The go-to supplement for energy is caffeine. But is there something better—and healthier—we can do to feel more energized?
The go-to supplement for energy is caffeine. But is there something better—and healthier—we can do to feel more energized?
Energy—something that is all too fleeting these days. With busier lives comes a long list of to-dos. If you’ve been feeling more sluggish and sleepy lately, we have 5 tips to help you naturally maintain energy and overall wellness.
1. Get More High-Quality Sleep (with full-spectrum CBD)
When it comes to sleep, it’s more about quality than quantity.
Quality sleep considers how long it takes for you to fall asleep, how often (and easily) you wake up during the night, how hard it is to fall back asleep, and how refreshed you feel in the morning.
And since the start of the pandemic, people have been struggling with their quality of sleep—with the hashtag #cantsleep regularly trending on Twitter.
A new study conducted by King’s College London and Ipsos MORI in the UK found that nearly two-thirds (63%) of participants said their sleep has been worse since the lockdown was announced on March 23rd, 2020.
Yes, high-quality sleep is becoming harder to achieve, but there is a simple fix on the horizon...
LIONES CBD Oil for Sleep—specifically curated for those experiencing disturbed or less sleep—is the perfect natural supplement to have by your bedside.
Who knew that full-spectrum CBD oil was the thing to finally gift you with the sleep you’ve been dreaming of?
In one study conducted from 2016 to 2018, cannabis was used to treat 409 patients with insomnia. Their symptoms at the beginning of the study were rated at a 6.6, and after the use of cannabis, it decreased all the way down to 2.2. That’s quite a difference.
Here’s how to incorporate full-spectrum CBD into your nightly ritual: About thirty minutes before bed, put your desired dose of drops under your tongue and hold for at least 60 seconds. This allows the CBD to more efficiently absorb into your bloodstream through the capillaries (tiny blood vessels) under your tongue. Now all that’s left to do is relax, read a book, and doze off to dreamland.
2. Drink More Water
You’ve probably heard it before—that your body weight ranges from 75% water in infancy to 55% water in elderly persons.
With that being said, are you drinking enough water to maintain your energy levels?
Well, it depends on where you live, what conditions you’re living under, how much activity you get in a day, and other factors like what types of foods you’re eating.
Water consumption can be anywhere from 2 liters per day to as much as 10 liters per day if you’re in a hot climate and/or performing strenuous activities.
According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), a healthy intake of water is 1.6 liters for women and 2.0 liters for men per day.
3. Ditch the Added Sugar
Sugar…
It’s added to nearly everything. So much so that Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Finland rank in the top 10 countries to consume the most sugar—with Germany leading the European countries with their daily consumption of sugar being a whopping 102.9 grams per person.
When it comes to eliminating sugar from your diet, it will take time (and a bit of willpower!).
During your first week of cutting sugar out, add more fruits to your diet—like strawberries, banana, or pineapple. This will help curb those cravings so you can more easily stick to a sugar-free diet.
Then, week by week, reduce the amount of fruit you’re eating—with the end goal being 400 grams of fruits and vegetables daily, as recommended by the World Health Organization (this equates to roughly 5 servings).
4. Breathe Intentionally
Our breath is what keeps us alive, yet it doesn’t get the credit it deserves.
Breathwork is a therapeutic and energizing technique that has been around for thousands of years and has been making its grand return in our modern-day society.
Ancient yogic teachings call this conscious form of breathing Pranayama. “Prana” in Sanskrit means life energy and “yama” means control.
One of the plus-sides of deep breathing is that the physical benefits are often immediate. Breathing deeply creates a sense of calm by activating your parasympathetic nervous system, which slows down your heart rate and lowers your blood pressure.
Focusing your energy on pranayama will decrease stress and blood pressure, increase mindfulness, and improve sleep quality, lung function, and cognitive performance—all of which upgrade your overall energy and wellness.
5. Get Moving
Exercise to gain energy? It sounds counterintuitive, but we have the science to back it up…
In a 2006 randomized controlled study with 70 participants, 90% of the studies showed that sedentary people who completed a regular exercise program reported improved fatigue compared to groups that did not exercise.
