Approximately one-third of adults in the United States have tried CBD at least once. Sixty-four percent of Americans also say that they are at least somewhat familiar with CBD and CBD products.
Have you been curious about CBD benefits, specifically when it comes to CBD products for men? The good news is that there are lots of ways that you can improve your health by incorporating the best CBD products into your routine.
Read on for some helpful men’s health tips, as well as some information on the benefits of CBD for men.
What Is CBD?
Before exploring the benefits of CBD for men, let’s make sure you’re clear on what CBD is. Lots of people in the U.S. (and throughout the world, for that matter) have heard of CBD, but many still have questions about what it is and how it works.
CBD is short for cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is a cannabinoid, which is a type of compound found in the cannabis plant. It works with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a collection of receptors and endogenous cannabinoids (that’s right, your body actually makes its own cannabinoids, such as anandamide) that carry out a variety of functions.
CBD vs THC
When it comes to cannabinoids, the first one that comes to mind for a lot of people is THC (short for tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is a cannabinoid that’s responsible for the mind-altering effects of cannabis. It’s what causes you to feel “high” and is the result of the decarboxylation (or decarb) process, which involves heating cannabis to activate the cannabinoids.
CBD is different from THC because it does not cause you to feel high. It boasts many of the same health benefits as THC (which we’ll discuss more in a minute), but it doesn’t have the same mind-altering effects. Because of this, CBD can be a great alternative for those who do not want to feel high or who are sensitive to THC (some people find that it makes them anxious, for example).
It’s important to note that CBD is not the “good” cannabinoid while THC is the “bad” cannabinoid. Both serve their own purposes, and they can actually work together to enhance each other’s effects.
At the same time, though, some people do not want to consume THC but do want to experience relief from their symptoms. In these cases, CBD can be a good option to turn to instead.
Health Benefits of CBD for Men
Now that you’re caught up on what CBD is and isn’t, let’s dive into the reasons why CBD and men is a great combination. Here are some of the most noteworthy health benefits CBD may provide:
1. Reduced Anxiety
Approximately one in 10 men struggle with anxiety disorders, but men are far less likely to seek help than women. If you deal with frequent anxiety and want to feel calmer and more in control of your worries and fears, CBD may be beneficial.
CBD has been shown to have a calming effect and can minimize the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a racing heartbeat, sweaty palms, and digestive upset. Incorporating CBD into your routine can help you to feel more at ease and makes it easier for you to address your anxious thoughts without the physical feelings getting in the way.
2. Improved Sleep Quality
Poor sleep is a common issue for men and women alike, especially these days with so much uncertainty and turmoil in the world. Do you find that you have a hard time falling asleep at night or staying asleep? Do you frequently wake up feeling as though you didn’t get any rest at all?
Because of CBD’s calming effects, it can be a great sleep remedy and help those who toss and turn a lot at night to get the rest they need. Try taking it before bed as part of your nighttime routine so you can wind down and relax.
3. Improved Libido and Sexual Health
If your sex life is not as good as you’d like it to be, CBD might be part of the solution. Cannabinoids like CBD can help to improve erectile dysfunction symptoms as well as overall sexual performance. This likely has to do, in part, with the fact that it relaxes the blood vessels and improves blood flow throughout the body.
Some researchers have found that CBD can also act as a natural aphrodisiac. For those who struggle with low libido, this can be a safe and effective option to consider. Specially when symptoms of low testosterone are apparent.
4. Reduced Pain
Many people find their way to CBD products because they’re dealing with chronic pain. Although women tend to experience chronic pain more often than men, it’s an issue that affects both genders.
If you struggle with pain on a regular basis and haven’t found relief from other remedies, CBD might be a helpful tool to have in your tool kit. CBD is known to reduce inflammation throughout the body, making it a powerful painkiller that doesn’t come with the same side effects as many other pain-relieving products.
5. Improved Heart Health
Remember how we said CBD helped to improve blood flow and relax the blood vessels? This isn’t just good news for your sex drive. It’s also good news for your heart health.
By reducing inflammation, relaxing the blood vessels, and improve blood flow throughout the body, CBD has the potential to improve your heart health and reduce blood pressure. This, in turn, can reduce your risk of developing heart disease or experiencing other cardiovascular issues, such as strokes or heart attacks.
When you consider the fact that heart disease is the leading cause of death of men in the United States, don’t you want to do whatever you can to ensure you’re not part of this statistic?
6. Improved Cholesterol Profile
About 31 million adults in the United States have high cholesterol, and men tend to experience this issue earlier in life when compared to women. Including CBD in your supplement regimen may help to lower your cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of developing conditions like atherosclerosis.
