The Benefits of Hemp-Infused Drinks

Do you want to replace your evening cocktail or glass of wine with something that will help you relax, without the risk of waking up with a headache next morning? Does your evening glass of wine help you fall asleep, but not stay asleep? If you want to relax in the evening and wake up with a sense of wellness, a hemp-infused beverage is for you.

Maybe you have some health concerns, like chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety, or depression, and you've heard that CBD or hemp can help with that. Well, you heard right, and hemp-infused beverages are a great way to take advantage of the beneficial effects of CBD! Cannabidiol is great at reducing inflammation and helping with chronic pain, and it has some real calming properties. The health effects of CBD and hemp are being studied more and more, with new information about their benefits coming out all the time.

As we move towards a more holistic understanding of health, it's important to think about how we can replace our damaging habits –– like alcohol consumption –– with beverages that have potential health benefits. Developing a healthy lifestyle is about making small choices that add up into larger benefits, and CBD-infused drinks can be an important part of that lifestyle.

What is the difference between hemp and CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is extracted from the hemp plant or the marijuana plant. Hemp and marijuana are similar because they are both plants under the umbrella of cannabis sativa. There is one important difference between the two: marijuana has significant amounts of THC, which is psychoactive, with some CBD. Hemp, on the other hand, contains large amounts of CBD and only trace amounts of THC. So, hemp extracts and CBD will not get you high, but they do offer the benefits of just CBD.

For a better understanding of the differences between hemp, CBD, and marijuana, check out our article on the subject.

Hemp, hemp seed oil, hemp extract, hemp derived CBD, and CBD isolate are all used in our hemp derived beverages and CBD infused drinks. They are all slightly different with different benefits and effects, and you should explore our catalog of hemp and CBD infused beverages to see what might work best for you and your interests or needs.

The bottom line is this: CBD- and hemp-infused drinks will not get you high, but with hemp as an active ingredient, they do have a wide variety of health benefits and they do promote relaxation.

How is hemp infused into beverages?

CBD drinks work by adding a CBD oil, tincture, or hemp extract to a soda, juice, sparkling water, or non-alcoholic cocktail. CBD oils are fat-based, so they tend to sit on top of liquids; therefore, most hemp-infused drinks rely on extracts or tinctures to create the best possible flavor, mouthfeel, and most consistent mixture, so that your CBD drink feels like a traditional cocktail or flavored soda.

CBD-infused drinks have come a long way. While early CBD-infused beverages struggled with fully emulsifying oils, and they sometimes had remaining sediments, today's hemp products have come so far that they feel bright and fresh, for a pleasant, high-end drinking experience.

What are the benefits of hemp-infused beverages?

It seems like CBD products are everywhere! This is because they can be used for a huge variety of medical conditions. Hemp- and CBD-infused drinks are not a cure-all, but there are certain health benefits to CBD drinks. They can impact both mental and physical health in a wide variety of ways, and new research is coming out all the time as to how and why.

Mental benefits:

We know that self-care promotes resilience to stress, but did you know that CBD-infused sparkling water can do the same thing?

One of the primary hemp infused drink benefits is stress reduction. Studies have shown repeatedly that hemp derived CBD promotes relaxation, and can reduce the effects of anxiety, as well as depression, PTSD, and insomnia. Hemp extract can promote psychological resilience and improve your ability to get pleasure from everyday experiences.

Studies are ongoing as to why, but one of the most interesting things about it is that CBD doesn't seem to work better at higher doses. So, CBD drinks are a great way to get this effect is to sip on an enjoyable drink.

Additionally, CBD and hemp extract can significantly improve your sleep because it calms the central nervous system.

CBD beverages aren't going to get you high, but they are going to help you relax, unwind, and get centered.

Physical benefits:

Another health benefit of CBD and hemp extract is on the body. In many double-blind and randomized trials, CBD has been shown to reduce chronic pain and inflammation.

How does it work?

Among other mechanisms, it works by inhibiting T-cell production, which reduces inflammation and prevents the immune system from proliferating pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Inflammation can be part of a normal immune response, but T-cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines can over proliferate and cause additional levels of discomfort and pain, especially in the case of autoimmune disease.

CBD and inflammation

Because the CBD in hemp extract can reduce inflammation, it is also used in the treatment of autoimmune disease. This medical condition has a variety of negative impacts on a person's quality of life, often causing them to have to make drastic changes in their diet, lifestyle, and social outlets.

Cutting every food that can trigger inflammation can make it hard to find the right nutrition for your body, but with CBD drinks there to provide a low to medium dose of this soothing effect, a person's diet can become less restrictive, and the whole body can get what it needs.

CBD and chronic pain

The most research has been done on the impact of CBD on chronic pain, where it is well-documented that CBD is a safe and effective way to treat long-term pain. According to a meta-analysis published by the National Institute of Health, CBD can be used to effectively treat chronic pain. This study found that cases of "multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, brachial plexus injury, and limb amputation, CBD treatment significantly reduced pain."

CBD-infused drinks, which can provide a steady, low dose of CBD over the length of time that you are sipping them, are a great way to gain this effect because a low and steady dose is the best way to access the benefits of CBD and hemp.

Social Benefits

There are many social benefits, as well. CBD-infused beverages help you unwind, but they also help you stay balanced throughout a social event. Sipping a CBD-infused, non-alcoholic cocktail is going to give you the feeling of being out for a special evening, but it's also going to support a calm, relaxing experience.

What hemp infused drinks should you try?

From CBD-infused sparkling water to hemp-infused cocktails, you can definitely find the right option for you in our store.

• If you are looking for a more euphoric effect, try BRĒZ Lemon-Elderflower Sparkling Tonic.

• If you'd rather dip your toes in the water and still get that chilled-out feeling without the hemp, try BRĒZ Lion's Mane. 

• To discover multiple different refreshing and light experiences, shop our Hemp & Adaptogenics collection.