So, the next time you want to reach for a sports drink, energy bar, or a cup of coffee, get moving instead. It’ll have the same (if not better) effect on your energy levels.
Oh, and did we mention our CBD Oil for Sport? It’s just the thing to keep you moving and grooving through the muscle pain or soreness that comes from a workout.
The Bottom Line
There are better, healthier, more effective ways to maintain your energy and live well.
No need to keep reaching for the coffee pot.
Our advice? Start by focusing on just one of these tips at a time. Be intentional with that one thing, and you’ll begin to feel your body work for you rather than against you (like it does when you pump it full of sugar, caffeine, and alcohol, with little movement, sleep, water, or intentional breath).
|O L|ONES Team
Strengthening your immune system has never been more important. Decrease your chances of getting sick with these 6 practical tips.
Your immune system is like your shield against germs and infectious diseases. It defends and fights them off by creating, storing, and distributing white blood cells that fight bacteria and viruses that enter your body.
But, how do you stay free of illness—or at least decrease your chances of getting sick?
Well, the short and sweet answer is to live a healthy lifestyle. But since that’s rather broad, we’ve compiled a list of our top 6 tips to help boost your immune system so that you can stay healthy and disease-free.
1. Take Your Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulating supplement that fights off respiratory infections, including COVID-19.
In a randomized study conducted in 2002, 168 volunteers received either a placebo or a Vitamin C supplement for 60 days.
And the results were in favor of Vitamin C as being one of the best natural products to boost your immune system—with participants taking Vitamin C having significantly fewer colds (37 vs 50), fewer days challenged virally (85 vs 178), and a shorter duration of severe symptoms (1.8 vs 3.1).
So the next time you go to the grocery store, you will want to add foods that are high in Vitamin C to your list. These include foods like oranges, peppers, strawberries, broccoli, and potatoes.
2. Get Some Sun (but not too much)
Yes, exposure to sunlight should be limited to reduce the production of genetic mutations and the formation of cancer, but there are positive effects that come along with the sun too.
Not only is sunlight critical for energy, light, and warmth, it’s also critical for its ability to induce Vitamin D synthesis, which performs several roles within the immune system as well as enhances bone health.
A deficiency in vitamin D—also called the sunshine vitamin—has been reported by those with autoimmune disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and infectious diseases.
With that being said, put on your sunscreen and get outside to get some sun (but not too much!). Your immune system will thank you for it.
3. Talk to Loved Ones
Maintaining and deepening relationships with friends and family is one of the best things you can do for your immunity.
Studies show that loneliness is linked to increased vascular resistance, increased systolic blood pressure, and altered immunity.
If you don’t have friends or family near you, or you are social distancing due to COVID-19, pick up the phone and give them a call! You can even get creative and do a lunch date or happy hour over Zoom—all without leaving the comfort of your own home.
4. Eat Your Fruits & Veggies
Nutrient-dense foods like fruits and vegetables are a staple in a healthy immune system.
The reason being is because of their high fiber content, which creates a healthier microbiome, which creates a healthier immune system.
According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), daily food and vegetable intake should be 400 grams a day, which equates to approximately 5 portions.
Depending on the country, they even suggest opting for higher fiber fruits like root vegetables, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, beans, and onions.
5. Get Restorative Sleep
Do you ever have those weeks where you’re so busy that you sleep a few hours less than usual?
And what usually happens with less sleep?
If you’re like us, you fall victim to a weakened immune system, which means...you get sick.
This is because sleep and the circadian system (your sleep-wake cycle) have a strong regulatory influence on your immune functions.
The popular wisdom is that “sleep helps healing”, and experts from the Sleep Foundation recommend the following:
Although this is a good recommendation to go off of, it is important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how much sleep one should get each night.
6. Take a Full Spectrum CBD
The word is out: A natural product like full-spectrum CBD is optimal for immunity.
As an immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agent, full-spectrum CBD interacts with receptors in the immune system, which has consistently shown to benefit numerous immune-mediated diseases such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, septic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, and allergic asthma.
