Runners Rituals to Get You Race Ready & Injury Free
If you’re gearing up for the fall running season (and maybe even have a marathon on your bucket list!) you might be focused on pace, form, and distance (and understandably so). But it’s the pre-run rituals that often get forgotten that will help you run smarter, avoid injury, improve form, and transform your entire running experience. If you’re gearing up for the fall running season (and maybe even have a marathon on your bucket list!) you might be focused on pace, form, and distance (and understandably so). But it’s the pre-run rituals that often get forgotten that will help you run smarter, avoid injury, improve form, and transform your entire running experience. Regardless of whether you’re preparing for a 5K fun run, a half marathon, or you’ve got your eyes set on the NYC or Chicago marathons—build these into your training plans and keep your all-important preparations on track. Tune Into Your Body Before you hit the trail, take a moment to pause and tune into your body. Which muscles feel tight, does anything feel out of balance or uncomfortable? It’s crucial to listen closely to your body—this can go a long way in preventing minor annoyances turning into something more serious and sidelining yourself. Dynamic Stretching Running is a full-body, dynamic workout and your pre-run stretch routine should reflect that. Dynamic stretches (as opposed to static stretches like a hamstring stretch) prepare your joints and muscles by mimicking the activity you’re about to do. They work to increase blood flow to the muscles, alleviate tension, and improve your flexibility. Prime your body for action with stretches like side lunges, single-leg deadlifts, straight-leg lateral swings, knee hugs, hamstring sweeps, calf raises, and ankle circles. Before You Run -Hydrate Similar to the way that last-minute cramming for a test rarely helps you pass, guzzling down water the morning before a long run won’t hydrate your body to its optimum extent (and result in more bathroom breaks). Instead of binge-drinking—aim to keep a water bottle handy all week long and drink eight 8-ounce (64 oz. total) glasses of water each day. The exact amount of water you need to drink directly before your run depends on the elements (temperature and humidity) as well as the distance you’re taking on. Rest Days Including rest days in your training schedule is a crucial part of allowing your body adequate time to recover and adapt to a running workout. Put simply: you can train harder when you rest up (even if that looks like going for a relaxing walk or taking a restorative yoga class) and decrease the likelihood of overextending your body. Strength Training When you run, there’s a long list of muscles that get worked: quads, hip flexors, hamstrings, your core, back, abdominals, and calf muscles (to name a few!). Supplementing running with strength training exercises will not only help you avoid injury, but it will also make you a stronger, faster, and more efficient runner. Strengthen your muscles and joints, improve mobility and even stride efficiency with exercises like planks, squats, overhead press, lunges, and alternating rows. Breath Getting your body race ready is key, but mentally preparing and taking time to get your mind on board too is sometimes half the battle! Place your hand on your belly, close your eyes, remind yourself why you’re doing this, and take five slow, deep breaths. This will also help you to set out at a comfortable pace (rather than starting too hard), helping you last the full distance. Runners and or athletes at all levels can benefit from CBD, whether it’s an oil or a topical it is always best to speak a medical professional before attempting to self-medicate. Please share your stories and reach out to us with any questions. We have a FAQ page on our site and you can always purchase our organic whole plant product online. Over the last year, CBD has exploded and has created a shift in the health and wellness communities as people everywhere are finding natural plant-based relief for their health conditions. Let's start to explore the amazing benefits of CBD for seniors and discuss the massive impact CBD can have on this group of individuals.
Today in America, there are over 46 million individuals who are 65 years of age or older.
