Personal truth: My morning routine revolves around coffee. It's an addiction, and it's not my best quality, but I truly can't start my day without it. I'm my worst self before caffeine. I always wake up slightly grumpy and fatigued—until I have my morning coffee, that is. My mood instantly improves, and I feel ready for the day the moment that cold brew (my coffee drink of choice) hits my lips. You could say we're in a very committed relationship. The only issue between us is that recently I've noticed a correlation between my cold brew habit and my anxiety levels. It's more of a recent problem for me—I attribute it to both work and personal stressors—but now about 30 minutes after my cold brew, I'm hit with a major wave of anxiety pulsing throughout my body. Obviously not ideal.
So what's a caffeine-addicted girl to do? Before you hit me with switching to matcha, I already tried that and it's just not the same. I truly enjoy the taste of coffee. A friend of mine recommended adding CBD to my morning brew to help keep me calm and neutralize that anxiety wave. I know CBD has been trending hard for the past few months, but I had never thought about adding it to my coffee before. I use a pen at night before bed to help me relax and am obsessed—but would it really have the same effect combined with a heavy dose of caffeine?
MY EXPERIENCE
I decided to put CBD-infused coffee to the test by dosing my cold brew every day for a week. But let's back up for a second. I know what you're probably thinking—what's the deal with CBD anyway? There's a lot of information (and hype) floating around out there, so to break it down simply for you: CBD is a cannabinoid that interacts with your endocannabinoid system. It's not psychoactive and won't make you feel high (that's THC). The advertised benefits are improved mood, better sleep, and pain and nerve relief, among others.
For this experiment, I started my day off with Après Cold Brew, which contains 95 milligrams of caffeine plus 14 grams of protein to help me feel full in the morning. I then add Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides to it, in an effort to add more collagen to my diet. Collagen has been said to improve your hair, skin, nails, joints, and ligaments, so I try to sneak it in where I can—usually as an additive to either a smoothie or coffee.
Then I add my CBD: I chose Papa & Barkley's Releaf Drops, as they're a personal favorite of mine because the taste is mild and the effect is pleasant. If you want to feel its effects immediately, you can put the dropper directly under your tongue. I prefer to add mine to a beverage though, as the taste is a bit more intense when taken alone. So I add half a dropper into my blend of cold brew and collagen, add ice, stir it all together, and voilà—my morning drink is ready.
Sure enough, after dosing my coffee, my expected wave of anxiety failed to hit. I felt energized and alert but not jittery or overwhelmed. My overall mood was totally improved by the effects of (and my love for) coffee, but I didn't encounter the intensity I've been feeling along with it as of late. I just felt ready to take on the day in a manageable, calm way. After a full week of repeating the same morning routine, I can safely say I'm sold on the CBD-infused coffee thing. If you experience a similar feeling of too much intensity from caffeine (but still need the jolt first thing in the morning), I highly recommend giving this a try to see if it works for you.
MY REGIMEN
I only recently discovered Après, and it's become my morning drink of choice. With added protein and 95 milligrams of caffeine, this is the ideal product to add my CBD to in the morning since I typically drink coffee before eating breakfast.
The easiest way to add collagen to my diet is in either a smoothie or coffee, and this flavorless powder is barely detectable in both. Plus, you're getting 10 grams of collagen per serving, which has skin, nail, and joint benefits.
These are my CBD drops of choice, with 30 milligrams in a full dropper. I don't usually use the full dropper (I tend to do about half), but it's all personal preference—do you.
Shop more CBD products I love
If you're not a coffee person, another option I love is Kirra. These teas are super refreshing with flavors like Ginger Lime and Hibiscus Rooibos, which are caffeine-free, and Lychee Green Tea Jasmine and Lilikoi Guava, which do contain caffeine. They're made from all organic ingredients with no added sugars, and with 18 milligrams of CBD per bottle, you'll feel relaxed yet elevated.
The New York Times referred to Beboe as the "Hermès of marijuana"—so to say its designs are chic is an understatement. I definitely don't mind having this pen on display on my nightstand. This blend also has the most soothing effect before bed.
I love taking one of these Kiva gummies before bed to help me relax and unwind. The wild berry flavor contains 5 milligrams of THC (different than CBD) for a "chill" effect, and I don't wake up groggy at all the next day.
The sparkling pear flavor, on the other hand, contains 2mg of THC and 6mg of CBD for more of a mellow, happy, social vibe.
Okay, so this one doesn't actually contain any CBD, but it's another great option to add your own to since it contains 20g of protein plus cold brew coffee.
On the other end of the spectrum from cold brew coffee is this Sagely CBD body oil I like to use at night before bed. I apply right after the shower, and it instantly relaxes my muscles—almost like the feeling you have after a good massage. Trust, it's heavenly.
Next up: The 16 Best CBD Oils for Better Sleep and Relaxation
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in the place of advice of your physician or other medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first with any health-related questions.
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