CBD- it’s so hot right now! Everywhere you turn, some company is touting the magical healing powers of CBD. Oils, vapes, pills, and jellies are just some of the forms that you can get some of this potion into your body. And once it’s in there, it promises to heal your muscles, ease your pain, and help you get back to feeling 100%. Sounds good, doesn’t it? It sure does to me. I got my hands on some of the top-shelf goods straight from Colorado: Floyd’s of Leadville Hydration Fuel. Like all of their products, the Hydration Fuel contains a healthy dose of CBD. Can this elixir live up to they hype? Would I fall victim to reefer madness? Only one way to find out. Strap in and take the ride.
What’s Floyd’s Hydration fuel made of?
Weed man, lots of weed! No, just kidding. Floyd’s Hydration Fuel does contain 5mg of CBD per serving (50mg per bag), but does not contain any THC (the main active ingredient in marijuana). Here’s a look at the rest of the ingredients:
- Complex, non-GMO carbohydrates, 30g per serving
- BCAA (Branched-Chain Amino Acids), 3g per serving
- Glutamine, 2.5g per serving
- Electrolytes
- D-Ribose
If you are not familiar with/want more info on any of these ingredients, check out the breakdowns on the Floyd’s of Leadville product page. (https://floydsofleadville.com/product/cbd-hydration-drink-isolate-fruit-punch/)
No-hype hydration
I’ll get to the CBD breakdown in a moment, but the bigger question is “does this stuff actually work?” Yes indeed it does. I tested the Floyd’s Hydration Fuel with three major activities, the first of which was a game of basketball. Now, that might not sound like much, but keep in mind that I haven’t played a game of full court basketball against other humans in over a decade. After 1.5 hours of running and being abused on defense, my body was pretty wrecked. I drowned my sorrows in a tall bottle of Floyd’s, and hours later I was feeling ok. My legs ached, but I was not dehydrated and by the next day I felt fine.
Test #2 was a trip to the gym. Again, this doesn’t sound like much of a test, but I hadn’t worked out in months prior to this. I did some light cardio, then hit the weights for roughly one hour. Slammed down a bottle of the Hydration Fuel and can honestly say I felt pretty good when I woke up the next morning. No achy muscles, and no dehydration headache.
The final test and result was the most impressive to me. I hadn’t taken my mountain bike out since early summer, and decided “what the hell, I’ll ride 18+ miles on slickrock” in late autumn. After completing the ride, I immediately began slamming the potion. I was honestly stunned when a few hours later, my legs felt pretty good. Fine, in fact. The only thing that the Hydration Fuel couldn’t cure was the ache in my saddle area. That haunted me for a few days.
I was very impressed with the performance of the Hydration Fuel. It really did help my body recover faster from serious workouts. I’ve also been using it during and after hikes and throughout snowboarding season, and have no issue declaring myself a fan of the product. But the real question remains: is the CBD actually doing anything?
Is CBD for recovery legit?
Proponents of CBD oil will argue that it is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, an antioxidant, pain reliever, and can even help reduce anxiety. There are studies that back up these suggestions. Opponents will tell you that there is no definitive proof that any of these claims are true, because there simply haven’t been enough clinical trials on humans. There are studies that back these claims up, too. It’s tough to know what’s true and what’s not in the world of CBD as an athletic recovery treatment. My own experience with Floyd’s of Leadville is that my muscles felt better than I thought they would after drinking the Hydration Fuel. Killer days aren’t so bad after chugging some Floyd’s. Is it the CBD? I can’t say for sure, but I’m pretty sure it’s not hurting. I have friends who golf, bike, hike, and play numerous other sports and swear by CBD as a recovery aid. I know this isn’t a very clear answer, but it is honestly the only one I can give you.
The Verdict
My two cents is that if you think it works, what’s the harm? It’s legal across the USA. More and more studies are revealing that the claims made by its supporters are legit. Floyd’s of Leadville Hydration Fuel tastes good (fruit punch is the flavor I tested), has proven ingredients such as carbs, BCAAs, and electrolytes, and made me feel better after working out. If the CBD that’s included is also pitching in, hey, the more the merrier in my opinion. If you have been curious about the potential healing effects of CBD, Floyd’s of Leadville Hydration Fuel is a great jumping off point to decide if it might be right for you.