Although more studies are needed to confirm CBD’s positive effects on enhanced immunity for those suffering from autoimmune diseases, we are certain that CBD is an anti-inflammatory, and inflammation is the cause of many autoimmune diseases.
We recommend our CBD Oil for Balance. This will put your body back in a state of bliss and balance.
How to Take CBD Oil
Wondering how to take CBD oil and get the best results?
Lucky for you, supplementing with CBD is as easy as 1-2-3…
The Bottom Line on Immunity
Take the time to care for your body and boost your immune system. Enhanced immunity and vitality are a direct byproduct of how seriously you take your self-care practice, and it has never been more important.
Since the start of the worldwide pandemic early last year, people have been scrambling to live healthier lifestyles.
Luckily, there are simple, natural ways to give your immune system the extra help it needs to function optimally.
Start with these 6 simple tips, and you’ll be off to a great start.
|O L|ONES Team
Insomnia affects up to 60% of people worldwide. We all crave more (and better) sleep.
And lucky for you, we have 8 helpful tips to give you just that.
Do you have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep?
Well, you’re not alone.
Up to 60% of people struggle with sleep problems—they either can’t fall asleep, stay asleep, or they wake up feeling tired—no matter what they do.
The reason this is so detrimental to our health and wellness is because sleep is the one time of day where your circadian rhythm can reset and your brain can rest and consolidate the experiences of your day.
And when sleep is lacking, it shows—with common side effects being a depressed mood, high blood pressure, increased risk of type 2 diabetes, higher engagement in risky behavior, drowsy driving, and lower academic performances.
We’ve rounded up 8 things you can do before bed to put you in a state of deep relaxation so that you can
fall asleep faster and sleep better.
1. Turn Off Your Phone
One of the leading causes of poor sleep quality is exposure to blue light from your phone screen. This artificial light exposure is associated with an increase in alertness, a suppression of melatonin, and a shift in your biological clock.
In a 2014 study, 1,508 Americans were surveyed on their electronic use before bed. 90% of the respondents revealed that they used some type of electronic device at least a few nights per week within one hour of bedtime.
Experts from the Sleep Foundation recommend turning off your phone at least 30 minutes before bed.
So if you’re going to bed at 9:00 PM, turn it off at 8:30 PM.
And if you don’t want to turn your phone off because you use it as an alarm, be sure to turn it to airplane mode. This will turn off any notifications, calls, or messages you may receive, but will still play your alarm the next morning.
2. Prepare for the Next Day
Preparing for the next day helps your brain relax and shut down sooner.
We like to feel in control—constantly adding to and checking off our to-do list. So when you prepare for the following day, you feel an instant hit of gratification.
To do this, simply lay out your clothes, set a timer on your coffee pot, put your keys by the front door, fill up your dog’s food and water bowl, you get the point…
This will reduce the number of decisions you need to make the next morning, which will help you feel more accomplished and calm as you drift off to sleep and into your dreams.
3. Take Your CBD for Insomnia
I get it…
By now you’re probably thinking, “I’ve tried everything and I still can’t fall asleep. You really think CBD is going to help me?”
Our response: Yes, absolutely.
CBD for insomnia is actually the number two reason people consume CBD—with over 64% of people reporting they use CBD to help them sleep.
We recommend taking a full spectrum CBD oil like LIONES CBD Oil for Sleep 30 minutes before bed so that you can fall asleep faster, and sleep better.
4. Meditate
Meditation is one of the oldest techniques to calm the mind, body, and spirit—dating back to 5,000 B.C.
Apps like Headspace and 7mind are our favorite for a relaxing bedtime meditation. 7mind even offers their meditations in three languages (German, French, and Dutch).
Relax and unwind from your day with a quick 10-minute guided meditation.
5. Read a Book
Reading before bed will make you feel drowsy fast.
A 2009 study conducted by the University of Sussex found that reading was the number one stress reliever—even compared to music (61%), drinking tea or coffee (54%), and taking a walk (42%).
