This article was produced in partnership with Paradigm Media
If you love THC’s ability to help you relax, sleep better, and find relief from pain—but you could do without the anxiety and paranoia—say hello to Delta-8 THC.
Think of Delta-8 as the golden child of the family who can do no wrong: It offers a gentler state of euphoria that users say helps to relieve stress, pain, and anxiety, but without any of the unwanted side effects of regular THC.
Oh, and did we mention it’s federally legal? (Note: It has, however, been deemed illegal in 14 states.)
Here’s how it works: What we think of as typical THC is actually Delta-9 THC. Delta-8 THC is nearly identical in its chemical structure, so it acts quite similar in the body and binds to the same receptors in the brain, namely the cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor, which is what makes you feel high. The key difference: Delta 8 has a slightly weaker attachment to the CB1 receptor, and that means it has a weaker effect.
According to a 2022 study in the Journal of Cannabis Research, users say Delta 8 delivers relaxation, euphoria, and pain relief, but they also feel less paranoid and anxious than when they ingest Delta-9 THC.
Because Delta-8 is chemically THC, but legally hemp, it’s a great option for a natural way to sleep better, feel less anxious, and find more pain relief. But Delta-8 THC is even less regulated than CBD, which means buying it from a brand you trust is crucial. Lucky for you, we’ve got the 10 best Delta-8 THC gummies for sleep, anxiety, and pain, below.
Our Picks: 10 Delta-8 THC Gummies for Sleep, Anxiety, and Pain
From California-based Vida Optima, Elev8™ Delta 8 Gummies have 10mg broad-spectrum delta-8 THC per gummy (30 gummies per bottle), alongside natural terpenes for a potent effect. These gummies will give you a strong lift, leaving you chill and happy.
The hemp is grown and processed in the U.S., and the formula is totally vegan and has been third-party lab tested.
Ingredients: Organic Sugar, Corn Syrup, Modified Food Starch (corn), Fumaric Acid, Citric Acid, Phytocannabinoid Hemp Extract, Natural and Artificial Flavors, and Natural and Artificial Colors Yellow #5, Red #40).
What customers say: Reviewers say these gummies are a “great way to relax” and “fast-acting.” One user notes that after consuming, their “anxiety is nicely subdued and nulled,” and describes the effects as a “slow-warming body melt” that takes the edge off.
Indacloud’s Delta 8 Gummies Variety Pack will deliver a powerful but calming high that lasts for 6 to 8 hours. Each of the 10 gummies in the bag boasts 50mg sativa Delta-8 THC distillate—so they’re strong. Indacloud explains the high as “heightened relaxation” without any mental fog or exhaustion.
And the brand stands so strong behind its best-selling delta-8 gummies that they’re actually sharing them—for free. As in, you don’t pay for the gummies (just the shipping). You can score this sample pack with its top three gummy flavors, and three 50mg gummies in each pack—a total of 150 mg for zero dollars.
Yes, these will get you high and yes, these are very good. The flavors include Watermelon Rush, Berry High, and Blue Razz.
What customers say: Customers say these edibles are perfectly sized, great tasting, and great quality. One reviewer said taking one and a half after dinner gets them “chilling and relaxing for the rest of the night.”
Coupon: FREEGUMMIES for free gummies; just pay for shipping
These Delta 9 THC Gummies are 5:1 CBD to Delta 9 THC, so they include the strong, powerful high of legal Delta 9, but are well balanced with all of CBD’s calming, pain-relieving properties. Together, this cocktail offers a lightly toasted feeling of enhanced relaxation and heightened headspace.
Joy Organics is a reliable brand we trust and was one of the first brands to launch USDA-Certified Organic CBD products. Its Delta 9 THC Gummies are third-party lab tested for purity and potency, and Joy Organics offers a 90-day satisfaction guarantee on its products.
What customers say: Reviewers say these gummies taste so good and are “far superior” to competitor products. Users report the Delta 9 THC Gummies are especially great for sleep and relaxation
These sweet, third-party tested gummy bears are packed with potent, American-grown Delta 8. You can choose from three different strengths — 10mg, 20mg, or 30 mg per gummy. Packs come 15 per bag in and come in a mix of sour, grape, watermelon, and tropical punch.
What customers say: Reviewers say these gummies are tasty and get you sufficiently high, but most of all, help people “sleep like a baby” after trying everything else.
Tiny Dancer Delta 8 Gummies are 25mg each (10 in a jar) of Delta-8 THC, which, at this price, is a steal. But don’t be fooled by that price tag: The Tiny Dancer still sources from small, local hemp farms in the U.S. to create high-quality formulas that deliver a mellow buzz and a reliable, calming high.
