CBD and Caffeine: How Do They Mix?
You wake up, have your morning cup of coffee, eat a wholesome breakfast, and hit the gym. You come home, make yourself a protein shake, and use a little bit of CBD to promote post-workout recovery. What if you were to rearrange that ritual?
Many people who use CBD as a part of their daily routine also enjoy a cup of coffee or tea as a part of that same routine. Here’s what you need to know about how the effects of CBD work with the effects of caffeine, and what might happen if you decide to combine the two.
What Does CBD Do?
CBD, or cannabidiol, works to holistically support your body’s overall wellness. It works with your body’s endocannabinoid system. Your endocannabinoid system is a large series of receptors that exists in almost every part of your body, providing support to many important processes.
When you use CBD, you’re fuelling your endocannabinoid system by stimulating all of its receptors. When the receptors are stimulated, they produce positive effects throughout your mind and body. This stimulation encourages your body to reach a state of homeostasis or natural balance.
CBD doesn’t impart altering effects or get you high. Because it works to provide holistic support to your systems and processes, it enhances your ability to feel your natural best.
Many people describe the effects of CBD as soothing. It may ease feelings of physical or emotional tension, making it easier to focus, relax, sleep, or even grab a quick midday yoga session.
What Does Caffeine Do?
Caffeine is a mixed bag. Some of it is good, and some of it is bad. It’s the perfect representation of what the phrase “all things in moderation” is intended to mean. Some caffeine-sensitive people find that caffeine makes them anxious or jittery. Other people couldn’t imagine their lives without it.
Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant that affects the central nervous system, heart, muscles, and blood pressure. People who regularly consume small amounts of caffeine will notice these effects on a much smaller scale. People who don’t often consume caffeine may find these effects to be more pronounced.
Caffeine can produce energizing effects that boost mental alertness. Coffee, in particular, is known to be beneficial to cognition, acting as an antioxidant and neuroprotectant.
About 400 milligrams of caffeine is considered a maximum safe amount for most healthy An 8-ounce cup of coffee contains about 95 milligrams of caffeine, placing your morning cup well within the recommended limits.
Can You Mix CBD and Caffeine?
It might seem counterintuitive to contemplate mixing a stimulant with something intended to support relaxation, but many people find that the combination works perfectly for them.
There are no known risks for combining a safe amount of CBD (up to 2,500 mg daily) with a safe amount of caffeine (up to 400 mg daily). If you’re interested in the benefits of combining the two, you have the green light to give it a shot.
What are The Benefits of Mixing CBD and Caffeine?
Now that you know it’s safe to mix CBD and caffeine, it’s essential to understand why you would do that. It seems like the two things are designed to drive you in opposite directions.
CBD promotes laid-back vibes, and caffeine gives you the gusto to get up and go. It seems logical to assume they would almost cancel each other out.
To a certain extent, CBD and caffeine do mitigate each others’ effects. Many people find that this creates a perfect middle ground. They’re energized without feeling too energized. They’re focused without feeling overstimulated.
This balance works wonderfully for productivity or even as a pre-workout drink.
Cutting Down on Jitters
Caffeine makes some people feel a little antsy, even if they’re used to it. The stimulating effects of a strong cup of coffee may come on a little too strong, especially if you drink your morning cup on an empty stomach.
Since CBD is soothing, it may work to counterbalance some of the stronger stimulant effects of coffee.
You’ll feel energized, but not to the extent that you feel like you’re bouncing off the walls. The “pick me up” effect might translate subtly.
If you really love your coffee, but you nurse it slowly to avoid feeling overstimulated, a little bit of CBD might help you drink your coffee at a normal pace without developing a case of the jitters.
Boosting Mental Clarity
Both caffeine and CBD are used to improve mental focus, and they work in different ways. CBD helps to promote a calm and clear mind, while caffeine promotes alertness. The combination of clarity and alertness may be superior to only experiencing one benefit or the other.
Many people describe CBD and caffeine working together to create a calm sense of focus.
This might be just what you need when you have a really long to-do list staring you in the face. Rather than getting overwhelmed and frantically trying to check off all your action items, get yourself in the right frame of mind with a little CBD and caffeine.
How to Make CBD Coffee or Tea
CBD is fat soluble, which means it can only dissolve and be digested when you ingest it with some sort of fat. If you typically drink your coffee black or your tea without cream, this might pose some problems with your body’s ability to absorb and utilize CBD.
It’s best to combine CBD with your milk to make a coffee or tea latte. Dairy milk contains enough fat to absorb CBD. If you’re vegan, allergic to dairy, or lactose intolerant, coconut milk also contains enough fat to do the trick.
Plant based milk alternatives like nut milk and oat milk don’t contain enough fat.
All you need to do is brew a cup of your favorite coffee or tea, combine CBD with your milk, and then mix the two together. It’s one small extra step in your normal morning routine.
How Many Drops of CBD Should I Put in My Coffee?
There is no specific amount of how much CBD to how much caffeine you should be using. Your standard cup of coffee combined with your standard dose of CBD will work just fine.
Since you’re not drinking your caffeinated coffee or tea at bedtime, it’s likely you want to use your CBD coffee for sustained benefits throughout the day.
Here’s what we recommend for most wellness goals:
- Feel a little calmer – 8 mg
- Improved mental clarity and focus – 17 mg
- Support body performance and recovery -- 25 mg
Use 8 mg of CBD if you’re relaxing with a cup of coffee after work. Use 17 mg of CBD if you still have a lot of work to do. Go for a 25mg dose of CBD with caffeine as a pre-workout supplement if you intend to do something athletic.
Will CBD Coffee Get You High?
If you’re hesitant to try CBD because you worry about the effects, there isn’t much cause for concern. Hemp derived CBD does contain trace amounts of THC, but they exist at such a small threshold that they won’t produce psychoactive effects.
If you’re still a little uneasy about the idea of using a product that might contain THC or you are otherwise forbidden from using products that contain trace amounts of THC, we have an alternative that everyone can safely enjoy.
Can You Mix CBD and Energy Drinks?
If you find an energy drink with a reasonable amount of caffeine that isn’t loaded with added sugar or artificial ingredients, you can use an energy drink instead of coffee or tea.
Just be mindful of the fact that you cannot directly combine the two. Energy drinks are water based, and CBD won’t mix into them.
If you plan to use an energy drink, eat a small amount of food with healthy fats first. A cup of yogurt or a piece of whole grain avocado toast will get the job done. Then, place a few drops of CBD oil under your tongue, hold for a minute, and swallow.
The effects will likely kick in around the same time.
CBD Coffee Without the THC
Peels CBD doesn’t contain any THC because it isn’t made from hemp. We have a proprietary process for turning the aromatic compounds in oranges into bioidentical CBD.
Peels is the perfect addition to your morning wellness ritual, whether you enjoy it on its own or in your latte.
Sources
The endocannabinoid system: an overview | Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
9 Reasons Why (the Right Amount of) Coffee Is Good for You | Johns Hopkins Medicine