How does CBD for alcoholism work? At ICARIA, CBD oil is our top recommended tool for health and wellness. But what about having a beer or glass of wine to unwind after work, or on weekends with friends? Although many adults consider alcohol a staple beverage, there are drawbacks to consider.
In this blog, we’ll talk about the major reasons why people drink, and how switching from alcohol to CBD can give you the same effects without the downsides.
CBD helps relieve social anxiety
Many adults turn to alcohol at events to deal with social anxiety and reduce the awkwardness that might arise from mingling with people you don’t know—strangers and distant coworkers—but also people you DO know, like family members or people you’re attracted to. The problem with alcohol is that by reducing this social discomfort, you can overindulge, loosen your inhibitions, and this can backfire in an embarrassing way. In a more extreme example, people may develop an addiction known as alcoholism if they rely heavily on drinking and can’t stay sober for an extended period.
CBD has been shown to help reduce social anxiety similar to alcohol. One study, it reduced anxiety induced by simulated public speaking. CBD changes the way the brain responds to stress and the blood flow to certain regions of the brain and can reduce other types of anxiety: panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Compared to other ways to consume CBD, CBD oil can relieve anxiety without the risk of overconsumption, which can easily happen with alcohol. You can read more on our blog on how CBD oil helps with anxiety.
CBD helps you relax and unwind
Media tells us it’s normal to have a beer or a glass of wine after dinner. As a depressant substance, alcohol can definitely help you relax. The major downside is the hangover, symptoms of which may include dilated blood vessels, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, gastrointestinal effects, low blood sugar, and trouble sleeping. The symptoms vary and can range in intensity from mild to severe. The combination of sugar and alcohol is a perfect storm that can leave you feeling like a wreck or even render you completely useless the day after. The older you get, the more difficult it can be to deal with hangovers, and there is no proven way to avoid them.
CBD is an antioxidant that can help you chill out and give you similar effects as alcohol without the downsides. Further to this, CBD provides a healing, anti-inflammatory effect on the body, while alcohol can be detrimental to inflammation within the body. Inflammation is at the root of many illnesses, and reducing it can help to prevent several other health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.
Also, CBD does not come with a hangover—it can even help you overcome it! CBD protects against cell damage resulting from alcohol ingestion, works to reduce the blood alcohol concentration along with addiction and withdrawal, and helps you handle some of unpleasant symptoms like anxiety, nausea, headaches, and body pain. It’s not possible to overdose on CBD oil, and even if you take more than you need, you will not experience any side effects other than feeling a bit more relaxed and at ease than normal. CBD can also improve your mental ability and put you in a better mood, which we could all use!
You want to get a good night’s sleep.
Having a bit of alcohol each night doesn’t seem harmful, but it can affect your health on a few different levels: disrupting sleep patterns and proper digestion, among other effects.
Our endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a major role in our body’s ability to maintain a healthy inner balance, also known as homeostasis. CBD eases your nerves and symptoms of anxiety so you go to bed feeling calm and with reduced sleep difficulty. CBD can lessen insomnia and boost the amount of sleep you get by reducing interruptions so you wake feeling more rested. It regulates the sleep and wake cycles through the stress hormone, cortisol, and the sleep hormone melatonin, ensuring they’re in balance. If you manage your stress during the day, you’ll naturally sleep better at night. Taking CBD oil throughout the day can promote alertness and fight fatigue to help you perform better.
Here’s one other reason CBD is better for you than alcohol
Alcohol is notorious for being high in calories that are of no benefit, as they do not offer you any vital nutrients. It can even stimulate your appetite by throwing your blood sugar levels out of whack so you consume more than you need, similar to THC, the chemical in cannabis that provides a psychoactive “high” and promotes the release of ghrelin, the hunger hormone.
CBD oil can have the completely opposite effect. It helps to control our appetite and minimize food cravings by managing our blood sugar levels and balancing out our hormones. CBD oil acts on the hunger hormones that tell you when you’re hungry or full, so you eat at the proper time. In addition, CBD oil helps to manage the hormones insulin and glucagon, which prevent blood sugar spikes so you avoid reaching for empty calories.
CBD has other wellness properties not mentioned here, which makes it an ideal tool for health and well-being. Next time you want to reach for the alcohol, try one of our products instead!