New research suggests testosterone levels in men have a connection to the severity of the COVID-19 symptoms experienced.
A new study might explain why some men experience more severe COVID-19 cases than women.
Conducted by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the study indicates that men with lower testosterone are more likely to develop severe symptoms of COVID-19. This might explain why men, who account for less than half of the population who get COVID-19 in the U.S., are likelier to die of the disease than women.
The effect of sex hormones on COVID-19 has been under scrutiny since the start of the pandemic. Testosterone, which is available in higher percentages in men, made for a perfect opening for a clearer picture of the effect of sex hormones on the disease.
Studies conducted earlier this year showed links between low testosterone levels and severe COVID-19, but this new study, published in the JAMA Network, expanded on these findings by tracking patients as their disease progressed. It followed 90 male and 62 female patients with COVID-19, noting their hormone levels and trying to pinpoint the link between testosterone and severe symptoms.
While there were no links between women’s COVID-19 disease and their sex hormones, men admitted to hospitals with severe COVID-19 had very low testosterone levels. All men with COVID-19 saw their testosterone levels decrease as their disease progressed.
It’s important to know that while a link between COVID-19 and low testosterone exists, it’s not a causal correlation. It’s not known if low testosterone levels result in severe COVID-19 or if the reverse is true.
Photo by Cottonbro via Pexels
Men who fared worse with COVID-19 tended to have more risk factors like obesity, older age, and diabetes, all of which are also linked with lower testosterone. More research is needed in order to draw further conclusions. Still, this knowledge is important, painting a clearer picture of the disease and perhaps offering new treatment options for a variety of patients.
When discussing testosterone therapy, Abhinav Diwan, cardiologist and senior author of the study, said, “This therapy has been used in men with low levels of sex hormones, so it may be worth investigating whether a similar approach can help male COVID-19 survivors with their rehabilitation.”
Chuck Schumer needs to sell McConnell on the concept of legal marijuana he expects to sidestep the filibuster and get the Republican majority on board.
There’s little doubt that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is spinning his wheels trying to figure out how he will introduce a comprehensive marijuana reform bill “soon” and actually get it to pass. Although Schumer is technically the long, strong arm of the Hill, he’s learned in a few short months that he doesn’t have the clout to accomplish much if the Republicans continue to stand in the way.
And they will, too, don’t worry about that.
They’re making Schumer’s life miserable this session, and that’s not expected to change when he starts talking about legal weed. But it’s not that he’s up against the entire Republican party. Schumer could quickly legalize marijuana nationwide this year. He just needs to convince Mitch McConnell it’s the right thing to do.
Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Although McConnell is no longer responsible for dictating which legislation goes to the Senate floor, he can block most Democratic legislation with the filibuster — a Senate rule that requires 60 votes to pass. Furthermore, McConnell still has the political influence to command enough GOP Senators to oppose an issue and cause it to fail. He tells them to jump, and they ask how high. “I don’t necessarily like it, but when he decides to tell his caucus…they mostly fall in line,” Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia told NBC News. “When he tells them, ‘Stick with me,’ they usually do.”
Simply put, Republicans do what McConnell wants.
“We stay with him. He’s a good leader. He’s a good negotiator. He understands the program and the Senate as well as anybody I’ve ever known,” said Republican Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama.
This means all Schumer needs to further his idea of legal weed in the United States is get McConnell to side with the issue. But that is easier said than done. To begin with, McConnell is intent on crippling the Democratic agenda this year. He recently said, “One-hundred percent of our focus is on stopping this new administration.” Also, McConnell is not a fan of marijuana, nor is he the slightest bit interested in passing a bill that legalizes it. Last year, McConnell criticized House Democrats for last minute efforts to legalize weed during the pandemic.
Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Schumer is presumably scurrying around the Hill right now, trying to scrounge up support for his marijuana bill when it is finally introduced. He’s been talking a lot of smack about it for months, which has given cannabis advocates hope that legal weed is right around the corner. It’s not. Schumer needs to sell McConnell on the concept if he expects to sidestep the filibuster and get the Republican majority on board.
Everyone, except for Schumer, seems to understand that this is the only way. Yet, bringing an end to the filibuster is all that is being discussed as an option. And while the demise of the filibuster may be long overdue, it’s not an immediate answer to forever cannabis reform.
