Whether you are a gym enthusiast, high performance athlete or just someone who lives an active lifestyle working out and staying fit, you probably know how to take care of yourself while training. The same goes for people who work a physically demanding job or are recovering from an injury. They too understand the importance of physically caring for their body. It cannot be overstated—good nutrition is a vital component of maintaining your health.
Recovery drinks, with their unique benefits, are becoming more popular among people who live an active lifestyle. While most drinks tend to focus on rehydration, others may specifically help with muscle building or target particular areas of wellness with certain vitamins or nutrients. Few recovery drinks, however, address muscle soreness, and even less are complete and balanced. Since most drinks are narrowly focused on one or two aspects of recovery, there is a tremendous need for a drink that addresses recovery as a whole.
Many recovery drinks come in the form of a shake or smoothie. These often contain amino acids and proteins that are slowly released into the body over the course of several hours. This not only helps with recovery but also transforms the body into an efficient and effective machine for burning calories or building muscle. Wouldn’t it be better to have a drink that not only offered the benefits of muscle recovery, but also tied in the benefits of rehydration and boosted the immune system with appropriate vitamins? What if it also included ingredients that may reduce inflammation for muscle comfort, provide an abundant source of antioxidants, and deliver additional health and wellness benefits such as improved sleep?
The USDA Farm Bill in 2018 legalized the cultivation of cannabis with high CBD and low THC (<0.3%), which opened up new opportunities for benefiting from these ingredients that have been used for thousands of years. CBD, CBDA, terpenes and flavonoids in whole plant CBD play a vital role in resetting, restoring, and revitalizing the body and mind.
We’re drinking our way to better health.
Importance of Electrolytes
Electrolytes are compounds that the body uses to make electrically charged fluids, and electrolytes themselves have an electrical charge. Electrolytes play an important role in a wide variety of biological processes, particularly in the tissues of the muscles and the neurological system. Maintaining a healthy electrolyte balance throughout training and competition is essential for an athlete’s overall performance.
The body needs a variety of electrolytes, the most important of which are sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphate, as well as bicarbonate. In order to properly refuel after exercise or physical labor, you need to do more than simply replace the fluids and calories you lost; you also need to ensure that you are getting a sufficient supply of electrolytes.
The four primary electrolytes that are responsible for regulating the fluid balance in the body are sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Your digestive system, cardiovascular system, muscular system, and neurological system cannot work properly without electrolytes in proper balance. Your athletic performance may suffer as a result of an electrolyte imbalance, which puts you at increased risk of experiencing muscular tiredness, cramping, or even more serious side effects.
Electrolyte imbalance may cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, including leg cramps, stomach cramps, and even side stitches.
Other Important Ingredients
Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) consist of leucine, isoleucine, and valine. They are three of the essential amino acids which must be derived from one’s diet and cannot be synthesized in the human body. The aspect which sets these apart is the molecular configuration (a side chain) compared with the other amino acids which are building blocks of the body’s protein. The specific benefits for these amino acids, which comprise up to 40% of the total amino acids in the body, may include: reduced muscle soreness and fatigue, increased metabolism, regulated blood insulin levels, and increased protein and muscle mass.
Vitamins are critical for optimal performance and aiding one’s immune system and responses. B-complex vitamins are needed for cellular energy generation assistance. Citric acid improves the body’s ability to absorb salt and water. Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, is deficient in many Americans. This is why vitamin D supplements are associated with boosting immunity, osteoporosis, weight loss, absorption of calcium, and more.
Spirulina is a type of nutrient-dense, blue-green algae that is composed of protein, vitamins B1, B2, and B3, along with both iron and copper. It has been linked to potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses, and it may reduce risks associated with elevated blood pressure and reduction of LDL and triglycerides, which could impart benefits to cardiovascular health. Furthermore, it may aid in strength and endurance, and preliminary research looks promising for reduction in blood sugar levels. It could also have certain cancer-inhibiting properties.
Turmeric is a spice and a member of the ginger family. The active component, curcumin, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and may also benefit cardiovascular health and mitigate risks for certain types of cancer. It may even benefit the mind by enhancing memory and reducing depression.
What about CBD-Infused Drinks?
CBD and other goods made from cannabis (with less than 0.3% THC) can now be legally sold in the United States. This has led to a surge in consumer interest in beverages that include CBD. CBD drinks are now readily accessible due to advances in technology making CBD + CBDA water-soluble.
Previous blogs in our series have reviewed CBD, CBDA, terpenes and flavonoids that are found in fresh, whole plant CBD. These are thought to function synergistically and truly promote the “entourage effect.” One should expect to experience relief and calmness without the psychoactive high from THC. Medical research shows that there are specific receptors in our bodies that process CBD and CBDA. These receptors may affect inflammation, calmness, focus and relaxation, in addition to sleep. Whole plant CBD, with its abundance of CBDA, terpenes and flavonoids, may provide tremendous relief for both mind and body on its own. Yet, when combined with other recovery ingredients in the appropriate amount and balance, the positive effects seem to multiply instead of simply adding up in terms of resetting, restoring and revitalizing your body and mind.
Conclusion
The functional beverage space is crowded. There are numerous drinks focused on certain aspects of recovery, and consumers need an option that is more complete.
Given the benefits of whole plant CBD + CBDA from freshly purified plants with its abundance of terpenes and flavonoids, it makes sense to thoughtfully combine this with a full array of ingredients to address total recovery.
Regardless of your physical or mental demands or your occupation, you need to ask yourself this question, “Am I providing my body what it needs to operate at peak performance?” If the answer is no, seek out alternatives that fill that void.
What are you drinking before, during, or after work or a workout to help with recovery?
We’d love to hear from you!