Participants saw a 68% reduction in stress, and it only took 6 minutes for stress levels to be reduced.
Reading proves to be the perfect distraction from racing thoughts, distractions, and worries. So give yourself the gift of a novel and allow your mind to drift into another world—and into your dreams.
6. Drink Some Sleepy Time Tea
Tea…
It’s like serenity in a cup.
For centuries, people have turned to natural products like herbal remedies to increase sleep quality. The science behind it shows that the molecular compounds of herbs like valerian, passionflower, lemon balm, lavender, and California poppy display sedative and sleep-promoting properties.
So tonight, brew some tea that has calming herbs like lavender, chamomile, or lemon balm, and then pull out your favorite book...
7. Drop Some Lavender Essential Oil on Your Pillow
We’re all about natural products with health benefits, and lavender is one of the most calming scents around. So much so that it can be used to help you relax and fall asleep.
Put a few drops on your pillow, take a few deep breaths, and drift off to sleep.
If you want to avoid staining your pillow or sheets, put a few drops on a hanky or facecloth and place it over your pillow.
8. Dim Your Lights
Melatonin is known as the hormone of darkness.
Therefore, light exposure suppresses it. Because of this, it’s important to turn off—or at least dim—your lights up to 4 hours before bedtime.
And if you want ultra-quality sleep, invest in some black-out curtains and/or an eye mask.
The Bottom Line
Choose to do one or two of these each night—or choose to do them all!
Make it a goal this week to change your mindset around sleep. Repeat mantras like, “Sleep comes effortlessly to me” or “I am becoming more relaxed with every breath.”
This will transform your relationship with sleep—allowing you to overcome insomnia and embrace those dreamy ZZZs.
|O L|ONES Team
The pandemic has people working more and living less. The good news?
There are 5 simple ways to restore the work life balance your brain (and body) is begging you for.
Ever heard the phrase “work life balance”?
Basically, it’s the idea that your work-life and your home-life can be compartmentalized—where one doesn’t affect or harm the other.
But, can work-life balance actually be achieved?
With technology that keeps us “on” until the late hours of the night and the “new normal” lifestyle that includes working from home, a work-life balance is becoming harder and harder to achieve.
In fact, one in four employees say that they feel burned out at work either very often or always.
So, what can we do to alleviate this burnout and restore bliss and balance in our lives?
Here are our top 5 tips...
1. Press Pause
The first step to feeling blissful: Press pause on the go-go-go mentality and rethink your priorities.
Look at your work-life and your home life—what trade-offs have you made (whether intentional or not)?
Have you given up your morning walk because you need to get the kids up and ready for the day? Do you come home and immediately turn on the news after work?
How is your current work situation making you feel? Invigorated and hopeful? Defeated and stressed?
It’s easy to fall into an absentminded routine, and that’s why it’s becoming increasingly important to ask yourself, “What do I truly want? How do I want to feel throughout the day?”
Pull out your journal and reflect on those two questions. Give yourself 5 minutes to answer each one in depth. This will give you the clarity you need to reset, refocus, and redirect to a path that’s truly aligned with who you are and who you want to be.
Remember: You can’t find bliss or balance without first pressing pause to reflect on the issue at hand.
2. Get Moving
Not only does physical activity fend off ailments like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression, it may also have a positive influence on stress levels…
In a 2014 study, researchers observed 111 healthy men and women—which included those who exercised and those who didn’t. Each participant partook in two experimental sessions—one with a stress-related task and one with a non-stressful task. Researchers found that out of the 111 participants, those who regularly exercised showed a smaller decline in positive mood.
And fortunately, it doesn’t take much movement to reap the benefits…
The World Health Organization for Europe recommends that at least 30 minutes of regular, moderate-intensity physical activity on most days is ideal.
The best part—there is an abundance of options for physical activity...whether you’re going for a walk outside, biking through a nearby park, hiking, playing tennis or soccer, swimming, or lifting weights at the gym, you’re bound to feel more blissed and balanced.