All legislation passed in a scenario where the filibuster has been destroyed would undoubtedly lead to those policies being repealed once the Republicans are back in power. Senator Cory Booker, who is working with Schumer on nationwide marijuana legalization, said recently that he was working on getting the 10 Republican votes needed to skirt the filibuster. In reality, the gateway to the super critical 10 votes is through Senator McConnell. Unfortunately, until he’s a believer in bud, federal marijuana legalization is not going to happen.
Cannadips, a company that makes hemp-derived CBD pouches to help people quit tobacco, is pulling back the Redwood curtain and inviting 10 lucky people to check out the upcoming cannabis harvest.
Have you ever wondered what a cannabis crop in one of the most legendary grow regions of the world looks like?
It’s probably like nothing you’ve ever experienced: weed as far as your eyesight can go, the buds emanating their unique smells and contrasting against beautiful sunsets, the sound of plants swinging with the wind.
What’s even more magical and breathtaking than the grow itself is the harvest season, when the plants are at their best. For outdoor grows in the U.S., this usually takes place between October and November. According to Green Market Report, approximately 80% to 85% of the legal cannabis industry’s outdoor cannabis is harvested during this brief period of time.
The ‘Croptober’ Contest
Cannadips – Courtesy Photo
Now you have the opportunity to experience the famous “Croptober” festival in Humboldt County, California, first hand.
Cannadips, a company that makes hemp-derived CBD pouches to help people quit tobacco, is pulling back the Redwood curtain and inviting 10 lucky people to check out the upcoming cannabis harvest. The tour will have attendees visiting multiple grow operations in a day: from Xotic Flavorz, Ridgeline Farms and Humboldt 36 Farms, to CannaCountry Farms, Arcata Fire and Ammo Brand.
A total of 4 winners of the Croptober Getaway Sweepstakes contest will be picked every 2 weeks between May 1st and June 30. One last winner will be announced on June 30, and selected through an Instagram competition where the author of the best photo posted using the #Croptober2021 hashtag will win a free trip to Humboldt.
All winners will get a plus one for the trip, taking the total number of guests to ten.
A Special Occasion
According to Case Mandel, co-founder of Cannadips, the fact that his product is being sold at more than 6000 stores nationwide makes his brand the largest CPG brand hailing from Humboldt County.
Kushmintz cannabis grown in Humboldt – Xotic Flavorz
“We take that seriously and are using our brand as a vehicle to create exposure to the other amazing innovators and craftsmen from our region who put cannabis and Humboldt on the map,” he said.
And Mandel takes his company’s Humboldt identity very seriously.
“Croptober is so special to us: It is welcoming people into our region to experience something that has been illegal for the last 50+ years, and showing them not another monocropped field in Southern California, but high-quality artisan Humboldt sun grown cannabis.”
Cody King, founder Xotic Flavorz, one of the farms people will visit during the tour, added, “I’ve been around cannabis since birth in Southern Humboldt. Our community has been of secrecy and artisan innovation. We didn’t take the risk for the last few generations to let corporate cannabis steal our thunder. We are excited to partner with Cannadips and show people across the country how amazing Humboldt and the cannabis culture really is.”
The Itinerary
Below is an itinerary for the contest winners:
October 15: Winners fly in.
October 16: All-day Cannabis tours with Xotic Flavorz, Ridgeline Farms, Humboldt 36 Farms, CannaCountry Farms, Arcata Fire, Ammo Brand.
October 16: Concert at Arcata Theater Lounge led by Deejay Theory and a surprise headliner.
October 17: A tour of the region’s redwoods, rivers and beaches, and a cookout at the Cannadips facility.
October 18: Attendees fly back home.
Jason Gellman, founder of Ridgeline Farms – Courtesy Photo
Flights to and from Humboldt, the stay at the historic Hotel Arcata, food, drinks and cannabis are included in the prize.
“I’ve been running in the hills of Humboldt since 2009. To be able to make the transition to the legal industry and then create a leading national CPG brand rooted in this region is an honor. We are coming full-circle in now being able to be a vehicle to our consumers and provide them access to the amazing cultivators and manufacturers that have made this region famous. It’s the Emerald Triangle baby, we are polishing it and letting it shine,” Mandel concluded.
“From the old days of working the hills behind locked gates to Croptober and bringing in consumers across the country- it has been one insane transformation.”
