Eating lots of fruits and vegetables will boost the immune system. Stevens Fremont / The Image Bank / Getty Images
By Grayson Jaggers
The connection between the pandemic and our dietary habits is undeniable. The stress of isolation coupled with a struggling economy has caused many of us to seek comfort with our old friends: Big Mac, Tom Collins, Ben and Jerry. But overindulging in this kind of food and drink might not just be affecting your waistline, but could potentially put you at greater risk of illness by hindering your immune system.
<p>Hear the word "nutrition," and often what comes to mind are fad diets, juice "cleanses" and supplements. Americans certainly seem concerned with their weight; 45 million of us spend <a href="https://www.bmc.org/nutrition-and-weight-management/weight-management" target="_blank">US$33 billion</a> annually on weight loss products. But <a href="https://nccd.cdc.gov/dnpao_dtm/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=DNPAO_DTM.ExploreByLocation&rdRequestForwarding=Form" target="_blank">one in five Americans</a> consumes nearly no vegetables – less than one serving per day.</p><p>When the emphasis is on weight loss products, and not healthy day-to-day eating, the essential role that nutrition plays in keeping us well never gets communicated. Among the many things I teach students in my <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=o_1CmfkAAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank">nutritional biochemistry course</a> is the clear relationship between a balanced diet and a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2020.07.005" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">strong, well-regulated immune system</a>.</p><p>Along with social distancing measures and effective vaccines, a healthy immune system is our best defense against coronavirus infection. To keep it that way, proper nutrition is an absolute must. Although not a replacement for medicine, good nutrition can work synergistically with medicine to improve vaccine effectiveness, reduce the prevalence of chronic disease and lower the burden on the health care system.</p>
<h3>The Impact of the Western Diet</h3><p>Scientists know that people with <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">preexisting health conditions</a> are at greater risk for severe COVID-19 infections. That includes those with diabetes, obesity, and kidney, lung or cardiovascular disease. Many of these conditions are linked to a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2020.05.025" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">dysfunctional immune system</a>.</p><p>Patients with cardiovascular or metabolic disease have a delayed immune response, giving viral invaders a head start. When that happens, the body reacts with a more intense inflammatory response, and healthy tissues are damaged along with the virus. It's not yet clear how much this damage factors into the increased mortality rate, but it is a factor.</p><p>What does this have to do with nutrition? The Western diet typically has a high proportion of red meat, saturated fat and what's known as "<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41538-018-0020-x" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">bliss point foods</a>" rich in sugar and salt. Adequate fruit and vegetable consumption is missing. Despite the abundance of calories that often accompanies the Western diet, many Americans <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12061735" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">don't consume nearly enough</a> of the essential nutrients our bodies need to function properly, including vitamins A, C and D, and the minerals iron and potassium. And that, at least in part, causes a dysfunctional immune system: too few vitamins and minerals, and too many empty calories.</p><p>A healthy immune system responds quickly to limit or prevent infection, but it also promptly "turns down the dial" to avoid damaging the cells of the body. Sugar disrupts this balance. A high proportion of refined sugar in the diet can cause <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2017.12.001" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">chronic, low-grade inflammation</a> in addition to diabetes and obesity. Essentially, that "dial" is never turned all the way off.</p><p>While inflammation is a natural part of the immune response, it can be harmful when it's constantly active. Indeed, obesity is itself characterized by chronic, low-grade inflammation and a dysregulated immune response.</p><p>And <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2019.01071" target="_blank">research shows</a> that vaccines may be less effective in obese people. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4590616/" target="_blank">The same applies</a> to those who regularly drink too much alcohol.</p>
