August 03, 2021

3 Post-Workout CBD Recipes

 

Working out? Don’t forget your post-workout meal!

Eating after exercise is proven to help your body recover faster.(1) It’s a great time to get a dose of CBD in, too.

Besides, you deserve a tasty reward after all your hard work.

We put together some CBD-infused recipes to help you get the post-workout nutrition you need plus CBD. Skip down to find ‘em, or scroll on to the next section to learn ...

Why Post-Workout Nutrition Is Essential

When you exercise, your body needs fuel to power through the challenge. Its fuel of choice is glycogen, a form of glucose that your body stows away in muscles.

You know when your body’s using up glycogen because you can feel it in the form of muscle fatigue. Water break, anyone?

In the process of tapping into your glycogen reserves, some muscle proteins are damaged. To repair and replenish what your muscles have lost, you need protein, carbs, and fat. This trifecta is also known as macronutrients.

Macros Matter

Some people are intimidated by the idea of counting macronutrients, aka macros. It’s really quite simple, and we’ve got some recipes down below to help you get all three with your dose of CBD.

But just so you know, there’s a method to our after-workout CBD cooking madness. Here’s the what and why behind macros.

  • Protein is important because it helps damaged proteins recover. It also helps with building new muscle, assisting with the process known as “making gains.”
  • Carbohydrates replenish the glycogen stores that were depleted during your workout.
  • Fat is necessary, too. Ideally, you want more of your calories coming from protein and carbs — but your body needs some fat to help it absorb the nutrients you’re eating.

How much of each macro you need depends on your goals. Since we’re not dietitians or nutritionists, we’ll let you consider getting micro on your macros with a pro who can tailor the ratio to your needs. It’s A-OK to roll forward with post-workout snacks in the meantime.

CBD Oil For Post-Workout Recovery

CBD oil has some specific properties that make it a win for athletes and the athleisure-ly.

  • CBD oil contains omega-3s and amino acids, which aid muscle recovery and may reduce soreness.(2,3)
  • Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties of CBD can also help with tissue repair, getting you back on your feet faster after workouts and injuries.(4)
  • Stress can stand in the way of staying active. CBD oil may reduce stress and anxiety.(5)
  • When CBD oil is made with a high-quality carrier oil, you get the benefits of that oil, too. For example, Pure Craft CBD oil tinctures feature MCT oil, which is linked to greater endurance and increased brain function.(6)

Pointers For Cooking With CBD Oil For Max Benefit

We know that the last thing you want to do when your glycogen reserves are tapped is worry about cooking rules. Don’t worry — we kept the recipes below sweet and simple. All you have to do is keep these things in mind:

  • Be mindful of dosage. If you’re going the bulk meal prep route, calculate the doses based on the number of portions you’re creating.
  • If anyone else is fueling up with you, let them know when something contains CBD.
  • Clearly label all leftovers; indicate the serving size and amount of CBD per serving. Oh, and be sure to properly store your CBD-infused creations.
  • Keep all CBD-infused food and drinks far away from kids and pets.

That’s it! You’re ready to infuse CBD into your post-gym bites.

A Trio Of CBD Recipes For Your Post-Workout Repertoire

A good post-workout recipe should be healthy and satisfying. These CBD recipes are sure to hit the mark!

We’re using flavored CBD oil tinctures because they’re easy to measure out. Plus, they bring MCT oil and a boost of flavor.

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein CBD Hemp Shake

We’ve amped up the nutrition in this shake with dairy-free hemp milk. Since hemp seeds don’t have udders — at least that we could find — we’re calling it a hemp shake instead of a milkshake.

Fun fact: 3 tablespoons of hemp seeds (sometimes called hemp hearts) contain 10 grams of protein. You could double or triple the hemp seeds in this recipe to replace protein powder, adding more liquid as needed.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup water or milk beverage of your choice
  • 1 small banana
  • 3 tbsp raw hemp seeds
  • 2 tbsp peanut butter or nut butter of your choice
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 dropperful Pure Craft Nano CBD Tincture - Vanilla
  • 1 serving protein powder
  • Pinch of salt

Directions:

  • Add all ingredients to a blender.
  • Blitz until smooth.
  • Pour into a drinking vessel (a straw in the pitcher works, too…) and enjoy!

Makes one protein shake.

Tropical CBD Energy Bites

These fast and easy energy bites will transport you to a tropical paradise while you refill on macros.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  • Pulse walnuts in a food processor until finely ground. Don’t go too far or you’ll get walnut butter!
  • Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until a dense, dough-like paste is formed. It should hold together when you squeeze it in your hand. If the mixture is too dry, add a teaspoon of water at a time and pulse until you reach the desired consistency.
  • Scoop out rounded tablespoons and form into a ball with your hands. Place onto a plate or storage container. Pro tip: Wear gloves if you don’t want to absorb the CBD at this time.
  • These energy bites are ready to eat as-is, but they’ll get firmer when refrigerated.

Makes 14 energy bites. Serving size = 2 energy bites. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container. Don’t forget to label it with the CBDetails.

CBD Power Bowl With Protein Your Way

This colorful bowl is a complete meal that satisfies the craving for something savory, balanced by a citrusy CBD oil salad dressing.

Mix and match with your fave protein source to make it keto, vegan, paleo, or omnivore-friendly.

Bowl ingredients:

  • ½ cup uncooked quinoa
  • ½ cup diced zucchini
  • ¼ cup thinly-sliced red cabbage
  • ½ cup diced bell pepper
  • 1 serving of your favorite protein — chicken, chickpeas, and tofu all work great here
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh herbs of your choice (optional)

Dressing ingredients:

Directions:

  • Prepare the quinoa and protein according to the package instructions (or instructions from Google).
  • Sautée the zucchini and bell pepper over medium heat in a small skillet for 3-5 minutes. Add a pinch of salt while you sautée.
  • While the quinoa is cooking, prepare the dressing: Add all ingredients to a jar and shake to combine.
  • Add the quinoa to a bowl, then top with the cooked veggies, raw cabbage, protein, and herbs if you’ve got ‘em.
  • Pour over half of the dressing, then taste. Add more as desired, along with S & P.

This makes one generously-sized salad. Store leftover quinoa in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Store any remaining salad dressing — appropriately labeled! — in the fridge, too.

Power-Up Your Post-Workout With Nutrition + CBD

Post-workout nutrition is essential for maintaining or improving physical fitness. Adding CBD oil to your post-workout regimen could expedite recovery and contribute to overall wellness.

Try the CBD recipes above in your post-workout meal rotation for max results and benefits.

SHOP CBD OIL NOW

References

  1. Aragon, AA, et al. (2013). Nutrient timing revisited: is there a post-exercise anabolic window? Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-10-5
  2. Negro, M, et al. (2008). Branched-chain amino acid supplementation does not enhance athletic performance but affects muscle recovery and the immune system. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18974721/
  3. (2021). Omega-3 supplements may reduce muscle soreness after exercise, study finds. Medical Xpress. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-02-omega-supplements-muscle-soreness.html
  4. Atalay, S, et al. (2019). Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9010021
  5. Blessing, EM, et al. (2015). Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics: the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-015-0387-1
  6. Burgess, L. (2017). What are the possible benefits of MCT oil? Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320251


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