A cannabis farm in Humboldt – MatCa Films
This article, which appears on Benzinga, was originally published on Forbes and has been reposted with permission.
According to a one study, heart health can be improved by consuming this food twice a week.
Good heart health involves a lot of factors, from working out regularly to eating the right type of meals. Despite having no short cuts when it comes to having good cardiovascular health, there’s one food that can increase your heart health, specifically if you eat it twice a week.
According to a 2018 study published in the American Journal of Hypertension, there’s a link between eating yogurt twice a week and less risk of cardiovascular disease.
“We hypothesized that long-term yogurt intake might reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems since some previous small studies had shown beneficial effects of fermented dairy products,” said Justin Buendia, one of the study’s authors. “Here, we had a very large cohort of hypertensive men and women, who were followed for up to 30 years.”
These results were gathered by examining the health records of over 55,000 women between the ages of 30 and 55 with high blood pressure. Stats from 18,000 men between the ages of 30 and 55. Participants kept logs of their diets and medical diagnoses that included strokes and heart attacks.
Subjects who ate two or more servings of yogurt on a weekly basis were 19% less likely to suffer a heart attack than subjects who didn’t eat yogurt at all. While all subjects experienced benefits, these results were more pronounced in women, who were 30% less likely to experience cardiac arrest by consuming yogurt often.
Yogurt, especially those with no added sugars or added flavors, is healthy for your overall health. It has protein, calcium, and probiotics. It’s especially beneficial for heart health, being linked with positive blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
If you want to add yogurt to your diet, it’s important to know that not all yogurts are made the same. Many brands of yogurt have sugars or unhealthy artificial sweeteners. Your best bet would be to eat plain non-fat yogurt, mixing it with fruits or other ingredients for flavor and for rounding out meals.
The pandemic influenced our eating habits, from the products we bought to their pricing. Here are some other changes that were triggered by the lockdown.
The pandemic has affected many aspects of our lives, including our drinking and eating. In several reports presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Nutrition, researchers spotted trends in our habits, not all of them for the better.
CNN reported on some of the most significant changes we experienced with our eating habits through the pandemic. Here are four of them:
Less healthy eating
Photo by Emiliano Vittoriosi via Unsplash
The consumption of unhealthy snacks and deserts increased significantly. Throughout the pandemic, people were more likely to snack and drink chips, cookies, sweetened coffees, teas, and sodas.
When it comes to eating healthy foods, the consumption of vegetables and whole grains dropped during the past year. “This decrease was the most pronounced among women, black and Latino study participants, and participants who gained at least five pounds or more since 2018,” said Caroline Um, post-doctoral fellow at the American Cancer Society.
More pandemic weight jokes
Photo by Brodie Vissers via Burst
A study that looked into the impact on children when families comment on their weight found that these behaviors internalized weight bias. According to the study, as few as three comments of this type per month were enough to impact children. This kind of internalization and weight bias has been found to predict future weight gain, promoting unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle decisions.
During the early days of the pandemic, a lot of people ordered their groceries in order to minimize their contact with germs and other people. Throughout the months of March and April of 2020, 18,000 households were surveyed. A third of them were ordering their groceries online due to the pandemic and convenience.
Higher food prices
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon via Unsplash
Lastly, research from Tufts University found that there was a link between local governments that put high-level restrictions in their community and higher food prices. The data was found via analyzing food and consumer goods pricing in different counties in the United States, all the while comparing them to the community’s COVID-19 restrictions.
The threat of antibiotic resistance is one of the many global health challenges that will be solved with the chemical compound in the cannabis plant.
One of the most prevalent threats to human beings that have become a global health challenge is drug-resistant infections. This threat increases fears that there is a high possibility of our generation returning to the pre-antibiotic age because such diseases are life-threatening.
Over 700,000 people are dying from drug-resistant infections yearly. This number increases daily, and it has put scientists and researchers on the quest for new antibiotics that will target superbugs.
Photo by Bacsica/Getty Images
What is cannabigerol?
Cannabigerol (CBG) is a form of the cannabinoid from cannabis plants and often called the “Mother” of all cannabinoids. Cannabigerol holds an extraordinary place in the heart of cannabis researchers and users because other cannabinoids are derived from its acid.