<h3>How Nutrients Help</h3><p>Nutrients, essential substances that help us grow properly and remain healthy, help maintain the immune system. In contrast to the delayed responses associated with malnutrition, <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm7090258" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">vitamin A</a> fights against multiple infectious diseases, including measles. Along with <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/nu7043011" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">vitamin D</a>, it regulates the immune system and helps to prevent its overactivation. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9111211" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Vitamin C</a>, an antioxidant, protects us from the injury caused by free radicals.</p><p>Polyphenols, a wide-ranging group of molecules found in all plants, also have anti-inflammatory properties. There's plenty of evidence to show a diet rich in <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11040751" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">plant polyphenols</a> can lower the risk of chronic conditions, like hypertension, insulin insensitivity and cardiovascular disease.</p><p>Why don't we Americans eat more of these plant-based foods and fewer of the bliss-based foods? It's complicated. People are swayed by advertising and influenced by hectic schedules. One starting place would be to teach people how to eat better from an early age. Nutrition education should be emphasized, from kindergarten through high school to medical schools.</p><p>Millions of Americans live in <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2017/16_0408.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">food deserts</a>, having limited access to healthy foods. In these circumstances, education must be paired with increased access. These long-term goals could bring profound returns with a relatively small investment.</p><p>Meantime, all of us can take small steps to incrementally improve our own dietary habits. I'm not suggesting we stop eating cake, french fries and soda completely. But we as a society have yet to realize the food that actually makes us feel good and healthy is not comfort food.</p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic won't be the last we face, so it's vital that we use every preventive tool we as a society have. Think of good nutrition as a seat belt for your health; it doesn't guarantee you won't get sick, but it helps to ensure the best outcomes.</p>
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<em>Grayson Jaggers is an assistant professor at the University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.</em><br/>
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<em>Disclosure statement: </em><em>Grayson Jaggers does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond his academic appointment.</em>
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<em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/good-nutrition-can-contribute-to-keeping-covid-19-and-other-diseases-away-145086" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.</em>
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Affordable, Self-Administered COVID-19 Tests Could Use Your Cell Phone
25 September
Health + Wellness
A graphic shows how Rhoel Dinglasan's smartphone-based saliva test works. University of Florida
As the world continues to navigate the line between reopening and maintaining safety protocols to slow the spread of the coronavirus, rapid and accurate diagnostic screening remains critical to control the outbreak. New mobile-phone-based, self-administered COVID-19 tests being developed independently around the world could be a key breakthrough in making testing more widely available, especially in developing nations.
<p>Point-of-care testing (POCT) involves the use of easily portable devices to carry out analytical testing outside of a central laboratory, in places like long-term care facilities, local clinics and patients' homes, a new study by the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7288261/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">National Center for Biomedical Information</a> said. POCT provides early and fast diagnostic results; when combined with microfluidic systems that can measure traces of diseases and infections based on small amounts of fluids with daily high sensitivity and speed, POCT can result in faster, more cost-effective diagnostic instruments that do not require any trained healthcare workers to administer them, the study reported. Smartphone-based microfluidic POCT uses personal mobile devices to carry out the whole analytical process using bodily fluids like saliva. Critically, this also will result in earlier diagnoses that can help slow the spread of diseases like COVID-19.</p>
<p>Recently, Rhoel Dinglasan, a University of Florida infectious diseases professor and his industry collaborators won second place in a national technology competition sponsored by the National Institutes of Health for a smartphone-based, rapid saliva test they developed that can be used to diagnose COVID-19, along with two other diseases of major global importance, malaria and anemia. The test adapted the team's existing mobile-based test for malaria to also test for anemia and COVID-19, explained Dinglasan in a <a href="https://ufhealth.org/news/2020/smartphone-based-saliva-test-can-detect-covid-19-earns-uf-professor-honors-national" target="_blank">University of Florida Health news release</a>.</p><p>"This test will leverage existing technology to fill a pressing and unmet need in global public health by allowing us to differentiate between three diseases that can present similarly in terms of symptoms," Dinglasan said in the release. "As treatment and containment protocols differ for each disease, the proper diagnosis delivered in literally minutes could save lives."</p>
