This article was produced in partnership with Paradigm Media
These days, it seems like we’re all dealing with some kind of health disruption, be it trouble sleeping, bothersome levels of anxiety or stress and, for some, minor or chronic pain. It’s made worse by the fact thy can be interconnected. Anxiety or pain can prevent you from falling and staying asleep, and a poor night’s sleep makes both pain and anxiety far worse the next day.
You might be surprised to hear there’s one solution that has the potential to help with all three—and it’s all-natural. We’re talking about cannabidiol, better known as CBD.
Among the research we have, studies show CBD is an effective anti-anxiety medication as well as an anti-depressant. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that rats given CBD felt less anxiety and a lower heart rate.
In another study published in Permanente Journal, researchers found that 79 percent of people who took nightly CBD saw improvements in their anxiety—and, in turn, some 67 percent of those study participants got better sleep when they started taking CBD before bed. Other research shows CBD might even help folks with sleep apnea and insomnia.
Best of all: Researchers confirm that the benefits of using CBD greatly outweigh the risks. The catch, though, is that CBD is an unregulated market, so you really need to turn to brands that use high-quality hemp strains and put their formulas through third-party testing.
Don’t worry, we’ve done the leg work for you. Here are 10 of the top CBD gummies for sleep, anxiety, and pain.
Our Picks: 10 Top CBD Gummies for Sleep, Anxiety, and Pain
Vida Optima is a California-based company that views taking CBD as the same as your daily supplement. For sleep, that means leveraging the power of not just CBD, but also CBN, which is the cannabinoid that’s been dubbed “the sleep cannabinoid” for its anecdotal ability to help you sleep better at night.
Its Dream™ CBN+CBD Gummies deliver 23mg CBD and 10mg CBN per gummy, along with other natural cannabinoids and terpenes, which all work together to create an enhanced “entourage effect”—essentially a boost from cannabis’ organic chemical structure working together. These gummies are also infused with small amounts of melatonin. Together, you have a completely natural way to help your body wind down at night and help improve your sleep cycle.
These gummies, which come 30 to a jar, are also quite delicious with their mixed fruit flavor, and we love that you can scale up if you want a stronger dose but still know exactly how much you’re ingesting.
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 help them “sleep like a baby” and “wake up refreshed.” One reviewer shared the gummies gave her relief from six months of insomnia; she was able to trade a nightly Xanax for the all-natural sleep aid, and added “this product has restored my sleep and I am no longer a walking zombie during the day.”
Aptly named, CBD Anytime Gummies are for when you need a little boost of CBD’s power—anytime, anywhere. Each chew contains 25 mg CBD isolate, which means all the other terpenes and cannabinoids have been extracted so you know you’re just ingesting and feeling the power of CBD alone. This makes the formula especially reliable when you want to chew one to, say, calm your anxiety or quiet pain in the middle of a work day.
Interestingly, the brand actually coats its gummies with cannabinoids rather than infusing them, so your body starts absorbing the CBD in your mouth rather than waiting for you to digest it.
Fab CBD’s mission is to be a great company with a great product—plain and simple. In addition to creating scientifically backed, high-quality CBD formulas, the company puts effort into having extraordinary customer service and giving back to the community with donations from sales. Its hemp is organically grown without pesticides in Colorado and third-party tested.
What customers say: People who have used Anytime Gummies say they not only work to calm the system, but deliver “just the right amount of chill” without any weird vibes. Others love the versatility of the chews, along with the taste and consistency of the formula, and people use them for everything from knee pain to sleep issues to stress.
Joy Organics was one of the first brands to launch USDA-Certified Organic CBD tinctures and salves, and that ethos has stayed a core part of the brand.
Its CBD Gummies for Sleep offer everything you want for a superpowered recharge—30 mg full-spectrum CBD, 3 mg CBN, 3 mg melatonin, and 1mg THC. The THC is still within the legal limit of less than 0.3%, but it helps to enhance the potency of the formula and, combined with all these herbs and cannabinoids, these gummies are able to work synergistically to be stronger, together.