3. Keep a Gratitude Journal
Is it true that giving thanks can make you moreIs it true that giving thanks can make you more balanced and fulfilled?
Psychologist Barbara Fredrickson is onto something when she explains that positive emotions are physiologically beneficial because they “undo” and “unknot” the harmful effects of negative emotions.
And one way to undo and unknot those harmful effects is to keep a gratitude journal.
German philosopher Martin Heidegger is famously known for saying, “Denken ist Danken”—thinking is thanking.
When we think, we’re also recognizing, acknowledging, and appreciating—and these are the three things that make gratitude complete.
So press pause, pull out your journal, and acknowledge what you’re grateful for. This will show you what’s worth prioritizing in your life, which will then help you reprioritize how you spend your time.
4. Unplug to Unwind
Step 1: Unplug (i.e. close your laptop, turn off those pesky email notifications, and if you’re super brave—turn off your cell phone altogether by 7:00 PM).
Step 2: Turn on your essential oil diffuser, put your hand over your heart, close your eyes, and take three deep breaths. You deserve 30 seconds to acknowledge that heartbeat of yours and unwind from your workday.
Step 3: Repeat every day after work.
Having an essential oil diffuser in your home, office, and bedroom will not only awaken your senses and bring you back to yourself. It will also wash away the stress that piled up throughout your day.
And if you’re feeling guilty about working less and turning off your phone, remember that a law was passed by the European parliament allowing you to digitally disconnect outside of your working hours.
Don’t be the employee that works from home and is twice as likely to exceed their maximum of 48 hours per week. There’s no need to stay “on” all the time.
5. Add CBD to Your Daily Ritual
Did you know that CBD helps put your body back into balance?
It’s one of the many magical benefits the hemp plant offers, and it works because of our Endocannabinoid System (ECS). All mammals have an ECS, and when it’s functioning properly, it creates homeostasis (i.e. balance) in your body’s cells, which keep you feeling healthy, calm, and free of stress, pain, and brain fog.
LIONES believes in CBD’s ability to restore balance so much that we’ve crafted a CBD oil collection to help you restore a sense of balance and bliss.
Not sure about what CBD benefits are? Have a look to our blog articles "What Are Cannabinoids?" and "CBD Do's and Don'ts".
The Bottom Line: How to Balance Work and Life
If you’re wondering how to balance work and life, just remember—
Finding that blissful state of work life balance isn’t something you check off your to-do list and never look at again. It’s a continuous cycle that must be re-evaluated based on the ever-changing events of life.
Take 2020 for example—no one could have ever expected a worldwide shut down due to a pandemic, yet that’s what happened. This—along with the WFY mandate—forced people to have their work-life and home-life under one roof.
And the ones who felt the most balanced, you ask? Those who took the time to press pause, reprioritize, and dedicate more time to their holistic wellness practice.
|O L|ONES Team
CBD is a hot trend in the wellness market, but... How to use? Which to buy? What should I expect?
We want clear your mind with 4 Do's and 4 Don'ts
DO's
1. Look out for products made out of natural ingredients
CBD is 100% natural, the oil is extracted from hemp plants. Because the CBD oil is an edible, be sure that the product does not contain parabens, artificial fragrances, sulfates or non natural substances. The oil will be absorbed wholesomely with all its ingredients into the bloodstream. Therefore is important to don’t corrupt CBD oils with toxic ingredients. At L|ONES we are proud to use only natural and heathy components in our oils.
2. Include fatty acid into your diet
To maximize the health benefits of CBD, you need to take this substance with fatty acids. Once you ingest CDB orally, it will travel through your digestive tract and into your liver. In this process the fatty acids act as a binding agent for the cannabinoids in CBD. Thanks to this, CBD wouldn't reduce its power as it passes through your body, it will also increase absorption rates.
These fatty acids can be found in foods like nuts, avocados and fish. In L|ONES edible oils, the CBD hemp leaf extract is mixed with organic MCT oil (extract from coconut)... and guess what MCT (Medium-chain triglycerides) is a fatty acid!! Thanks to this formula L|ONES oils are already well optimized for oral ingestion.