<p>Their solution is the CLIP-CAM, an adapter that attaches to a smartphone that fits a detection cassette, the release detailed. A saliva sample is self-collected and activated, and a droplet is put into the cassette. The camera flash is used to excite the detection system in the cassette, which can then be read by a smartphone app. Results are available in 15 minutes or less, Dinglasan said, the release reported.</p><p>He further explained the importance of quick diagnoses to the <a href="https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/09/18/uf-professor-earns-national-honors-smartphone-base-saliva-test-covid-19/3486844001/" target="_blank">Gainesville Sun</a>: "When we go out to work in these different countries, we need to differentiate when a person comes in, we need to know if it is COVID-19, malaria or anemia. Without that ability, how would we know if we should send this person home to quarantine because we think he has COVID-19? What if it is malaria? You need to give that child or adult anti-malaria drugs or they will die."</p>
<p>Similar prototyping is underway around the world. At the University of Utah, electrical and computer engineering professor Massood Tabib-Azar adapted the platform he used to detect the Zika virus to now detect COVID-19, reported <a href="https://www.biospace.com/article/nsf-funded-smartphone-covid-19-dx-puts-testing-in-the-hands-of-the-public/" target="_blank">BioSpace</a>. His sensor can also test for the presence of the virus on surfaces like door handles or desks by brushing a swab on a surface and then onto the sensor, the news report said. Tabib-Azar is also exploring the potential of detecting COVID-19 in floating microscopic particles in enclosed spaces like an elevator.</p><p>The Utah sensor is reusable, because samples can be destroyed using a small electrical current to disintegrate viruses or saliva can be placed on a disposable sheet like a piece of paper put on top of the sensor, Tabib-Azar told BioSpace. His test is also designed to upload the results to a central server that can map out positive results in an area to give public health experts a better idea of where outbreak hotspots are, the report said.</p>
<p>"Mobile-based epidemic monitoring is nothing but a logical next step, because only the mobile devices that move with people can keep up with the contacts they make," Tabib-Azar said, speaking of related research in <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8626091" target="_blank">IEEE Access</a>.</p><p>In Ontario, Canada, a third diagnostic prototype called Atlas hopes to use the same saliva-to-mobile-phone testing concept to make testing more widely available, from remote communities to front-line screening, reported <a href="https://www.hospimedica.com/covid-19/articles/294783026/smartphone-powered-saliva-based-covid-19-diagnostic-test-delivers-lab-quality-results-to-app-in-20-minutes.html" target="_blank">HospiMedica.com</a>. Atlas is designed as a single-use, disposable device that could deliver results in 20 minutes.</p><p>All three tests have received enough funding to get through the prototype phase. Additional support will help to quickly transform the design concepts into mass-produced products for global health.</p>
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A meteorologist monitors weather in NOAA's Center for Weather and Climate Prediction on July 2, 2013 in Riverdale, Maryland. Mark Wilson / Getty Images
The Trump White House is now set to appoint two climate deniers to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in one month.
<p>First, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/david-legates-noaa-2647660690.html" target="_self">David Legates</a>, a University of Delaware professor who has questioned the scientific consensus that human activity drives the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate crisis</a> and has argued carbon dioxide emissions are actually beneficial, was named deputy assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation. Now, the Trump administration is in the process of appointing meteorologist Ryan Maue to serve as the agency's chief scientist, two NOAA officials confirmed to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/09/21/noaa-chief-scientist-maue/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Washington Post Monday</a>. Maue, who runs the site <a href="http://weathermodels.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">weathermodels.com</a>, does accept that the burning of greenhouse gases is impacting the global climate. However, he has spoken out against worst-case-scenario climate predictions and criticized activists for using <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/extreme-weather" target="_self">extreme weather</a> events to argue for reducing the burning of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels" target="_self">fossil fuels</a>.</p>