According to the CDC, 49.6% of senior citizens suffer from Arthritis Mental Health America found that 27% of senior citizens suffer from severe anxiety disorders that are significantly impacting their ability to function. As our senior population projected to outnumber the minor population (under 18) by 2035, we need to think of a solution, and quick. So what is CBD? CBD is short for Cannabidiol, is one of over 60 cannabinoids found in the Hemp plant. Like other cannabinoids, CBD can interact with receptors in our body's Endocannabinoid System (ECS), which research has shown is the catalyst behind the many effects of the Cannabis plant. It is also the reason psychoactive cannabinoids like Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can induce euphoric or mind-altering effects on the user. CBD is non-psychoactive; it will not make the user high while continuing to deliver the many health properties of the Cannabis plant. Because these benefits are uniquely aligned with the conditions generally afflicted by seniors, CBD is the solution to improving the health and lives of our senior citizens! 7 Health Benefits of CBD for Seniors 1. CBD can help manage pain CBD's ability to alleviate a condition that nearly every senior deals with―pain and inflammation. With nearly half of the senior population in the United States suffering from Arthritis and 75–85% of seniors suffering from chronic pain―this is, unfortunately, a common problem for most seniors in America. Studies have shown that CBD can reduce inflammation and alleviate pain from conditions such as Arthritis, Joint Pain, and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). By activating various receptors in the Endocannabinoid System, experts have found that patients treated with CBD experienced a "clinically significant reduction" in pain-related symptoms with little to no adverse side effects. As a natural alternative to traditional pain medications, CBD creates a compelling case for health care professionals and senior caregivers. 2. CBD promotes bone health As our bodies naturally age, we endure a condition known as Osteoporosis. During Osteoporosis, our bones experience a loss of vital minerals and become fragile and brittle, making them more prone to breaking. Because of this, seniors can experience severe pain and fractures if they have a fall. With falls as the number one cause of death for men over the age of 60, and 33% of women and 25% of men older than 50 suffering from osteoporotic fractures, bone health is a severe issue for the older generation. In addition to reducing inflammation and promoting cell repair, research has shown that the cannabinoids like CBD can help strengthen the bones and even promote the healing process if a fracture does occur. While additional clinical trials will be needed to determine the viability of this application for the masses, the results thus far are auspicious. 3. CBD can improve quality of sleep Sleep disorders like insomnia are a condition suffered by individuals of every age; they are widespread for seniors. Experts suggest that this is due to the shift in sleeping patterns as one gets older, along with the chemical imbalance caused by medical conditions and prescription medication. Because sleep is the period that our body flushes out toxins and restores itself, conditions that prevent sleep are incredibly harmful to seniors. To alleviate their sleeping disorders, most seniors will turn to sleep medications. While these may temporarily solve one problem, they create an even bigger problem in the long run. By combatting the conditions that are causing sleeping disorders, such as stress, anxiety, restlessness, and general unbalance in the body, CBD can calm the user and naturally promote a healthier sleep problem for seniors. More importantly, it can prevent the need to take harmful sleeping medications. 4. CBD can combat addiction Studies have shown that CBD can not only alleviate conditions that often involve harmful medication, but it can also help combat the dependency on that medication. Findings from a 2018 study revealed that CBD could help combat addiction by preventing relapses. In the study, researchers found that after administering CBD once a day for seven days, patients no longer displayed "addictive behaviors," and it deterred the patient from relapsing for five months. As seniors decide to switch from harmful medications to natural plant relief, CBD can help combat and alleviate the withdrawal and relapsing behaviors that will arise during this process. 5. CBD can improve heart health According to the American College of Cardiology, heart disease is the most common condition amongst older adults and the #1 cause of death for this age group. Cardiac dysfunction is made manageable with CBD Millions of Americans suffer from various cardio-related illnesses and conditions, with heart problems continuing to be one of the leading causes of death in the developed world. While this unfortunate trend shows no sign of abating anytime soon, it is growing increasingly apparent that CBD treatments can make cardiac dysfunction more manageable for the patients who must grapple with it. That is according to one study, at least, which speaks highly of the healing power of CBD when it comes to solving cardiac dysfunction and helping patients deal with oxidative-nitrosative stress. Patients who continue to doubt the healing abilities