3. Full-spectrum CBD is a Must
New to the world of CBD? You will probably have encountered the terms "Full-spectrum", "Broad-spectrum" and "CBD Isolates" across blogs and websites.
Broad and Full-spectrum are more or less the same, the only difference is that the Full one has tiny trace of THC (up to 0.03%). After extraction from hemp, the resulting CBD oil is considered full spectrum. On the other side, Isolate CBD has been purified by the extraction of CBD alone to form a single molecular compound.
Isolates were thought to be the best type of CBD on the market, but this has been disproved over the years. Now, experts recommend that people take full-spectrum CBD due to its purity. Hemp CBD oil has great benefits to consumers when it contains all cannabinoids. Keep off CBD isolates if you want to get all the benefits of the use of CBD oils effectively.
4. Put CBD oil under your tongue
Yes there is a right way and wrong way to take CBD orally! If you place the oil into your mouth and immediately swallowing it is not advisable. In order to get the most out of the CBD, you need to place the oil under your tongue and keep there for around 30 seconds before swallow. The sublingual gland under your tongue allows for fast CBD absorption into the bloodstream.
Don’ts
1. Don't consider CBD as cure for everything
Yes, CBD offers many health benefits. However, if you expect miracles, you will be disappointed. Even though many studies have focused on all the advantages offered by CBD, there is still more research that must be done.
2. Don't give up on CBD too soon
Some people after a few tries, may want to throw in the trash – but don’t! There could be many several reasons why your CBD product may not be working on you.
Not taking the right dose is one of the most common mistakes. The ideal CBD dosing isn't the same for everyone. Factors like body weight and metabolism will impact how CBD works on you. This means one person may need more, while others need less. Start with a lower dose and then take higher doses as needed. This is going to help you find the right amount that gives you the results desired. You probably noticed that CBD oil can be found in several different concentration (3%, 5%, 10% etc.). It is always better to start with a lower concentration and then increase it over time as needed.
Find the right balance between the dosage and concentration that work for you, is a process of trial and error.
3. Don’t expect highness
Don't worry CBD won't get you high! CBD oil contains only a 0.02% of THC (the cannabinoid that does get you high). CBD has no psychoactive effects, unlike THC.
4. Don't expect immediate results
While the initial effects of CBD oil may only be mildly discernible, the reports are that over time (and not that much time) you’ll start to notice a level of calm enter all areas of your life. Start to include CBD in your daily routine and you will see the results!!
|O L|ONES Team
What's behind this practice that's sounds esoteric and naïf?
In reality is a very practical and concrete approach to life.
"Holism" usually refers to the idea that a whole is greater than the sum of its parts. (1)
In wellbeing, "holistic" means that different elements of our body and lifestyle need to be in balance so we are whole. Holistic wellness comes from a natural state of equilibrium.
There are 5 different wellbeing components of holistic wellness are: Physical, Mental, Emotional,Spiritual and Social.
All these elements of Us are strong and connected. When they working in synergy, our energy is more likely to flow. We have a much greater capacity to self-improve and unlock our true potential, to endure life’s challenges and stressful situation.
1. Physical Wellbeing
Let's start with the easiest one! Physical wellbeing relates to a healthy balanced and optimal functioning body. This translate in the ability to sleep, eat, perform, be free from addiction. Proper nutrition (natural and healthy food), physical exercise and avoid toxins will give us a healthier body with high energy levels, endurance, and flexibility.
L|ONES Sleep Collection can helps you to have restful night of sleep, while Sport Collection can assists you in your training routine.
2. Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is our mental resilience against life’s stress and challenges. A healthy mindset enhanced mental health helps us make choices, recognize our value, our worth and our potential. A positive and proactive approach increases our ability to unlock our potential and share our gifts and skills with the world. A keyword... Mindfulness, the ability to be fully in the moment instead of struggling over the past or future.
L|ONES Calm Collection can be a great partner in stress and anxiety management.
