The Modern Man's Guide to Natural Wellness: Incorporating CBD Into Your Daily Routine

Market analysts continue to see a steady increase in the number of men prioritizing natural wellness – practices that nurture their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. They're supporting that modern, holistic approach with the latest advances in modern smart tech designed to track activity levels, monitor sleep cycles, and evaluate stress levels. Many also work with virtual coaches offering valuable insights and expert guidance in matters of personal importance.¹

If you've been taking advantage of those (or similar) products and services, you've likely been tempted by more promotions, reviews, and special offers for other "natural" wellness products than you care to admit – green drinks, energy bars, infrared treatments, brainwave entrainment apps, and multiple supplements. Will they work as advertised? Maybe. Do they fit your lifestyle? That's the question. If you prefer keeping things simple, consider trying CBD for natural wellness – a plant element that's easy to incorporate into your daily routine.

What Is CBD? 

CBD (cannabidiol) is the most abundant of the 113 cannabinoids in hemp plants.² Once crops are harvested and dried, the cannabinoid-rich oil is extracted from the flower, distilled, and used as an ingredient in an impressive number of popular products – CBD oil tinctures, gummies, softgels, and more. The naturally occurring 15-20:1 CBD to THC ratio in unaltered full spectrum hemp extract ensures you can enjoy the significant health and wellness potential of cannabis with little risk of intoxication or chemical dependency.³  

Mechanisms of Action: How CBD Asserts Its Health and Wellness Potential  

When you add a serving of a high-quality CBD oil tincture to your morning smoothie, swallow a CBD softgel, or enjoy a CBD-infused gummy, the cannabinoid interacts with more than 65 molecular targets,⁴ including your dopamine, serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and endocannabinoid system (ECS) receptors. That interaction's impact depends on multiple factors and explains why the cannabinoid appears to positively influence so many seemingly unrelated concerns. 

Serotonin, for example, can have an inhibitive or excitatory effect on your moods and emotions, while dopamine plays a significant role in reward-seeking behaviors.⁵ GABA, on the other hand, inhibits the transmission of signals between overactive nerve cells.⁶ Although CBD's reported influence on those systems could be impactful, most researchers credit the cannabinoid's interaction with the ECS receptors for its impressive list of possible benefits. 

Your Daily Routine: Tips For Incorporating CBD Into Your Lifestyle   

As the largest regulatory system in the human body, your ECS is involved in nearly every aspect of your overall health and personal well-being – everything from your moods, emotions, and stress responses to muscle movement, sleep cycle regulation, and the perception of pleasure and pain. The implications are so far-reaching that most experts believe supporting ECS function with CBD helps restore system-wide equilibrium (promotes homeostasis) when internal and external stressors threaten essential balance.⁷ 

According to a 2019 CBDistillery® survey of 1,900 customers, most CBD users report positive results using their favorite products for relaxation, better sleep, mild or temporary anxiety, and pain, inflammation, and stiffness after physical activity. An impressive 90% of our respondents prefer the effects of CBD over turmeric, a supplement often recommended for post-workout recovery.⁸ The fact that there are so many ways to enjoy CBD makes it an easy fit for nearly any wellness routine. 

Morning Routine  

The key to making CBD part of your wellness journey is consistency. The easiest way to stay consistent is to incorporate your first serving into your morning routine. If you start your day with a protein drink or bulletproof coffee, for example, try adding a serving of a CBD oil tincture into your beverage. If you've already established a supplement regimen, CBD softgels or gummies could be the better fit. 

Workday Integration  

Although individual results can vary, most men can expect the effects of their favorite CBD oil tinctures, softgels, and gummies to last around 6-8 hours. At some point midday, you might want to try adding a second serving to keep the effects going strong. Consider keeping a bottle of softgels or a jar of CBD gummies in your briefcase, desk drawer, or locker. They're great for home use and on the go.   

Post-Workout Recovery 

You can also use CBD before, during, or after your workout to help ease activity-induced muscle tension and stiffness. Since it can take an hour or more for the impact of gummies and softgels to peak, you might prefer incorporating the fast-acting targeted effects of a CBD sports stick or full spectrum CBD balm into your routine. They can be used on their own or combined with your product of choice. 

Evening Routine  

Relaxation is essential for combatting the impact of day-to-day stress. Deep, restorative sleep is crucial for nearly every aspect of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. With CBD incorporated into your evening routine, you've got those bases covered. Of our 1,900 survey respondents, most preferred CBD over meditation (82%) and alcohol (76%) for relaxation, and 9 out of 10 reported better sleep. 

Product Types: Choosing Your Ideal Combination of Cannabinoids & Terpenes  

As the popularity of CBD continues to climb, so does the number of companies competing for your attention. Although nearly every manufacturer claims to sell high-quality CBD, the purity and potency of the many products flooding the marketplace can vary from one brand to the next. You can, however, protect yourself from getting stuck with inferior goods by sticking with reputable brands relying on natural farming practices and clean, sustainable, food-safe extraction methods. 

When you're reasonably sure you've found a company that ticks all the right boxes, look for a Certificate of Analysis – a document that confirms you're buying products that are as potent as the manufacturer claims and have been screened for heavy metals, pesticides, extraction residue, and microbial contamination. Once you've viewed that document, you can shop with confidence. We suggest narrowing the scope of your search according to which of the three main types of extract you prefer. 