<p>"For the second time this month, a person who misrepresents, distorts, and disagrees with climate science is being placed in a science position at NOAA," professor <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/katharine-hayhoe-climate-change-2550366098.html" target="_self">Katharine Hayhoe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KHayhoe/status/1308235952381362178" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tweeted</a> in response to the news.</p><p>Maue previously served as an adjunct scholar with the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank that questioned mainstream climate science, The Washington Post pointed out. He co-wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal challenging the climate predictions of NASA scientist James Hansen, which have been supported by peer-reviewed studies. Most recently, he has lashed out against California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his supporters for linking the climate crisis to the state's <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/wildfires-california-washington-oregon-photos-2647585008.html" target="_self">record-breaking wildfire season</a>.</p><p>"Seems the Democrats have coordinated their efforts to use the devastating California fires as an opportunity to score political points in the upcoming election by blaming them solely on climate change (and Trump)," he wrote in a deleted tweet recovered by The Washington Post.</p>
<p>However, a number of studies have shown that changes to the climate are making the state's fires more frequent and more intense.</p><p>As chief scientist, Maue would influence NOAA's research agenda for oceanic and atmospheric science, as well as its scientific integrity policy. He still has to pass ethics and security reviews, but would not require Senate confirmation.</p><p>Other scientists questioned whether Maue had the credentials for the role.</p><p>"Normally, when people are chosen for high-profile positions relating to climate change, I've heard of them. I have no idea who this person is, other than I've seen him saying things about climate that are wrong on social media and in op-eds. I suspect that he has the one and only necessary qualification for the job: a willingness to advance the agenda of climate deniers," Texas A&M climate scientist Andrew Dessler <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewDessler/status/1308241184234631168" target="_blank">tweeted</a> in reaction to Maue's likely appointment. "To me, this emphasizes how thin the climate deniers' bench is. I'm sure they'd prefer to have someone with actual credentials take the job, but this shows that credentialized experts who dispute mainstream climate science simply don't exist."</p>
<p>Maue told <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/climate-science-critic-be-chief-scientist-key-us-climate-research-agency" target="_blank">E&E News</a> he believes in "lukewarming."</p><p>"Lukewarming is not climate denial," Maue said. "Most of us on this side of the issue believe in lower climate sensitivity. We don't believe there's going to be 5° of warming; we figure it's at the lower end of 1.5°."</p><p>However, most scientists think the world could hit 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels within the next two decades and then continue to heat up.</p>
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New Jersey Legislature Passes ‘Most Comprehensive’ Plastics Ban in the Nation
25 September
Politics
A plastic bag caught in a tree in New Jersey's Palisades Park. James Leynse / Stone / Getty Images
New Jersey is one step closer to passing what environmental advocates say is the strongest anti-plastic legislation in the nation.
<p>The state Legislature passed a sweeping measure Thursday that would ban <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastic-bags" target="_self">plastic bags</a> from stores and restaurants and single-use food and drink containers made from polystyrene foam, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/25/nyregion/nj-paper-plastic-bag-ban.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The New York Times reported</a>. The ban is noteworthy for being the first in the country to include supermarket paper bags as well as plastic ones.</p>
<p>"This is the single most comprehensive plastics and paper reduction bill in the nation," former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator and <a href="https://beyondplastics.org/" target="_blank">Beyond Plastics</a> President Judith Enck said in a <a href="https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/environmental-leaders-cheer-nj-legislative-votes-pass-single-use-waste-ban-bill-legislation-now-strongest-country/" target="_blank">statement published by Insider NJ</a>. "Building on the success of local laws adopted throughout New Jersey to reduce plastic pollution, the NJ State Legislature listened to the people and not the polluters and embraced a sensible environmental strategy."</p><p>The bill now passes to Gov. Philip Murphy, who intends to sign it, a spokesperson told The New York Times. The bans on bags and containers will go into effect 18 months after he does so, <a href="https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/environment/2020/09/24/nj-plastic-bag-ban-2020-nj-one-step-away-nations-toughest-ban/3506419001/" target="_blank">NorthJersey.com reported</a>.</p>