CBG is also found in smaller quantities than other cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, as in most plant strains; you will find 1% of CBD, unlike the 20-30% of THC in the plant.
So products gotten from CBG are rare and very expensive. Researchers have found that CBG has many benefits to offer the medical world, which has increased its popularity.
What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are drugs created to prevent and cure bacterial infections, thus saving people from dying when the infection spreads without a cure. But antibiotics are also under severe threat because of the availability of different types of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
These bacteria, which overcomes the effects of even the most potent antibiotic, are a problem that has caused the pharmaceutical industry to become stagnated with the creation of new antibiotics. Alongside climate change, the antibiotic-resistant crisis is also seen as a global threat.
How can cannabigerol help?
As researchers carried out tests for a solution to this threat, it was discovered that natural ingredients in cannabis could proffer a solution to the crisis. According to a recent study, cannabigerol was identified as a chemical from the cannabis plant that can kill stubborn bacteria.
The antibacterial activities of cannabinoids (which are the chemicals in cannabis) effectively suppress and fight off this group of bacteria.
The research carried out by two MacMaster microbiologists, Dr. Omar El-Halfawy and Dr. Maya Farha, maintain that scientists need to rethink new ways of discovering the next antibiotic. With all focus on cannabigerol, it is evident that this cannabinoid is the future.
Photo by Lukas Dvorak/EyeEm/Getty Images
The cannabinoid is also an attractive research area with tremendous potentials for long-term solutions for this crisis. Therefore, scientists in academia hope that their discovery will raise more antimicrobial investigations into the possibilities of cannabinoids.
CBG was proven to effectively kill both the normal bacterial cells and other persister cells that showed excellent resistance to antibiotics. CBG was also effective with preventing and disrupting biofilms which cause build-ups on the person’s skin.
Although these test results are preliminary, there is a very high potential for additional findings and further studies; a powerful solution can come from CBG.
The power of cannabigerol in the cannabis plant.
For decades, researchers have agreed that cannabinoids, particularly cannabigerol, have antibacterial properties. For instance, since the 1950s, cannabis extracts have been used as antiseptics in many parts of the world. This realization confirms the fact that cannabinoids still have a lot of untapped potential for antimicrobial development.
The drug properties in cannabinoids are also helpful in the human body, making them a good starting point for the creation of new antibiotics. The team at McMaster University tested 18 varieties of cannabinoids and other related molecules against several antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
Photo by Roxana Gonzalez / EyeEm/Getty Images
The tested bacteria also included gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria. Well, scientists discovered that cannabigerol showed very high promise as an antibacterial agent.
Researchers also collected different antibiotic-resistant bacteria from local hospitals to observe if the cannabinoids killed the bacteria. They immediately realized that CBG has a unique and extraordinary antibacterial activity against other bacteria groups during their experiments.
Their discovery also revealed that CBG is a non-psychoactive and non-sedative chemical excellent for antibiotic development for both animals and human beings. Interestingly, unlike other cannabinoids such as THC, you cannot get high with CBG.
So a combination of significant chemical compounds with an inability to get you high makes cannabigerol the perfect candidate for a solution for this global health crisis. Since CBG cured MRSA-infected mice without any toxic side effects, it means it holds high potentials for human beings.
Scientists also discovered that within 30 minutes of the treatment on mice, CBG stopped the bacterial growth and killed all MRSA bacteria that are tolerant to current antibiotics like ciprofloxacin. Additionally, CBG was also tested against the most brutal gram-negative bacteria.
Photo by naruecha jenthaisong/Getty Images
Many antibiotics are ineffective against gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli because of the antibiotic’s inability to get into the bacterium cell. CBG “alone” couldn’t kill E. coli, but when it was maximized in combination with another antibiotic (like a Polymyxin B), the E. coli membrane becomes easily penetrable.
With the penetration, CBG gains entry into the E. coli and kills the bacterium!
Yes, the cannabis plant has given us a miracle through cannabigerol, and so many health experts are excited about the breakthroughs this will bring on a global scale. But, it will take time before it is commercially available as it needs to go through rigorous CBG safety tests and pre-clinical development trials.
Bottom line
The world is still going through a reawakening phase with the possibilities that cannabis offers. So much has been discovered with cannabis so far, and much more can be done as scientists and researchers continue to ask questions and test the cannabis plant.