of CBD oil should thoroughly review said studies and the opinion of a growing body of medical experts who are increasingly championing medicinal cannabis. Based on the research from recent studies, CBD may be an effective and natural treatment for high blood pressure. A 2017 study treated ten men with one 600 mg dose of CBD and found that it reduced the resting blood pressure of the subjects. In this same study, researchers also administered stress tests to determine the effects CBD had on the subject's stress response and found that the subject has exhibited a lower blood pressure increase than average. In addition to reducing high blood pressure, studies found that the antioxidant properties of CBD may help reduce cardiac inflammation and can deter cell death caused by oxidative stress. The researchers in charge of the study believed that the results "strongly suggest that it [CBD] may have great therapeutic potential in the treatment of diabetic complications, and perhaps other cardiovascular disorders, by attenuating oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation, cell death, and fibrosis." By reducing blood pressure and deterring inflammation and cell death in the heart, CBD can significantly improve overall heart health and serve as a preventive measure against severe health conditions. 6. CBD can deter neurodegenerative diseases Because CBD can interact with receptors in our brain and central nervous system, experts believe CBD could be a potential treatment for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Multiple Sclerosis. While it is still early to make a conclusive assessment, the studies below have shown some promising results
As more clinical trials are conducted, the evidence will become more and more evident. In the future, CBD could become one of the primary treatment methods for seniors suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. 7. CBD can improve mood and alleviate mood-related disorders While we all deal with mood swings, as we start to experience the significant changes associated with getting older―like the decline of health, disabilities, or the loss of a loved one―these mood swings can often become significantly intensified. Prolonged, they can lead to significant health problems, with a high chance of the individual developing a mental illness if they feel that they are disconnected, neglected, isolated, or lonely. Based on the findings from numerous studies, CBD may help alleviate this condition. By interacting with the receptors involved in regulating our mood (such as the Serotonin and Adenosine receptors), CBD can alleviate stress, calm the mind, and improve cognitive functions. These three things combined, significantly contribute to its current situation and may have a significant impact on one's mood. Studies continue to show that CBD can effectively alleviate mood-related disorders. Over time, this can take a severe toll on their mental, physical, and psychological health. Seniors everywhere can benefit from CBD, whether it’s an oil or a topical it is always best to speak a medical professional before attempting to self-medicate. Please share your stories and reach out to us with any questions. We have a FAQ page on our site and you can always purchase our organic whole plant product online. Don’t leave home without it!Let's face it, travel takes a severe toll on the mind, body, and spirit. Thankfully, CBD is one powerful holistic support that will help you thrive during your trip.
Staying Zen Many people experience severe anxiety while traveling. Travel disrupts your routine and requires careful coordination -- even if you're going somewhere relaxing. Some people also deal with acute stress in planes or cars, or when visiting crowded, busy places like airports. CBD can naturally improve your mood, relieve your anxiety, and help you de-stress. With a topical CBD product, you may notice your mood improving, and the minor traumas of a stressful trip affecting you less. We find a dime to quarter size rubbed on your temples or your wrist's can bring some relief within in minutes. Reduces Swelling & Inflammation Some travelers notice increased swelling while on the road. Using caffeine to stay moving, filling up on salty snacks, and changing your hydration patterns will affect how your body retains water. Long periods spent sitting on planes or in cars causes blood and lymph to pool in your feet, ankles, and legs. CBD can relieve inflammation and its adverse effects, including redness, swelling, and pain. What's more, by rubbing ALLAY topical CBD product on any swollen areas, the massage action will gently flush out excess lymph and water while the CBD works. Staying Moisturized For many people, travel means dry skin. Recycled air in airplane cabins, plus hyperactive A/C in hotel rooms and cars, leaves your skin ashy and itchy. Topical CBD products like oils and lotions don't just help you stay calm, collected, and healthy -- they keep you moisturized, too. It’s also great for bug bites and sunburns. The next time you're heading out, be sure to pack one of our travel-friendly CBD topical's in your bag. They're small enough to get through the TSA checkpoint (and they're perfectly legal!) -- but they're powerful enough to help you feel your best, wherever you go. |
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November 2020
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