High on... running?

I did NOT know it worked like that... ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­   Hey Marilyn – it's Tommy... So, on one of our Casa Chong team calls the other day, one of the boys down at the office kept talking about he loves running all of a sudden. Now, me personally? I've never been much into the whole "running for fun" concept myself. I guess I just never got the appeal of chasing after... well, nothing. I loved sports like basketball, and especially football growing up. So I always did tons of "running", but never for extended periods just going nowhere in particular, for no reason. By the time the running craze really kicked off in the 60's and 70s, I had, shall we say other pursuits... Plus, I got pretty into body building around that time. I loved lifting weights and watching myself get bigger and stronger. I used to have a membership to Gold's Gym in Venice, and I still remember pumping iron with my buddy Arnold and then partaking in my favorite post-workout "recovery routine" in the alley behind the gym. Back then Arnold was already well-known among gym rats and body builders, but we had no idea he'd go on to be a giant movie star (and "Governator"...) Anyway, where was I? Right! Our neon-shoe-wearing, kale-eating friend brought it up to me because apparently he's been feeling this thing called a "runner's high" after pushing himself for a bit. No, personally, if I'm going to be looking for a high, it ain't gonna be at the end of a run... It's gonna be out by my pool. But that's just me... And it DID get me thinking - is the "runner's high" a thing? What other natural "highs" are out there besides the ones you light up? Well, rather than scratching my head or, heaven forbid, attempting to run at 85, I thought I'd hit up our very own scientist and resident brainiac, Dr. Clark. Here's what he had to say: The "runners high" is a natural reaction to prolonged bouts of intense exercise. And believe it or not, it's VERY similar to a THC high. (Though much harder to achieve in most cases.) See, the "high" you feel after a long run is triggered by something called Anandamide, which is a natural compound produced in your brain that's chemically very similar to THC... In fact, it interacts with the same CB1 receptors in your brain. It's that same endocannabinoid system again... It just keeps surprising us. The same system that makes our CBD products work, also produces the runners high, and several other altered states. In fact, if you don't feel like lighting up or lacing up your running shoes, there are a few other natural phenomena that seem to produce similar results: Hot Peppers: Have you ever watched 'Hot Ones' before? Wonder why those folks are laughing and crying at the same time? Capsaicin, the chemical that makes peppers hot, triggers your brain to release endorphins, endocannabinoids and dopamine. It's a pain response, but it can feel euphoric. (Side note: don't try to prove anything, start mild!) Breathing Techniques: Some breathing exercises, like Holotropic breathing or the Wim Hof method, can alter consciousness and produce a high-like state. It's about flooding the brain with oxygen. But a word of caution: always ensure you're in a safe environment when trying these methods. Especially avoid water if you're experimenting with the Wim Hof method. Laughter: There's an old saying, "Laughter is the best medicine". Well, turns out, it's also a pretty good high. During intense laughter, your brain releases a FLOOD of dopamine. Man, laughter can get you high?? I guess that's why so many folks were spacin' out at Cheech and my shows back in the 70's! Couldn't be anything else, right? Anyway, thanks Dr. Clark. But you know your Uncle Tommy... while these all sound fun, I might just stick to my sunset rooftop sessions. Easier on the knees, and well, you know the rest. Keep on keepin' on, Peace and love, [Tommy Signature] Tommy Chong     [Facebook]( [Instagram]( Don't Want These Emails? All Good Man! [Unsubscribe]( Send All Love Letters & Hate Mail Here: Tommy Chong's CBD 274 S 700 W Pleasant Grove, UT 84062