The threat of antibiotic resistance is one of the many global health challenges that will be solved with the chemical compound in the cannabis plant. The potent cannabinoid cannabigerol is proven to contain antibacterial properties that can effectively fight the global threat.
No one knows for sure what the future holds, but one thing is certain: cannabis and its cannabinoids will be a big part of it.
A new study found a strong link between men who have belly fat and this type of common cancer.
Being overweight has long been correlated with conditions like heart disease and diabetes. But a new study has found surprising links between males who are overweight and having higher odds of developing prostate cancer.
A Canadian study published in Cancer Causes & Control looked into fat distribution and whether or not it plays a role in cancer development.
Researchers collected data from over 1,900 males from 2005-2012 and compiled waist and hip measurements, height, weight, BMI and other relevant statistics. They found that abdominal fat was linked with aggressive prostate cancer. The more the BMI increased, the higher the odds were of developing prostate cancer.
Photo by huettenhoelscher/Getty Images
A closer look at the results revealed that waists measuring 40 inches or higher were even more dangerous, linked with an elevated risk of advanced prostate cancer.
One of the most important facts that the research uncovered is that general obesity wasn’t connected to prostate cancer. The problem is belly fat, which is believed to be the cause of proliferation of prostate cancer cells.
“Abdominal obesity causes hormonal and metabolic variations that can promote the growth of hormone-dependent cancer cells,” said one of the authors of the study, Éric Vallières. “Abdominal obesity is believed to be associated with a decrease in testosterone, as well as a state of chronic inflammation linked to the development of aggressive tumors.”
While the results are concerning, having this knowledge is a good thing. Studies like this can be used to orient doctors and patients and provide answers in treating complicated diseases, like cancer. Men who are overweight can be closely monitored for prostate cancer, preventing the disease or treating it early on.
If you don’t have access to THC or prefer not to have such a “head trip” while getting high, then delta-8 is a great solution for you.
By now you have heard about delta-8 THC and the huge push to have it shipped and sold across state lines. You may be asking yourself questions such as what is delta-8 THC, does it get you high like regular weed, how is it legal, and why are so many states now banning it or making it illegal. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, so I decided to only use delta-8 THC for a week and see how it compares to smoking and eating the “real deal” marijuana products with regular old THC in them. So, what happened and what was it like to do hemp-based delta-8 THC for a week and why would someone switch to from regular THC to delta-8?
Meet the delta-8-THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is very similar to the delta-9 THC cannabinoid. You may already be familiar with THC, the legendary cannabinoid that is responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis. Both are very similar, and the only thing that differentiates them is the presence of a few electrons.
Delta-8-THC is one of the four common cannabinoids present in dried flower, but it still only makes up less than 1%. The others include CBD, CBN, and THC. Just like its close cousin THC, the delta-8 also has psychoactive effects although it’s less potent.
Delta-8-THC is different from delta-9-THC and this accounts for the differences in the physical and mental effects induced by both compounds. Delta-8-THC has a double bond on the 8th carbon while delta-9 has a double bond on the 9th carbon. This difference in the orientation of the double bond makes delta-8-THC completely different from delta-9-THC though there still exists some similarities.
The National Cancer Institute in its definition of delta-8-THC defined it as an analog of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) with antiemetic, anxiolytic, appetite-stimulating, analgesic, and neuroprotective property. Further clarification on the compound shows that it binds to CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors located in the central nervous system. These cannabinoid receptors are G-protein coupled receptors. Upon binding to these receptors in the brain, delta-8-THC also causes a euphoric feeling though not as potent as delta-9-THC.
Isn’t it all THC? Who cares?
This is where it gets complicated or interesting, depending on where you stand in the industry. We know Delta-8 gets you high, in a similar way to regular THC but just off a delta, but THC is listed as a schedule 1 drug on the CSA, or Controlled Substance Act, and it is considered a very dangerous drug by the US Federal government and has extremely strict distribution and sales protocols. Delta-8 THC is technically not the THC compound since it has a double bond on the 8th carbon if you want to go back to Chemistry class and the Periodic table. Boom! We have a loophole!