<p>In addition to banning plastic and paper bags and plastic food containers, the bill will also limit <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastic-straws" target="_self">plastic straws</a> in restaurants so that they will only be available upon request. There are exemptions for newspaper bags; bags used for loose produce, fish or meat; dry-cleaning bags and prescription drug bags.</p><p>The measure effectively settles a long-running debate about whether plastic or paper bags are worse for the environment by banning both. Plastic bags account for about 12 percent of U.S. <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastic-pollution" target="_self">plastic pollution</a>, according to The New York Times. But paper bags need more energy, and therefore more <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate</a> pollution, to make. <a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey" target="_blank">New Jersey Sierra Club</a> Director Jeff Tittle said the new legislation would encourage people to use more sustainable, reusable shopping bags.</p>
<p>However, the ban on paper bags was also the key to getting an important supermarket trade group to support the bill, NorthJersey.com reported. The organization argued that it would cost stores too much to supply customers with only paper bags.</p><p>"The ban on paper bags is critically important to the success of this legislation," New Jersey Food Council President Linda Doherty said ahead of Thursday's vote. "Without a ban, consumers will simply move to paper single-use bags and we will not address the underlying goal of reducing our reliance on single-use products."</p><p>However, the food council originally opposed any sort of statewide bag ban, <a href="https://www.njspotlight.com/2020/09/sweeping-nj-bag-ban-plastic-paper-restricting-polystyrene-foam-food-containers/" target="_blank">NJ Spotlight News reported</a>. It changed its position after as many as 57 communities passed their own separate bans and it decided it would be easier to deal with a single, statewide law than a patchwork of local ones.</p>
<p>Not everyone has been persuaded, however. American Forest and Paper Association President and Chief Executive Heidi Brock said the bill unfairly targeted her industry.</p><p>"The New Jersey Legislature has undermined an environmentally responsible option for consumers," she said in a statement reported by The New York Times. "Furthermore, the ban on paper bags sends an alarming message in devaluing family wage jobs, which are often union labor, in addition to the indirect jobs supported by the paper and wood products industry in the state."</p>
<p>Republican Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, meanwhile, argued that the bill would put an additional burden on a restaurant industry already struggling because of the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_self">coronavirus</a> pandemic.</p><p>"We're essentially kicking them in the head,'' she said, as NJ Spotlight News reported.</p><p>On the other hand, environmental advocates argued that plastic has long polluted New Jersey waterways. In recent years, more than 80 percent of the litter gathered on beaches by <a href="https://www.cleanoceanaction.org/index.php?id=334" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Clean Ocean Action</a> from Cape May to Sandy Hook has been plastic, NorthJersey.com reported. The material has even been found in some of the state's most pristine rivers and creeks.</p><p>"Now, we can all look forward to picking up less trash on our beaches," Clean Ocean Action executive director Cindy Zipf told NorthJersey.com. "There will be less plastics in the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/ocean" target="_self">ocean</a> to cause harm and death to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/marine-life" target="_self">marine life</a>."</p>
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Did you know that nearly 30% of adults do, or will, suffer from a sleep condition at some point in their life? Anyone who has experienced disruptions in their sleep is familiar with the havoc that it can wreak on your body and mind. Lack of sleep, for one, can lead to anxiety and lethargy in the short-term. In the long-term, sleep deprivation can lead to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Fortunately, there are proven natural supplements that can reduce insomnia and improve quality sleep for the better. CBD oil, in particular, has been scientifically proven to promote relaxing and fulfilling sleep. Best of all, CBD is non-addictive, widely available, and affordable for just about everyone to enjoy. For these very reasons, we have put together a comprehensive guide on the best CBD oil for sleep. Our goal is to provide objective, transparent information about CBD products so you are an informed buyer.