What customers say: Reviewers say this formula “truly helps” them fall and stay asleep—and it doesn’t cause and grogginess or other side effects in the morning.
These CBD Gummies look and taste like your favorite sweet-and-sour gummy worms. But Penguin’s formula delivers 10 mg CBD isolate per worm (30 worms per package), hidden in the candy coating so you don’t get any of that earthy hemp taste some formulas have.
We love that the CBD in each worm is low, giving you the option to have a low-level calm or eat a few for greater stress relief.
Penguin lives by its namesake’s defining traits, helping you to keep calm and waddle on. Its pesticide-free hemp is grown in Oregon and extracted in a state-of-the-art lab, all to offer people relief at an affordable price.
Ingredients: Corn syrup, gelatin, fumaric acid, white grape juice from concentrate, citric acid, lactid acid, calcium lactate, glycerin, natural and artificial flavors, nano-emulsified anhydrous CBD oil (Aerial Parts) 300mg, titanium dioxiade (for color), silicone dioxide (anti-caking agent), Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1
What customers say: People agree these are some of the best-tasting CBD gummies around. What’s more, the CBD has power: One reviewer said since taking these, she’s able to fall asleep much faster and stay awake for longer periods, while others say it helps with anxiety and even ADHD.
Green Roads wants to help you own the day by getting better sleep, being less stressed, and feeling more relaxed with its pharmacist-formulated products.
Its Extra Strength CBD Relax Bears contain 25mg CBD isolate each, so you know you’re ingesting nothing but that one cannabinoid, grown from American hemp. We love the gummy bear delivery, which comes in an assortment of flavors, including blue raspberry, lemon, and orange.
All the formulas are third-party tested and verified, and we love that they list the labsheets right on the product page for full transparency.
Ingredients: Hemp derived cannabinoid extract, corn syrup, sugar, water, gelatin, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, lactic acid, pectin (derived from fruits), titanium dioxide (color), FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
What customers say: Reviewers rave that these gummies do their job without any of the side effects—as one woman wrote, “they took the edge off, while allowing me to be fully present” without any sleepiness or fogginess. Others say these gummies are now part of their daily self-care to help keep anxiety at bay, or as a pre-bed ritual to “help you relax and get a great night sleep.”
Slumber Sleep Aid’s entire company is centered around CBD and CBN for sleep, which means it crafts formulas that are not only effective but specifically effective at helping you catch better zzz’s.
Its Full Spectrum CBD Sleep Gummies With CBN + THC are the strongest legal hemp blend available, boasting 25 mg full spectrum CBD, 8 mg CBN, and 3.29 mg THC. The brand uses high-quality, hemp-derived CBN oil that’s been tested by third-party labs for potency and formula accuracy (the results of which are front and center on the product’s page). And the low dose of THC (still within that legal 0.3% THC limit) works with all of the other cannabinoids to potentially help craft a deeper “drowsy” experience.
What customers say: People who have used the formula say these gummies work well enough for them to subscribe and save to score regular deliveries of the product. One reviewer said these gummies helped with their “really bad insomnia.” Another person who used to struggle with their sleep said these gummies are “absolutely the only thing that has worked” and it helps them relax and sleep through the night.
Launched by Travis Barker in 2021, Barker Wellness Co. has quickly gained a reputation for its high-quality, potent, and vegan CBD formulas.
Its Organic CBD Recovery Gummies were developed with the intention to calm your mind and soothe your body. Each gummy contains 10 mg organic broad-spectrum CBD—so you get that powerful entourage effect from all the natural molecules working together—and 10mg organic CBC, a sister cannabinoid known to help calm and relax your body. These gummies are also infused with vitamin C, vitamin D3, and vitamin B1 to truly support your overall health and wellness, and help you rejuvenate at the end of a long day.