What customers say: Reviewers say these are “definitely the best tasting gummies” and they help with both pain and anxiety, delivering “just the right relaxing euphoric mood.”
Delta Remedys Delta-8 Ring Gummies offer euphoria in a tasty little sour ring. Each 30-pack has 10 apple, peach, and watermelon gummies each with 25mg Delta-8 THC per ring.
All products are third-party lab tested so you have more peace of mind on what you’re ingesting. Delta Remedys even stands by its product with a 30-day, money-back guarantee.
What customers say: Customers say it “really helps” with a wind down. One reviewer said these edibles “provide a nice, calm, and relaxing feeling” off one, and two deliver a nice high.
With 30 gummies at roughly 33mg each, these are definitely not the sour gummy bears of your childhood. DeltaXL’s Delta 8 Sour Gummy Bears pack a serious punch (don’t worry, you can always start with 1/4 of a gummy) and will have you relaxed ASAP.
Sly Fox believes in not only making high-quality CBD and Delta products, but also providing high-quality information and research on the topic to customers. Its Delta 8 Gummies, Vegan, Mixed Fruit, Pouch use extractions from top-notch, USA-grown, organic hemp strains. Each gummy contains 25mg Delta-8 THC (20 per contain) and is full of fruity flavors, like blue raspberry, watermelon, strawberry, and mango. Also, we love that they have access to the gummies’ lab results right on the product page.
Allitom Delta-8 THC Vegan Gummies rock a whopping 50mg pure Delta-8 THC per gummy—one of the most potent Delta-8 gummies out there. (Note: Allitom recommends starting with 1/4 gummy and working your way up.) Even with that high of a dosage, you won’t taste any earthiness in these delicious Blue Raspberry and Fruit Punch flavors.
Allitom has a reputation for making high-quality and clean formulas, and its gummies are always vegan.
What customers say: Reviewers agree these gummies are “one of the stronger ones [they’ve] tried” yet still gives a “very mellow” and “buzz” feeling. One user said they “sleep so good” after taking one of these gummies.
CbdMD is a quality brand that utilizes best practices for their CBD itself — including being USA-grown, US Hemp Authority certified, and independently lab tested — and stands behind their products with a 60 day, no-risk guarantee.
Its Delta 9 gummies are packed with the stronger, but still legal, THC. CbdMD offers two approaches: 10 mg per gummy or a microdose option of just 1mg THC. The latter is great if you just want a little kick of THC’s therapeutic value without feeling any buzz. Meanwhile their 10mg offering is high enough to deliver both the therapeutic feeling and head high, but still low enough to not alter your state of consciousness too much and keep you relaxed with 1:5 THC to CBD.
What customers say: Customers say these gummies are helpful to relax after “dealing with the daily grind of life,” great for keeping both pain and anxiety under control, and generally “hands down the best D9 gummies on the market.”
1. What are the health benefits of taking Delta-8 THC gummies?
We have no clinical studies on Delta-8 THC. But we do know that its chemical structure—and therefore how it acts in your body—is nearly identical to THC, but with a weaker effect, so it’s possible Delta-8 THC has similar, but more mild, health benefits to THC. Meanwhile, a 2021 study in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research Journal, reports people use Delta-8 THC to treat anxiety, stress, depression or bipolar disorder, and chronic pain.
2. Do Delta-8 THC gummies have any side effects?
A 2022 survey of people who have used delta-8-THC reported that they did have some trouble concentrating, some difficulty with short-term memory, and an alerted sense of time—but these were much less powerful effects compared to regular marijuana, or delta-9-THC. What’s more, users felt a lot less of the negative side effects common with regular marijuana: 74% and 86% of people didn’t experience anxiety or paranoia, respectively.
3. How many Delta-8 THC gummies should I eat?
How many Delta-8 THC gummies you should take is totally different person to person, based largely on your tolerance and metabolism. Most brands run their gummies at 25mg Delta-8, which is a good starting point for most people. However, if you are concerned, start with one quarter or one half of the gummy and see how you feel. Give yourself an hour before you increase your dose.
4. Can you bring Delta-8 THC gummies on a plane?
Because Delta-8 THC is federally legal, you can travel on a plane with these gummies. However, Delta-8 has been made illegal in 11 states, so it’s illegal to bring the Delta 8 into Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Rhode Island, and Utah.
5. Will Delta-8 THC gummies show up on a drug test?
Yes. Delta 8 is a type of THC and chemically it’s nearly identical, so if you use this product you will fail a drug test.
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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.
Courtesy image
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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