With blowing snow and frigid temperatures, you may be inclined to hibernate at home all winter until the first signs of spring appear. While that temptation is understandable, you may want to reconsider. There’s actually a whole lot to like about winter, including some amazing outdoor activities like skiing, ice skating and sledding.
And you may not realize it, but you can also take cannabidiol (CBD) to increase your enjoyment of these winter activities. Hemp-derived CBD won’t make you feel high like cannabis with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can. But what it can do is help relieve inflammation and pain, and this can make your winter activities a lot more fun.
Here’s a quick rundown of four great outdoor winter activities and how you can use CBD to make them even better.
1. Hitting the Slopes This Winter? Use CBD to Ease Your Sore Muscles Afterwards
Snowboarding and skiing are among the most popular winter sports and for good reason. Whether you’re just starting out on the bunny slopes or you’re zooming down a black diamond run, skiing and snowboarding are absolutely thrilling.
But all of those thrills can be a bit daunting for novices, and they can leave your muscles feeling incredibly sore. Fortunately, CBD’s here to help.
You can use a hemp-derived CBD vape pen, for example, to help keep you calm and focused as you prepare to tackle the slopes.
At the end of the day, when every muscle in your body is aching, use a CBD topical cream, salve or spray. Apply it to your sore muscles, and you’ll get fast-acting, targeted, anti-inflammatory pain relief.
2. Cross-Country Skiing Is a Leisurely Winter Activity Made Better With CBD
If you prefer your skiing to be more steady state than adrenaline rush, then cross-country skiing is a great choice. You’ll get to appreciate the beauty of the outdoors while cruising along on your skis.
Plus, a great advantage of cross-country skiing is that you don’t need a mountain or hill to do it. So long as you live in a state with snow on the ground, then you can find a cross-country skiing trail.
But make no mistake, cross-country skiing is hard work, and your entire body will be sore when you’re done. Luckily, CBD provides pain relief in many different forms. You can try a fast-acting vaporizer with highly concentrated CBD oil, which will help tackle aches and pains along with inflammation both during and after your workout.
Another option is a hemp CBD-rich topical patch. Just stick the patch wherever you know you’re going to be sore, and you can wear it under your clothes while you ski for long-lasting pain relief.
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3. Ice Skating Is a Great Winter Activity, But Your Poor Legs Will Appreciate Some CBD Care
Ice skating is one of the most accessible of winter sports. Regardless of whether you’re using the skating rink in your backyard or you’re heading to Rockefeller Plaza, you can usually find somewhere nearby to strap on a pair of skates and start gliding along like you’re the next Michelle Kwan.
One thing that’s certain about ice skating, however, is that while it’s definitely fun when you’re doing it, it’ll leave you feeling very sore later on (especially if your skating skills leave you spending more time on your backside than on your blades).
Before you lace up your skates, opt for CBD sublingual drops you can place directly under your tongue or add to your beverage before you hit the ice. Taking CBD before you go ice skating can be a good proactive way to help your body deal with inflammation that can develop after ice skating.
Then after your skate, rub some relieving CBD gel onto any spot that feels extra sore. And, because it comes in a squeeze or pump bottle, you can easily take it with you to the rink in a bag or purse.
4. Pair CBD Products With Sledding for Wintertime Fun That Anyone Can Enjoy
Sledding is fun no matter how old you, are and it’s a great way to spend time with friends and family. Plus, unlike most outdoor winter activities, riding a sled down a hill doesn’t require a whole lot of skill or experience.
Being out in the cold all day is hard on your lips, so use a hemp-infused lip balm to protect them.
Once you get home, a great idea is to cap a fun but tiring day of sledding by luxuriating in a bath with hemp CBD-infused soaking salts, which will help your muscles relax.
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Photo credit: Robson Hatsukami Morgan
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