Photo by Christina Winter via Unsplash
Delta-8 THC is technically not on the CSA, not regulated by the US Federal government. The loophole gets even bigger when you find out you can extract delta-8 from hemp and create products that get you high but that are legal under the 2018 Farm Act, which legalized hemp in all 50 states in America. So, we have an extra bonded 8 carbon atom that keeps it off the Controlled Substance Act, and since you can make it in a lab from hemp to make a long story short, it is legal under the Farm Act Right? Check out our story on Josh Swisher, the chemist who figured all this out and how to make it.
Wait, so the hippies and chemist figured out a way to beat the US government on getting high and shipping products that get you high all around the country?
They did for a while, but the jig is up for the most part. State governments are banning delta-8 THC at a rapid clip as over 14 states have now made selling and distributing delta-8 off limits and illegal. The Federal government probably won’t take an official stance and change the CSA at this point for delta-8 as they are trying to legalize regular old THC and getting ready to collect taxes on its sales.
Why not just use regular THC and why even switch or try delta-8?
Many people don’t have access and legal ways to get THC products, so the loopholes mentioned above were ways to order a product that gets you high, a molecular cousin of THC, and have it delivered right to your door, “legally”.
Well, do you get high or what is delta-8 like?
I tried delta-8 THC for one week straight and put the “real deal Holyfield” on the shelf for 7 days. I ordered a variety of THC edibles from Delta Munchies. I wanted to give it a full spectrum look, no pun intended, so I got 5mg, 10mg, 30mg bags and said, “let’s do this”.
I started out slow as I had no idea what to expect or the experience I would have. We talking getting body high like CBG? We going tripping balls like LSD or shrooms? We talking “weed lite”?
Photo by GRAS GRÜN via Unsplash
My first day I ate 5mg of delta-8 THC in gummy form. The second day was 10 mg, and then 30mgs or more a day after that. I ordered delta-8 THC gummies, worms, and circles.
Delta-8 THC review
Let’s get to what you want to know. Do you get “high high” off it? Yes, while it seemed I needed more quantity for the effect, ie, bang for the buck, you do get “high high”. For example, a 10mg THC edible would be a solid high AF for 3 or 4 hours for me, where to get that same entrenched feeling, it required 30mg of Delta-8. While I may have a higher tolerance than “normal folk”, I assume if 20mg is what you need to get a good hit of THC through a few hours, you will need to use a multiple of 1.5x or 2x to “get there”. Okay, so how much do you need and quantity is covered, moving on.
Do you get high like you do on regular THC?
I wish this was an easy answer to tell you, like either “yes, it is exactly the same,” or “no, it doesn’t really get you high”. It does get you high, but with a delta-8 carbon bond difference, you do have a different feeling getting “high” on delta-8 THC compared to regular THC. Is it better or worse? The high was more CBG or CBD high, lots of body relaxation and body buzz, but as our previous articles on delta-8 THC have talked about, it has less psychoactive effect than regular THC.
What’s it like getting lubed up on delta-8 THC edibles?
While you won’t get crazy head high or stoned like regular THC, if you had no access to “real deal THC”, it is a no-brainer home run, beggars can’t be choosers, right? The best way to describe it would be like coffee, Red Bull, Monster Energy, and 5-Hour Energy. Coffee high and addiction has been around for 2,000 years like weed, you know how much caffeine is in one cup and you know what 1, 2, and 3 cups of coffee will do to you in a morning.
Delta-8 is like the new kid on the block, the Red Bull or 5-Hour Energy. It has caffeine in it, expressed on the packaging on how equivalent it is to a cup of coffee, ironically. Does coffee, Monster, and Red Bull all have caffeine and have the similar effects on you when you drink them (i.e. caffeine in the blood system)? Yes. Are they all the same as a cup of coffee, the exact same affect as a 5-Hour and Red Bull for everyone, no.
Photo by Grav via Unsplash
Delta-8 THC and regular THC are similar, cousins if you will, in the same way coffee and Red Bulls or Monster Energies are all in the same family tree of ingredients and desired affects, but they are different. The feeling and sensation from a cup of coffee is different than a Red Bull, similar in a 50,000-foot level and intended results, but different when digested and passing through the body.
If you are used to regular THC, you will not be as impressed with delta-8 as it has less psychoactive effects than THC. If you have no access to regular THC, then Delta-8 will blow you away and you will love it. Weed Lite may be an apropos name, yes it works, and if you don’t know any better or can’t get THC in your area, then it is a fine product. The body high is right up there with CBD or CBG, a strong body warm and buzz is guaranteed included with Delta-8 highs, so that is great for body aches and pains and a good night sleep.