CBD’s cholesterol-lowering benefits likely stem from its anti-inflammatory properties. If you struggle with high cholesterol, or if you know that this condition runs in your family and you want to get in front of it, introducing CBD might be a smart move to make sooner rather than later.
7. Improved Mood
In addition to reducing feelings of stress and anxiety, CBD can also be beneficial to those who struggle with depression and mood disorders. Many people dealing with depression also have heightened levels of inflammation. By reducing inflammation, they can experience an improvement in their mood and will feel more positively.
8. Faster Muscle Recovery
If you find that it takes a long time for you to recover from your workouts, or if you deal with a lot of pain and soreness after training, CBD can help you to recover and get back into the gym sooner.
First of all, CBD helps to lower inflammation and can reduce pain. This will allow you to train without as much discomfort. Second, CBD can help with sleep quality.
If you’re not getting good sleep after your workouts, you’re going to have a hard time recovering as quickly as you’d like. When you’re sleeping, your body goes through a lot of cleanup and repair processes, and it can’t do that if you’re constantly waking up in the middle of the night or not getting enough rest.
9. Reduced Risk of Diabetes
Approximately 84.1 million adults in the U.S. have prediabetes, including 36.6 percent of men (compared to just over 29 percent of women). If you have prediabetes or know that diabetes runs in your family, you might want to start using CBD sooner rather than later.
Early research suggests that CBD can be beneficial when it comes to preventing diabetes because it improves insulin sensitivity. It does this by converting white fat into brown fat. This, in turn, promotes better sugar metabolism and insulin production.
By controlling your body’s blood sugar balance and insulin sensitivity, you can reduce your risk of developing diabetes and prediabetes. You may also find that you have an easier time losing weight and avoiding obesity.
10. Improved Bone Health
Between four and six percent of men over the age of 50 have osteoporosis, and between 33 and 47 percent have osteopenia (bone density has diminished but does not meet osteoporosis’ diagnostic criteria).
CBD may help to increase bone volume. It can also inhibit the activity of cells that break down bone, and it may help to speed up the recovery process after someone has already experienced a fracture.
Using CBD, alone, might not be sufficient to prevent osteoporosis or osteopenia, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still useful. Combined with other practices, such as resistance training and calcium and vitamin D supplementation, it could prove to be quite effective.
How to Use CBD for the Best Results
At this point, you’re probably eager to experience at least a few of these benefits. Before you run out and buy the first CBD product you can find in stores or online, though, remember that not all of these products are created equal. In fact, there is a lot of variety in the quality of products being sold worldwide since there is very little regulation in place when it comes to things like purity and testing.
Investigate the Product’s Sourcing
If you want to see good results, start by making sure that you’re getting a high-quality, effective CBD product. To do this, consider the following when you start shopping:
- Is the product tested in a third-party laboratory?
- Does the manufacturer release test results on a regular basis?
- Is the CBD extracted from organic plants?
- Are the plants grown in the U.S., or another country that has specific regulations surrounding things like soil treatment and pesticide use?
Taking the time to investigate the sourcing of your CBD products can make a big difference and help you experience all the benefits CBD has to offer.
Consider CBD Concentration
There are some other factors you ought to consider, too, such as the amount of CBD found in a specific product. The higher the concentration of CBD, the more effective the product is likely to be.
Look at the Ingredients List
Think about ingredients, too. In general, the fewer ingredients found in a product, the better. If you’re shopping for CBD oil, for example, try to find one that contains just CBD, a carrier oil, and maybe a flavoring like peppermint oil or lemon oil.
Steer clear of products that contain lots of fillers or artificial flavorings. Be wary of those that are made with unhealthy carrier oils like canola oil or vegetable oil (stick to things like coconut oil or MCT oil instead) as well.
Dose It Properly
Dosing CBD can be tricky because, as we mentioned above, there aren’t a lot of regulations around CBD products right now, nor has there been a lot of testing. In most cases, though, it’s best to start with a small dose and work your way up from there.
Most people see results from between 20-40 mg of CBD. This is a good starting point for a lot of folks, but you can also start with less if you prefer. Stick with your selected dose for a few weeks and, if you don’t see any improvements, then consider increasing it gradually until you start to notice a difference in your symptoms.
Get More Men’s Health Tips Today
It’s clear that there are lots of benefits that men can experience when they start using CBD products on a regular basis. If you’ve been convinced to give CBD a go, be sure to follow the tips outlined above.
For those who want to keep up with the latest men’s health tips and tricks, feel free to check out some of the other articles on our site today. We have tons of great resources available that will keep you informed and help you to make the best decisions for your health.