There’s no question that I’m a huge fan of CBD. It’s been a game-changer for my husband dealing with chronic pain from his autoimmune disease; it’s been amazing for me with stress and focus; and I’ve seen it change my patients lives by helping them cope with their anxiety and binge-eating. But, it can’t do all the things we want it to do unless we’re supporting our body and our endocannabinoid system (ECS) with additional healthy choices.
When it comes to nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, I have three rules that I consider to be the fundamentals to health. These fundamentals set you up for success when it comes to health, wellness and energy, but they also ensure that your ECS is optimized.
Fundamental 1: Healthy Diet
I like to think of CBD like any other nutritional supplement. It doesn’t matter how many vitamins you take if your diet isn’t great.
The best way to look at food is to make sure that it’s a whole food, meaning it contains ingredients you can understand. Make sure each day if filled with lots of fresh produce, good quality protein, healthy fats and the occasional indulgence. Hydration is also key as it can help you stay energized, stabilize your blood sugar levels and prevent you from snacking when you’re not really hungry.
Fundamental 2: Sleep
Sometimes my nutrition clients are surprised when we talk about things outside of food and exercise, but sleep is equally important. Sleep is your body’s time to recover and restore. Poor sleep is linked to increased inflammation in the body, a weaker immune system, depression and even weight gain. Getting those seven to eight hours a night does so much for your body.
A lot of people struggle with sleep issues, and it’s really important to set yourself up for success when it comes to sleep. Going to bed at close to the same time helps tell your body when it’s bedtime. Making sure your room is dark and on the colder side is also proven to help with sleep quality. Blue light from screens can also interfere with the ability to fall asleep, so if you work late, put on a pair of blue blocking glasses or read before bed instead of scrolling through your phone.
If sleep is still tough for you, try adding a small dose of CBD before bed. Many of my clients think that a drink or a cocktail in the evening helps them sleep better, but that’s actually not the case. The quality of your sleep declines when you drink alcohol—save it for the nights it’s really worth it.
There’s so much more we can work on aside from just taking CBD and it’s amazing that, with some small changes to your diet and lifestyle, plus adding in a good quality CBD, how much better you can feel.
So tell me, what’s the toughest part for you when it comes to healthy habit?