3. Emotional Wellbeing
We are diving deeper in ourselves... self-awareness, self-esteem, self-confidence, empathy and good emotional intelligence. These are the keywords for the emotional wellness. This is the ability to accept, own and express your emotional needs and feelings.
4. Spiritual Wellbeing
What is life? What is purpose in this existence? Is there anything beyond it? These questions are afflicting the human being since the dawn of time.
Spiritual have an extremely personal definition and means very different things to different people. To us, is the ability to experience meaning and purpose in life through a connection to one’s self, or a power greater than oneself.
Spirit is known to be one of the most powerful sources of strength, inspiration, and motivation through our life journey. A spiritual wellness certainly helps lower anxiety, stress and depression levels. And can help cultivate more gratitude and positivity.
5. Social Wellbeing
Our social environment is also important and influences our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing. Here we are not talking about social network, but your real network... the society and the world you are living in. Think about the groups you are part of: friends, family, community, place of education or place of work. The feeling of belonging to certain tribes can be very supportive. Sometimes people can be annoying, but try to enjoy the beauty and the kindness in the others. Try to help, to support and to bring a smile in other people's life.
“If you live according to nature, you will never be poor; if you live according to opinion, you will never be rich.”
Seneca
Conclusion
In a world where nobody is perfect, it all starts with accepting and loving yourself. We believe that when you do this, everyday is a new day. A blank page where you can make a difference. When you start your day with the drive to do a little bit better than the day before, we can ensure you that all those small parts will add up in the end.
Our mission at L|ONES is to help support you back into a holistic state of wholeness.
At the end of the day, holistic wellness is a product of the interplay between the various factors described above. Each of this element plays a pivotal role in your overall well-being and life satisfaction. Always take a holistic approach, and remember that balance is key!
|O L|ONES Team
“Cannabinoid” is a big word that’s FULL of health benefits. What is it about this chemical compound that makes it so special?
]]>In short, cannabinoids are found in the cannabis plant. And although the exact number isn’t known, there are over 100 different cannabinoids—all boasting their own health benefits.
There’s cannabigerol (CBG), delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabivarin (CBV)...you get the point—there are a lot.
What’s really fascinating about these cannabinoids is that your body was literally designed to benefit from them.
Your body—and the bodies of all mammals—have what’s called an endocannabinoid system (ECS). And your ECS is home to these things called CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are found all throughout the body (in your brain, nervous system, liver, immune system, etc) (1).
So, when CBD enters your bloodstream, it attaches to those CB1 and CB2 receptors and puts your body back into balance (or, homeostasis, if you want to be more scientific). It’s the underlying reason as to why we experience such profound health benefits when we consume cannabinoids like CBD.
The History of Cannabis and its Cannabinoids
Cannabis has an interesting history…
It has been cultivated for thousands of years, with its first use being a fiber to make rope. And despite its age, we had no knowledge of its pharmacological properties until the 19th century.
Yes, cannabis has been used medicinally for centuries dating back to 10,000 to 3,000 B.C. in Central Asia and western China, but the actual compounds were not studied until cannabinol (CBN) became the very first compound to be isolated in its purest form (2) (3).
The cannabinoids that followed were CBD by Mechoulam and Shvo in 1963 and THC the following year, isolated by Gaoni and Mechoulam (4). Since these huge discoveries in the 60s and the discovery of CB1 and CB2 in the 90s, cannabis’ list of benefits has been growing fast (5).
The Benefits of Cannabinoids
The benefits of cannabinoids are greater than we can comprehend—as there are still many studies to be done on the 100+ chemical compounds.
Below, we’ve managed to compile a list of the Top 6 benefits of cannabinoids…
1. Pain Relief
In a time where chronic pain is prevalent among 15-30% of adults worldwide, CBD is looking like a satisfactory treatment.
In one study, 131 patients were recruited from a private pain management center. 91 patients— ages 30 to 65 years old—consumed 30mg of CBD every day for 8 weeks. The results are outstanding—with over half of patients (53%) having reduced or eliminated their opioids within 8 weeks after adding CBD-rich hemp extract to their regimens (all 97 patients had been on opioids for at least one year). Whatsmore, 94% of the chronic pain patients even reported greater quality of life (6).
