Do you need to focus a little better? Need a little more mental oomph? Probably… Especially if you’ve been staying indoors like the rest of us. And if your reliance on caffeine has pushed you from 2 to 3 to 6 cups of coffee a day. It could be time for CBD. It may be one of the best natural ways to enhance your concentration and boost your focus. Here’s why!
CBD 101
CBD is a cannabinoid, a plant compound that’s considered hemp’s most important “ingredient.” CBD activates the human body’s endocannabinoid system, which leads to all sorts of natural health benefits.
(In a recent article we honed in on some of CBD’s most common benefits. Check it out if you haven’t already!)
One of CBD’s positive effects is to reduce inner stress. By doing this, CBD may be able to help your body overcome the outer stresses and strains that come its way. That includes the stress of distractions.
CBD vs. Distractions
In 2013, Salon declared that email is killing us—and things have only gotten worse since then. Between the sway of our social media accounts and the near-omnipresence of our phones, our brains are tempted and lured away from work almost constantly. Even leading researchers have resorted to calling the weaker parts of our psychology our “monkey mind.”
The human brain wasn’t really built for the modern world. You can try to set yourself up for success by creating the perfect work environment or following a morning ritual. That might work for a while. But ultimately, trying to overcome the brain’s built-in weaknesses by brute force is akin to trying to swim upstream.
A better solution might be to set up your brain for success by optimizing its chemistry. Scientists call this type of chemistry neurochemistry or biochemistry. Just think: instead of fighting off distractions on the macro level, why not promote concentration on a molecular level?
This type of molecular optimization might be exactly what CBD does best. Studies have shown that CBD may ‘quiet down’ overactive reward pathways in the brain. Reward pathways that are associated with sugar intake or even cocaine addiction. Other observational studies in humans have associated cannabinoid intake with reduced alcohol intake, reduced opioid abuse, and even reduced waist circumference.
CBD and Fat Burning
You know how some people claim that bulletproof coffee, rich in MCT oil or butter, boosts their concentration and reduces their hunger? CBD’s metabolic effect may do something similar. Try it for yourself before your next work session. You might feel more energized and less distracted by food.
That’s because CBD may help your body get into what’s sometimes called fat-burning mode. While our bodies are always metabolizing some mix of carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids to fuel themselves, some energy sources are “cleaner-burning” than others. Studies have shown that CBD might increase the proportion of fuel that comes from fat—fuel that powers your brain with stable, clean-burning energy.
To really go the extra mile, combine CBD with a diet rich in healthy fats—like the keto diet. In addition to favoring fat-burning mode and all the cognitive benefits that come with it, this diet actually provides the precursors (i.e, building blocks) that form our body’s own endocannabinoids.
CBD for Performance
When it comes to optimal performance, CBD and focus could be a match made in heaven.
CBD can help you concentrate on what really matters and stay productive. CBD capsule products may also deliver extra-long-lasting benefits. CBD can even be mixed into the coffee we kept mentioning earlier—far from being bad, moderate coffee intake has a wide variety of health benefits that improve when combined with CBD.
Better yet, compared to other popular concentration-boosting substances (caffeine, coffee, or even prescription drugs), CBD is remarkably free from side effects. It’s also one of the few substances that boosts concentration while simultaneously reducing feelings of anxiousness. It’s basically the high performer’s best friend!
Summing Things Up
Well, there you have it. CBD really could enhance focus. And it seems to do so holistically, working with your body through a variety of natural pathways.
The only unknown in our minds is what other benefits you might experience alongside CBD’s cognitive boost. Here’s to finding out!