Will you drop your weed and run to hemp-based delta-8 THC once you try it? No. If you have no access to THC or prefer to not have such a “head trip” while getting high and want more of a complete body high and relaxation, then delta-8 is a great solution for you. If you fall under the “I love getting high on weed but I don’t like the crazy psychoactive effects sometimes in my mind and head”, then delta-8 THC made from hemp is a great, repeat, great, product for you. It is also cheaper and easier to get than THC if you are in a non-legal or highly regulated market.
Think of delta-8 THC as “weed lite” or “body high weed.” The marijuana industry now has a Red Bull or Monster Energy type variant from THC. Will one replace the other? No. Are states banning delta-8 THC by the month? Yes.
Enjoy it while you can, experience it, and put it on the shelf for the “I really want to sleep well or get my achy body to relax, but I don’t want to go on a THC roller coaster high in my head.”
A new study suggests short walks and workouts are related to a longer lifespan.
As experts understand more about our bodies, new research pops up and provides supporting evidence. A new study discovered that short spurts of movement, like walking up and down the stairs or walking your dog for a little longer than usual, may lead to a longer life.
This information was presented at the 2021 American Heart Association’s Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle & Cardiometabolic Health Conference. This meet-up offers the latest scientific developments on health and wellness and its implications on people’s lives. The data presented was gathered through step tracking apps and wearables, which monitored the progress of thousands of women from 2011-2015.
“Technological advances made in recent decades have allowed researchers to measure short spurts of activity. Whereas, in the past we were limited to only measuring activities people could recall on a questionnaire,” explained lead study author Christopher C. Moore, M.S. “With the help of wearable devices, more research is indicating that any type of movement is better than remaining sedentary.”
According to researchers, “Study participants who took more steps in short spurts lived longer, regardless of how many steps they had in longer, uninterrupted bouts. The benefits leveled off at about 4,500 steps per day in short spurts. Compared to no daily steps, each initial increase of 1,000 steps per day was associated with a 28% decrease in death during the follow-up period.”
Like plenty of new studies and approaches to fitness, this information shows that small changes like parking your car further away from your destination or ensuring that you walk a little bit every day make a significant impact. This knowledge can help in changing the way people approach fitness, making it more accessible, like it’s something that anyone can do, no matter how busy their days are or whether they consider themselves athletic or not.
“It doesn’t necessarily need to be something planned or that you make time for,” cardiologist Dr. Seth Martin told Today. “It can be attained just by living life, taking the stairs, walking further distances to the car. It all adds up during the day. It’s surprising sometimes how quickly steps add up, a little here and a little there.”
Recommendations and guidelines for workouts can be demoralizing, interpreted as indicators of you doing something wrong. Studies like this show that, at the end of the day, what matters is that you move.
The timing and temperature of your shower could have an impact on your sleep habits, for better or worse.
Hot and cold showers serve their purpose. Whether it’s a very hot day and you wan to cool off, or you love standing under hot water, extreme temperatures can affect us in positive and negative ways.
The Washington Post spoke to several doctors who provided their expert opinion on the subject of showers and sleep. It turns out, temperature and timing play very important roles.
“If you take a shower close to bedtime and it’s a very hot or cold shower, that temperature can negatively affect your sleep,” said sleep neurologist Rachel Salas, MD. “What you’re doing is you’re making your body temperature so different from baseline.”
Photo by 955169 via Pixabay
Extreme temperatures appear to be the issue. Super hot or cold showers provide similar experiences, providing a jolt to your body that can be helpful in the mornings or when needing to stay alert.
Taking a warm bath or shower a couple of hours before bed can produce the opposite effect, helping you fall asleep faster.
Experts explain that a warm shower will heat up your body. Once the water evaporates from your skin, your body will start to cool down. This feeling of cooling is one that your body naturally goes through when falling asleep, being a signal for your brain to get ready to temporarily shut down. The warm water could help you speed the process up.
There’s a lot of freedom when it comes to showers, with people showering first thing in the mornings to feel energized, late at night to go to bed, or perhaps on their work break now that working from home is a possibility. If you’re showering with moderate temperatures, the timing of your shower makes little difference and can be used in your favor.
