system in our bodies called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The importance of this system in regulating our body was not fully understood until the 1990’s.

While a lot of clinical study is ongoing today to determine how the ECS works, the prevailing view is the ECS keeps our body in balance. So, it does this by responding to various stresses on our body and producing natural compounds to help battle inflammation. These natural compounds are called endocannabinoids and they react with various receptors in our brain, gut, and immune system.

So, where does CBD fit into the picture? Amazingly, CBD is a plant-based version of an endocannabinoid our body generates naturally. The issue with the natural cannabinoid is enzymes in our bodies sometimes break it down before its done fighting off all the inflammation in our cells. This residual inflammation can lead to all sorts of chronic health issues, including an emerging condition called auto-stress, where the fight or flight system gets activated even though there is not a stress event occurring.

 As such, CBD can be used to supplement our ECS and help fight off the remnants of inflammation in our bodies. So, therefore CBD is used by many high-performance athletes, to help aid with recovery and to help improve recovery times.

What are the benefits to taking CBD?

There are many studies ongoing on CBD, and most of the benefits are anecdotal. As such, specific claims cannot be made by CBD companies until clinical studies are completed to support claims. However, some of the benefits from users are reduced stress levels, better sleep, and improved moods.

There are four science-backed CBD benefits for skin that can be made as the EU has approved it.  CBD can reduce redness in the skin, so you have seen CBD added to a number of beauty products. It can also act to help prevent the signs of aging and fine lines.

What are the different ways to take CBD?

There are a few different formats for making CBD apart of your daily regime. The most popular format is to take an oil. The drops are taken under the tongue and help there for 60 seconds. This be done in the morning and evening.

This format is good for varying dose, and for getting the most bang for your buck. The most popular CBD oil at GreenBox is the Vitality CBD oil drops. It is a great product for CBD beginners.   

GreenBox informed us that some people are thrown off by the taste of the oil, so it is also possible to take in a capsule, a tablet or even a gummy. The Love Hemp 600mg CBD capsules are quite popular on the GreenBox site, and Love Hemp recently started working with Anthony Joshua to develop a specific line of products targeted at high performance athletes. A new format, tablets can be dropped into your morning glass of water and can also supplement your daily regime with other vitamins. A real favourite at GreenBox is the Fourfive CBD tablet, the company founded by two former pro-rugby players.

For injuries or pulled muscles, the best format is a CBD muscle balm. We’re told that another GreenBox favourite is the Cerious Muscle Balm Cerious muscle balm, which was formulated by the co-creator of MAC cosmetics and doesn’t have the same medicinal odours of other muscle balms.  Applying a muscle rub to sore joints or legs post a workout is a great way to feel these beneficial effects and aid recovery.

How much CBD should I take?

The guidelines from the UK health authorities are not to exceed 70mg of CBD per day. Most of the formats come in 10 or 20mg servings, which makes it easier to ensure this daily threshold is not exceeded. It is worth noting you cannot overdose on CBD, so do not be worried if you accidentally go over this guideline. The key is to start low and go slow.

It takes 4-6 weeks before you should start to notice the positive effects of taking CBD, while the longer-term benefits come from taking CBD on a sustained basis.

Want to learn more about CBD?

GreenBox has created the Ultimate Guide to CBD , which goes much deeper on each of the topics we have touched on above. Or visit www.greenbox.co.uk to learn more.
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From the Bedroom to the Gym: Is Your Sex Life Affecting Your Workout Performance?

From the Bedroom to the Gym: Is Your Sex Life Affecting Your Workout Performance?

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The men performed 5 sets of 5 repetitions of their maximum squat weight during these sessions and the difference in weight lifted was observed. The study concluded that ‘sexual intercourse within 24 hours before exercise [has a] detrimental effect on lower extremity muscle force, which suggests that restricting sexual activity before a short-term activity may be necessary.’ Aside from this study, most others found either no notable relationship between sex and athletic performance. A meta-analysis of 9 crossover studies, conducted by Zavorsky and Brooks and published on 16 September 2022, confirms this. The analysis concluded that ‘The results demonstrate that sexual activity within 30 min to 24 h before exercise does not appear to affect aerobic fitness, musculoskeletal endurance, or strength/power.’ This is perhaps more notable, because these studies incorporated different types of exercise and were not restricted purely to a strength/power based activity like squats.   Anecdotal Evidence: What About the Experiences of Real Gym Goers? The anecdotal evidence is, as expected, highly individualised. However, there tends to be a bias against the results of most studies, particularly in those participating in sports involving strength and aggression. For example, many fighters claim that they perform better when they abstain from sex in the days leading up to a contest. Similarly, bodybuilding forums are full of debate on this topic and many claim they note a significant decrease in motivation to train at maximum intensity after sexual activity. It has been hypothesised that this may be due to a downregulation in testosterone production after sex; during orgasm the mineral zinc is released in the body and this is also a precursor for natural testosterone production in the body and may, therefore, provide some reasoning as to the experience of many trainees.   Key Takeaways The relationship between sex and workout performance will always be a complicated one. The effects of one on the other in terms of physical fitness and, in particular, mental wellbeing, are clear, but when it comes to actual performance this appears to be highly individual. We’d advise doing what feels best for you but not worrying too much about it. Instead, prioritise your nutrition and make sure you’re fuelling your workouts properly. While you’re here, why not take a look at the Innermost range? We’re proud to be completely transparent about the ingredients in our products and we always ensure they’re of the highest quality. Check us out, and be sure to get in touch if you have any questions!
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