The Rise of CBD-Infused Drinks
The Rise of CBD-Infused Drinks
Nowadays, plant-based living is all the rage. Every day, we are learning more and more about how to incorporate these healthy nutrients into our daily lives. With this, we’re seeing the rise of plant-based recovery drinks and the unique benefits they have to offer us.
If you’ve never tried a plant-based recovery drink for after your workout, we highly suggest it. These drinks aren’t becoming popular just for taste; rather, they’re rising in popularity and consumption for the nutrients and sustainability of it all.
The recovery drink market is one that has been seeing exponential growth within the past few years. As more people are becoming interested in putting their health into their own hands, people are starting to turn to antioxidant-rich and powerful recovery drinks to give their body the care it needs after receiving the exercise it deserves. Now, plant-based recovery drinks are starting to make way.
We all know how important it is to eat our fruits and veggies. When we switch to plant-based diets or plant-based living, we’re consistently consuming ingredients that are rich in nutrients, healthy fats, and everything else our body craves. So, if we choose to eat plant-based, why not choose to enjoy plant-based drinks, too?
As these drinks become more sought-after, more options are becoming available for different types of plant-based drinks. No longer do we only have the choice of rice-based, but we have hemp, sunflower, pumpkin, pea protein, and so much more.
One of the most popular plant-based options is that of cannabinoids found in hemp.
What Are Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids have a history that dates back several millennia, as mankind has cultivated and used cannabis for over 6,000 years. However, research of the plant and its cannabinoid compounds only began at the end of the nineteenth century. So what are cannabinoids and how do they relate to cannabis?
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, “cannabinoids are a group of substances found in the cannabis plant.” If you dive a little deeper into that definition, you find that there are three general types of cannabinoids: phytocannabinoids, endogenous cannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids. Phytocannabinoids and endogenous cannabinoids are naturally occurring. However, phytocannabinoids are those that occur naturally in a cannabis plant, whereas endogenous cannabinoids are naturally produced in humans as well as other animals. As the name may suggest, synthetic cannabinoids are man-made in a laboratory.
There are over 100 different cannabinoids that have been identified by scientists and researchers across the world, including the most widely known tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). But in 1899, the first cannabinoid to be discovered was neither of these. It was cannabinol (CBN) – a mildly psychoactive cannabinoid that is only present in trace amounts of the cannabis plant until the plant has aged, in which it will have a stronger presentation. It wasn’t until 1963 that CBD was discovered and documented as another cannabinoid. One year later, THC was identified and isolated as the main active compound in the cannabis plant.
The main difference between cannabinoids is how they present themselves and react in our bodies. For example, THC binds to the cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors in our brains, whereas CBD is unable to form a strong bond with this receptor. These CB1 receptors, as well as cannabinoid 2 (CB2) receptors, are part of the endocannabinoid system, a neurotransmitter system that is responsible for many of our physiological processes and functions, including mood, memory, pain and appetite. In our bodies, endocannabinoids are the endogenous lipids that bind to our cannabinoid receptors.
Simply put, the naturally occurring cannabinoids that are found in our bodies act as bioregulators. This is one of the reasons why phytocannabinoids have been recommended by medical practitioners and experts alike to treat a variety of diseases and illnesses, including chronic pain, migraines, anxiety, epileptic seizures, heartburn and more.
In recent decades, scientists across the world have dedicated themselves to researching the difference between CBD and THC, as well as other cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system. Discovering how different cannabinoids bind to receptors in the endocannabinoid system continues to allow scientists and medical experts alike the opportunity to present new potential treatments for health conditions. The last few decades have seen a dramatic increase in research in this area, making it one of the fastest-growing fields in psychopharmacology.
Hemp the New Superfood?
Hemp has been proven to be an ideal ingredient for recovery drinks because of its high protein content and levels of amino acids. Hemp is composed of about 50% protein, which is significantly higher than whey protein, the dairy-based ingredient often found in recovery drinks and protein shakes. Along with its amount of protein, hemp is rich in fatty acids like omega 3 and omega 6, both of which help to enhance energy levels and strengthen the immune system. When we add these types of ingredients into drinks that are specifically designed to make us feel better, it only adds an extra layer of nutrition and protection to keep us feeling strong, even after our hardest workouts.
We’re also seeing the rise of ingredients like blueberries, sunflower and pea protein, and pumpkin seeds being added into recovery drinks of the like, as they, too, provide unique health benefits for our recovering bodies. As a whole, these plant-based drinks are made to give our body the extra support it needs to continue working and healing after putting it through strenuous work and stress.
After your next workout, come prepared with a plant-based recovery drink. Though you may not see an instant difference in the way your body performs, everything internally will be thanking you greatly. Soon, the more consistently you provide your body with the leafy greens and fruits inside these drinks, the easier your body will be able to recover from even the toughest workouts.
Conclusion
No doubt plant-based recovery beverages are the way of the future, and now, you can try it for yourself in the comfort of your home. While there's much more research to be conducted on the safety and efficacy of CBD, we're hopeful that the medical industry and public acceptance for the hemp plant as a whole will grow — pun intended. Never underestimate the power of plants.