The reason why CBD is so effective at reducing pain is because of its ability to block the communication of your nervous impulses (we have our CB1 receptors to thank for that—as CBD activates the receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral sensory neurons, thus reducing the pain).
If you’re suffering from pain, inflammation, or swelling—whether it’s from an intense day of skiing, or an intense day of working from home—L|ONES for Pain will help you feel like your young self again.
2. CBD for Anxiety
The number one people use cannabinoids like CBD? Anxiety.
With a world that’s always on the go go go, anxiety is becoming increasingly prevalent.
Luckily, with CBD’s calming, non-psychoactive properties, there has been a recent surge in scientific publications documenting CBD’s value in neuropsychiatric disorders including epilepsy, anxiety, and schizophrenia.
In one study, the anxiety of 72 adult patients suffering from anxiety was documented monthly. By the end of the first month, anxiety decreased in 57 patients (79.2%) and remained decreased for the entirety of the study (7).
L|ONES for Calm is a perfect place to start in reducing that elephant-like feeling of anxiety on your chest. Just a few drops of our organic MCT oil and natural hemp leaf extract and you’ll be feeling blissed out in no time
3. CBD as a Sleep Aid
In a study conducted by Scott Shannon, MD, 72 patients came to him with either anxiety (47 patients) or poor sleep (25 patients). And in just one month, sleep improved in 48 patients (66.7%), but fluctuated slightly over time (7).
If you’ve ever struggled with falling asleep and staying asleep, L|ONES for Sleep will give you all the Zzzz’s. You’re ensured to get one of the best nights of sleep of your life.
4. Relieves Muscle Tension and Strain
Where many people opt for pain relievers like Ibuprofen, CBD may be your best, safest, and most effective alternative.
And luckily, CBD is no longer on the World Anti-Doping Agency as of 2018, so athletes can finally benefit from its anti-inflammatory wonders (8).
Basically, CBD relieves muscle tension by stimulating the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines (small, signaling proteins) and preventing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (9).
In one study, a high dose of CBD (60 mg/kg) showed to improve muscle strength and coordination, as well as reduce tissue degeneration (10).
If you’re an athlete or you call the gym your second home, L|ONES for Sport is essential for relaxing those tight, sore muscles of yours. It does the work for you by eliminating inflammation and swelling—which is the root cause of that pain or irritation you feel after an intense workout.
5. Increases Pleasure
When it comes to increasing pleasure, there’s a strong link between cannabinoids and dopamine (11).
When cannabinoids like THC are consumed, they target the CB1 receptors in the brain, which then increases the release of dopamine, glutamate, and acetylcholine, causing you to feel more aroused, happy, and motivated (4).
6. Balances Your Energy
Endocannabinoids are the regulators of metabolism—which is why when cannabinoids are consumed, your body feels what’s called an entourage effect. The entourage effect is often described as a “body high”, where your body feels as if it’s sinking into a state of deep relaxation.
Because endocannabinoids help build muscle from proteins and nutrients, they increase the intake, promote storage, and decrease the expenditure of energy, which ensures energy balance (12).
In a 1999 study, data showed that express cannabinoid receptors (astrocytes and lymphocytes—both of which play a major role in the regulation of brain energy metabolism) stimulated glucose metabolism (13). And when glucose metabolism increases, energy increases.
That’s why we love L|ONES for Balance, which restores your sense of balance and serenity, helping you to be mindful during your daily routine.
Are There Any Side Effects from Consuming Cannabinoids?
The cannabis plant and its 100+ cannabinoids still require a lot of research.
Luckily, with cannabinoids like CBD, there have shown to be very few side effects. The very mild side effects reported by some individuals include dry mouth, low blood pressure, lightheadedness, and drowsiness, with a far less common side effect being signs of liver injury (14).
Despite this, cannabinoids are continuously being touted as a popular treatment in modern-day medicine (15).
Final Thoughts on Cannabinoids
|O L|ONES Team