<h2>Overview of Top CBD Oils for Sleep</h2><p>Through our rigorous vetting process, we were able to narrow our choices down to 5 top picks:</p><ol><li><strong><a href="http://md.trkclkss.online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CBDMD</a> </strong>- Top Pick & Best Value</li><li><strong><a href="http://fx.trkclkss.online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CBDFX</a> </strong>- Best Full Spectrum</li><li><a href="http://nu.trkclkss.online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><strong>Nuleaf Naturals</strong></a> - Best Organic</li><li><strong><a href="http://jy.trkclkss.online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Joy Organics</a> </strong>- Best Taste</li><li><a href="http://dm.trkclkss.online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><strong>Diamond CBD</strong></a> - Most Variety</li></ol><p>Each of these products has been handpicked by our editorial team after extensive research. </p><h2>How Did We Make This List?</h2><p>Many reviews of CBD products fail to take an objective approach. </p><p>To make this list, we <strong>examined over 5,000 reviews </strong>on both brand websites and consumer reports. In addition, we <strong>personally tested more than 15 brands of CBD oils </strong>and vetted the integrity of each company, including their track record, histories, and practices. </p><p>It is our goal to make sure you have the most objective information possible.</p><h2>CBD for Sleep: 5 Top Rated Brands</h2><h2>1. <a href="http://md.trkclkss.online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CBDMD</a> - Best Value</h2>
<a href="http://md.trkclkss.online" target="_blank"><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQzOTU4My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwOTk0NTM0N30.0xzUAjqrallHYgr3HzW2I5y-wIB1pX_ee6fvfU7V3pE/img.jpg?width=980" id="9d35f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c409cf9c3a42635048879f261a032647" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /></a><p>First on our list is the best value CBD oil, CBDmd. Founded in 2016 by Martin Sumichrast and Scott Coffman, CBDmd is based out of North Carolina. CBDmd has won our pick for the best overall brand for CBD oil for sleep due to its unique blends suited for relaxation and affordable prices.</p><p>CBDmd currently has 11 different products that can be used to promote better sleep. Nine are tincture blends and the other two are soft gel blends. Tinctures can be bought in 300 mg - 7500 mg bottles and soft gels can be bought in 500 mg and 1000 mg quantities. All products are vegan-friendly and made from non-GMO hemp. Their products are also free from THC. </p><p>The bottles come in many refreshing flavors with eye droppers included. All CBD products are made through a sophisticated ethanol extraction method called "flash chromatography." Aside from CBD, CBDmd's products contain a wide range of essential oils such as lemon balm extract and chamomile flower extract.</p><p>Lastly, all CBDmd products go through extensive third-party testing for quality. They also have a generous 60-day 100% money-back guarantee. </p><p><strong>Product and Brand Highlights</strong></p><ul><li>Organic Broad Spectrum CBD</li><li>High-tech ethanol extraction leaves very little residue</li><li>Fair prices</li><li>Locally sourced hemp</li><li>Refreshing flavors for sleep aid products</li><li>Oil tincture and soft gel blends available</li></ul><p><strong>Hemp Source</strong></p><ul><li>USA</li></ul><p><strong>Extraction Method</strong></p><ul><li>Flash chromatography hydrocarbon extraction</li></ul><p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p><ul><li>Hemp Extract (Cannabidiol, Cannabigerol, Cannabinol), MCT Oil, Flavoring</li></ul><p><strong>Size</strong></p><ul><li>300 mg</li><li>750 mg</li><li>1500 mg</li><li>3000 mg</li><li>5000 mg</li><li>7500 mg</li></ul><p><strong>Flavors</strong></p><ul><li>Natural, Orange, Mint, Berry</li></ul><p><strong>Lab Results</strong></p><ul><li>50 mg CBD per mL (1500 mg tincture)</li><li>No THC (<0.0 mg/mL)</li></ul><p><strong>Shipping Policy</strong></p><ul><li>Free shipping to all US states for orders greater than $80. $4.95 flat shipping on all other orders. </li></ul><p><strong>Refund Policies</strong></p><ul><li>100% 60-day money-back guarantee.</li></ul><p><strong>Coupons</strong></p><ul><li>BLISS (20% off all online purchases)</li></ul><p><strong>Price</strong></p><ul><li>CBDmd has very affordable prices. Their CBD sleep products cost $0.09 per mg.</li></ul><p><strong>Overview:</strong></p><p>CBDmd has some of the best CBD products for sleep that you can find. They use an extremely sophisticated extraction process that creates high-quality blends but they still manage to have competitive prices. They also offer soft gel blends which are a nice change of pace from oil blends. Lastly, their sleep aids contain natural melatonin which makes them even more effective.</p><p><a href="http://md.trkclkss.online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><strong>Visit CBDMD to buy their CBD Oil</strong></a></p><h2>2. <a href="http://fx.trkclkss.online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CBDFX</a> - Best Full Spectrum</h2>
