This article was produced in partnership with Paradigm Media
By now, you’ve probably heard there are a handful ailments that science and athletes say CBD can actually help with: trouble sleeping when you have a big meeting tomorrow, body pains after taking a digger off your mountain bike, stress or anxiety when responsibilities start piling up, and muscle recovery after a heavy leg or chest day.
But the key to leveraging the power of CBD is sorting the snake oil from the reliable formulas. That means finding brands that have intentional formulations.
For starters, that looks like using high-quality hemp. But we find it best to not just rely on CBD alone—there is an array of other plants that can act as medicine to help you sleep better or recover faster.
Enter Evn, a no-fuss CBD brand that focuses on high-quality extracts, trusted by world-class athletes.
Evn CBD products are made from non-GMO, organically grown hemp plants on family-owned hemp farms in Colorado. Smaller farms cared for by real people is usually a guarantee for higher-quality plants.
Evn then uses premium-grade CO2 equipment to extract the CBD from hemp plants for a cleaner distillation, and it tests all its final formulas at accredited, third-party independent labs to ensure everything is hitting the benchmarks for quality and consistency.
The result: You’re putting incredibly high-quality CBD in your body that’s been confirmed to be pure, reliable, and as effective as possible.
But there are two other reasons Evn CBD products stand out above others. For starters, its products focused on sleep, pain relief, and other ailments leverage more than just the power of CBD—the formulas have been thoughtfully crafted with other powerful herbs and plants proven by science to help you find relief, like curcumin for pain and L-Theanine for sleep.
But the real clincher: Evn offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee that says if you don’t find its products help your ailment, you get your money back. So there’s little reason not to give the brand trusted by athletes and everyday guys alike, a shot.
Here are our top picks.
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For Sleep: Evn Sleep Powder
For as little research as we have on CBD, we are pretty confident it can help with sleep troubles: When people who had basic trouble sleeping took CBD before bed for a month, some 67 percent started scoring a better night’s rest, reports a large 2019 study in the Permanente Journal. Other research shows CBD might even help folks with sleep apnea and insomnia.
Evn’s Sleep Powder offers 20mg full-spectrum CBD per serving, which allows for the entourage effect wherein terpenes and other cannabinoids can work together to enhance the power of CBD.
But what makes this powder truly powerful is that, in addition to the cannabinoid, this product is elevated by a blend of vitamins and minerals all supported by science to either help you fall asleep faster or stay asleep longer, including magnesium, passion flower, L-Theanine, and melatonin.
The powder has a nice, slightly sweet vanilla-cacao flavor that mixes well in warm milk or a “mylk” alternative—a nighttime drink that’ll land you hours of uninterrupted rest for tomorrow’s adventures.
You’ve probably heard CBD’s psychoactive brother, THC, is a great remedy for pain, but you actually don’t need the mind-altering effects to score relief: A 2016 study in the European Journal of Pain found topical CBD helped relieve pain and inflammation in rats without any side effects, and a whopping 79 percent of the people in that 2019 Permanente Journal study said nightly CBD helped improve their anxiety and sleep.
Evn’s CBD Curcumin Capsules are ideal for soothing pain because, in addition to 25mg high-quality CBD, each capsule also contains 10mg curcumin. The bright yellow chemical in turmeric, curcumin has been proven to help reduce inflammation, theoretically supercharging pain relief.
Packed with that extra punch and all-natural relief, these capsules are ideal to keep on hand whether you’re looking to soothe achy joints after a long day of sitting at work or muscle soreness after a big day in the mountains.
Now, CBD for athletic recovery is one area we don’t have a ton of human research to support, but it’s a common recovery tool we hear athletes swear by. And some animal studies report topical creams with pure CBD can help relieve arthritis pain and be both anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving.
Intended to be rubbed into skin after a heavy lifting day or long run, Evn’s CBD Salve provides 500mg broad-spectrum CBD per jar to help soothe tired muscles. The formula—beloved by world-class athletes and weekend warriors alike—is enhanced by eucalyptus and lavender oils. These medicinal plants not only help you relax further, but they also help make the balm smell lush as you rub it into achy muscles. The base of the salve is beeswax and MCT oil, which is super hydrating and easy on sensitive skin, so it’ll agree with most everyone.
If you regularly feel anxious or stressed, we couldn’t recommend CBD more. Studies show small doses of the cannabinoid can help with a range of anxiety-related disorders. Even the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that rats given CBD exhibit diminished anxiety and lower heart rates. In particular, CBD can help offset that late-night, anxiety-induced, wide-awake feeling—which most of us know all too well.
For stress and anxiety, we love Evn’s pure CBD formulas, which offer a super clean cannabinoid from organically sourced, small-farm hemp plants without any herbs or minerals to enhance the effect. For this, Evn has two products we love.
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CBD Gummy Bears are ideal if you want a smaller, more controlled dose. You’ll know exactly how much CBD you’re getting with each gummy (10mg) and you can adjust your dosage higher or lower according to how you feel after one. It’ll take longer to kick in (your body has to digest it), but it’s often a more nuanced and steady stabilizer.
Meanwhile, tinctures are more versatile if your stress and anxiety levels range day to day. They’re also ideal if you need the relief to kick in ASAP. Evn’s tinctures are made with broad-spectrum CBD, which means that it contains no trace of THC but does offer the benefits of other plant compounds.
One full dropper of Evn’s CBD Oil will deliver 50mg of the natural stress relief. That means if you just need a little help taking the edge off that heart-racing feeling, you can play with one quarter or half a dropper; then, on days where you’re looking for a serious unwind—say, after meetings or long travel—you can score more milligrams of relief without having to down a bunch of capsules or gummies.
There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
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1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
Marius Bugge
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Marius Bugge
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
Marius Bugge
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top. Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
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