Known for making high-quality, clean formulas, allitom’s Pure CBD Vegan Gummy Bears are no different. These gummies contain 10 mg pure CBD with zero THC, so you can trust what you’re putting in your body. And at that lower dose, you can start low and work your way up to a dose that works best for your body that day.
We love that these gummies are not only vegan, but each of the six flavors are sweetened with natural fruit extract to offer antioxidant properties alongside CBD’s power. Plus they’re non-GMO, GMP-certified, made in the USA, pesticide-free, and, of course, lab-tested.
Ingredients: Organic evaporated cane juice, organic corn syrup, organic white grape juice concentrate, pectin sodium citrate, citric acid, ascorbic acid, natural flavors, colors added (including annatto, turmeric, grape juice concentrate, red fruit juice concentrate)
What customers say: Reviewers love the natural, sweet taste to these gummies and many exclaim how they can really feel the physical change in their body as their anxiety starts to “disappear.”
PlusCBD’s Extra Strength CBD Gummies are incredibly tasty. You’ll never be blindsided by that earthy cannabinoid flavor with the burst of fruit flavor, especially if you go for the Cherry Mango flavor.
But don’t think the formula isn’t powerful: PlusCBD uses CBD oil from true agricultural hemp grown naturally to produce potent full-spectrum hemp extracts with all the power of CBD and its full cannabinoid and terpene family, plus 500 phytonutrients and essential fatty acids. The result: A CBD gummy that truly works for whatever is ailing you.
What customers say: Reviewers say this product is “top notch” and it truly helps them sleep well and calm anxiety. One reviewer shared they feel so relaxed after taking one, “especially with the stresses of school and life,” and that their anxiety calms down, allowing them to be more productive.
Nanocraft specializes in genetically superior hemp strains and bioavailable CBD formulas, meaning its products are optimized for your body to absorb every molecule and put it to use.
The brand’s CBD Gummies each contain 25 mg broad-spectrum CBD, boasting all the major and minor cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Nanocraft also takes an extra step to remove even trace amounts of THC in its formula, so you can trust what you’re ingesting. Because of this, you can pop one of its CBD Gummies whenever you need a little relief: morning, afternoon, or night.
We also love that Nanocraft offers a 100 percent satisfaction, money-back guarantee.
Ingredients: Corn syrup, water, citrus pectin, natural flavor and color, citric acid, cannabidiol (hemp extract), and malic acid
What customers say: People who have used Nanocraft’s CBD Gummies say they’re effective at taking the edge off everyday anxieties and tension, helping unwind after work, and even in helping with pain relief from arthritis.
CBD is non-psychoactive, so it won’t make you feel high. But some people say certain CBD formulas make them feel sleepy or out of it in the moment, and groggy or foggy the next day.
3. How many CBD gummies should I eat?
The right dose of CBD varies a ton person to person. But because CBD is non-psychoactive, if you ingest too much, you’re likely to just feel tired. If you’ve never taken CBD before, start with 10mg and adjust according to how you feel. CBD gummies often comes at 25mg doses, which is the sweet spot for many people.
4. Can you bring CBD gummies on a plane?
Yes, because the cannabinoid is federally legal, you can bring CBD on a plane, as long as the formula contains less than 0.3% THC.
5. Will CBD gummies show up on a drug test?
It depends on what type of CBD you’re taking and where it comes from. The cleanest formulas are going to be CBD isolates, wherein the cannabinoid is extracted in the lab and separated from other cannabinoids, including trace amounts of THC. On the other hand, full-spectrum CBD products retain the cannabis plant’s natural chemical structure, since the molecules are more powerful together; however, that means the formula could have up to 0.3% THC in it, which may show up on a drug test. Broad-spectrum also contains many of the other cannabinoids found in a hemp plant, but is supposed to be entirely THC free. That being said, there are sometimes trace amounts of THC in broad-spectrum CBD formulas.
In short; If you need a clean drug test, you want to opt for a CBD isolate. But make sure you’re buying from a company that gets the formula third-party tested to ensure it doesn’t contain any small amounts of THC.
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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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