Full Spectrum Hemp Extract  

Health and wellness products made with full spectrum hemp extract give you the cannabinoid and terpene profile nature intended, including a small amount of THC. Of the three main types, full spectrum extract is considered the most potent option because of the way the cannabinoids and terpenes combine to produce the "entourage" effect cannabis is known for.⁹ 

Broad Spectrum Hemp Extract  

With broad spectrum hemp extract, you'll get many of the same cannabinoids and terpenes as full spectrum, but the THC is reduced to non-detectable levels (0.01% or less). While broad spectrum products retain the additional cannabinoids and terpenes needed for the potency-maximizing potential of an entourage effect, some (not all) men feel that removing THC reduces its impact.¹⁰   

Pure CBD Isolate Powder 

CBD isolate is pure, potent, and highly refined. All that remains after extraction and processing is a white crystalline powder that contains 0% THC. Tinctures and topicals made with CBD isolate are most often favored by men interested in adding CBD to foods and beverages and those who don't particularly care for the rather distinctive aroma of cannabis. 

Gradual Integration: The Advantages of Starting Low and Going Slow  

Hemp-derived CBD is safe for most adults, generally well-tolerated, and the World Health Organization found "no evidence of public health-related problems." Side effects, however, are possible. Some CBD users report dry mouth, unanticipated fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, or appetite changes.¹¹ Most often, their unpleasant symptoms are mild and tend to resolve with smaller serving sizes – which brings us to an important point about serving size suggestions. 

When you're integrating CBD into your daily routine, it's important to understand that no two men are exactly the same. A serving size that seems to work great for your buddy at the gym could be a lot more or considerably less than the amount that suits you best. Although taking more CBD than you might need is not harmful, there's also no additional benefit. The following suggestions will help you determine the smallest amount of CBD you need to achieve the best results. 

Start Your Journey with a Partial Serving  

Most CBD products have serving-size suggestions printed on their labels or packaging. But those recommendations tend to stay the same regardless of product potency. Instead, consider starting with a partial serving, maybe just half of a gummy or a half-dropper of a CBD oil tincture. You may even want to consider experimenting drop by drop. The choice is yours. 

Increase Your Serving Sizes Gradually  

If you don't get the results you're hoping for at your starting point, increase the amount of CBD you're using in small increments at a pace you're comfortable with. But keep in mind that it can take anywhere from a few hours to several weeks (or more) for your system to adapt and respond. Some first-time CBD users up their usage with every serving; others stick with smaller amounts for days at a time. 

Document Your Observations    

Many men find it helpful to track how much CBD they're using throughout the day and document any noticeable changes as they occur. If you notice an improvement in mental clarity or feel more tired, for example, write it down. You could easily find that your ideal serving size for discomfort after physical activity could be quite different than the amount you prefer for better sleep or relaxation. 

How Could You Benefit from Incorporating CBD Into Your Wellness Routine?  

Holistic health emphasizes achieving goals beyond the realms of physical fitness and balanced nutrition. It's an approach to overall health and well-being encompassing mindfulness, mental clarity, stress relief, and work/life balance. Although technology designed to evaluate sleep quality, improve mental clarity, promote relaxation, and monitor real-time metrics during exercise can provide valuable insights, men of all ages continue to struggle with stress, sleeplessness, and physical discomfort after physical activity. 

If you can relate, you may want to try adding CBD to your wellness routine. Based on the feedback of our 2019 survey respondents, most CBD users report achieving positive results within 7-14 days of consistent use. If you're intrigued by the many possible benefits of this natural plant element but not quite sure where to begin, consider scheduling a personal consultation. CBDistillery® hemp-derived products are rigorously tested, quality assured, and backed by our 60-day satisfaction guarantee.    

References 

1. 2024 Fitness Trends: Personalization, Wellness, & Digital (N.D) Core Health & Fitness. 

2. Rudd J. (2023) CBD vs THC – What Are the Main Differences? Analytical Cannabis. 

3. World Health Organization. (2020) Cannabidiol (CBD) Critical Review Report. PDF https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/controlled-substances/whocbdreportmay2018-2.pdf?sfvrsn=f78db177_2 

4. Elsaid S, Foll B. (2020) The Complexity of Pharmacology of Cannabidiol (CBD) and Its Implications in the Treatment of Brain Disorders. 45 Neuropsychopharmacol 229-30 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-019-0518-1 

5. Serotonin vs. Dopamine: What Are the Differences? (2023) Verywell Health. 

6. Maguire J. (2018) The Relationship Between GABA and Stress: It's Complicated. 596(10) J Physiol 1781-82. doi: 10.1113/JP275937. Epub 2018 Apr 16. PMID: 29524241; PMCID: PMC5978385 

7. Sallaberry C, Astern L. (2018) The Endocannabinoid System, Our Universal Regulator. 34(6) JYI 48-55. https://www.jyi.org/2018-june/2018/6/1/the-endocannabinoid-system-our-universal-regulator 

8. Peng Y, Mingyue A, et al. (2021) Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Curcumin in the Inflammatory Disease: Status, Limitations and Countermeasures. 15, Drug Des Devel Ther 4503-25. https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S327378 

9. Gupta S. (2014) Medical Marijuana and the Entourage Effect. CNN Health. 

10. Wilkins T. (2022) What Is the Entourage Effect? How This Enhances CBD Effects. Marijuana Takers. 

11. Bergamaschi M, Queiroz R, et al. (2011) Safety and Side Effect of Cannabidiol, a Cannabis Sativa Constituent. 6(4) Curr Drug Saf 237-49. https://doi.org/10.2174/157488611798280924