<a href="http://fx.trkclkss.online" target="_blank"><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQzOTU5Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MTAyODg0MX0.Kco0oU7SyRNXO84kXZAcYzskXEAeQj12jREvMtPdRfM/img.jpg?width=980" id="eb700" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="51f195b6a60ca91c6a8c087f28691bbe" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /></a><p>Up next on our list is CBDfx, which has won our bid for the best Full Spectrum CBD oil for sleep. CBDfx stands out due to its wide range of products which include tincture, edibles, and vaping products. CBDfx also makes isolate blends along with Full Spectrum blends.</p><p>CBDfx was founded in 2014 by Ali Esmaili and Jameson Rodgers. The goal of the company is to deliver the finest, purest, and most effective CBD products to both new and experienced users. CBDfx is based out of San Fernando Valley and is currently the 5th largest privately held CBD company in the world.</p><p>All of CBDfx's products are made using organically grown hemp sourced from local farms. All oil blends are vegan and made without synthetic chemicals or preservatives. Further, they offer a generous 30-day money-back guarantee for unused and unopened products.</p><p>CBDfx makes all of its products with supercritical CO2 extraction, meaning that their products are high quality. Also, they have very positive customer reviews and an A+ rating on the BBB. They are a transparent and reliable company. </p><p><strong>Product and Brand Highlights</strong></p><ul><li>They have Full Spectrum and Broad Spectrum blends</li><li>All products are 100% vegan and made using locally sourced hemp</li><li>They use high-quality supercritical CO2 extraction</li><li>Very reasonable and competitive pricing</li></ul><p><strong>Hemp Source</strong></p><ul><li>USA</li></ul><p><strong>Extraction Method</strong></p><ul><li>Supercritical CO2 extraction</li></ul><p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p><ul><li>Organic Full Spectrum CBD with a coconut oil matrix</li></ul><p><strong>Size</strong></p><ul><li>500 mg</li><li>1000 mg</li><li>1500 mg</li></ul><p><strong>Flavors</strong></p><ul><li>Natural</li></ul><p><strong>Lab Results</strong></p><ul><li>33.33 mg CBD per mL (1000 mg tincture)</li><li>No THC (<0.01mg/mL)</li></ul><p><strong>Shipping Policy</strong></p><ul><li>Free shipping to all 50 states</li></ul><p><strong>Refund Policies</strong></p><ul><li>30-day refund policy for unopened and unused products. Products can be returned via the company website. </li></ul><p><strong>Coupons</strong></p><ul><li>BLISS20 (20% off sitewide)</li></ul><p><strong>Price</strong></p><ul><li>CBDfx's products are very reasonably priced and fall within the $0.15-$0,20 per mg.</li></ul><p><strong>Overview:</strong></p><p>CBDfx is one of the highest-quality CBD manufacturers in the country. They use an extremely sophisticated method of CBD extraction and each product is tested for quality.</p><p><a href="http://fx.trkclkss.online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><strong>Buy this CBD Oil at CBDFX</strong></a></p><h2>3. <a href="http://nu.trkclkss.online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Nuleaf Naturals</a> - Best Organic</h2>
<a href="http://nu.trkclkss.online" target="_blank"><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQzOTU5NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNTQzNTUyOX0.-3-ggT-hiz006tds7TXFqVdgyXN1-wPPKHCEsBPDUh8/img.jpg?width=980" id="b4718" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="faf197ccc27aac0633a3ec7601d3b9ea" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /></a><p>At the halfway point of our roundup is Nuleaf Naturals. Nuleaf Naturals is based out of Colorado and was founded back in 2014. Nuleaf's main stores are on their online storefront but they also have partner locations across all 50 states. The company specializes in CBD tinctures and oils but also makes other products such as gummies.</p><p>All of Nuleaf Naturals Oils are characterized by their diverse cannabinoid profile and potencies. There are 2 main CBD oils blends and capsules you can buy. As we said, Nuleaf Naturals makes very highly concentrated products. Each blend contains a wide spectrum of cannabinoids. The mixture of cannabinoids reinforces and improves each others' effects. </p><p>All blends are made using a thorough CO2 extraction process. In fact, Nuleaf uses a two-stage extraction process, first using subcritical then next supercritical CO2. This double process ensures the mixture is purer. </p><p>All Nuleaf products are made in the US using hemp sourced from Colorado. They do not use any synthetic chemicals in their blends and they source their materials from farms that use sustainable green techniques. They also third-party test all of their products for quality and purity. They offer free shipping to all states in the US and have a standard 30-day money-back guarantee for unused and unopened products. </p><p><strong>Product and Brand Highlights</strong></p><ul><li>All blends are Full Spectrum and contain a mixture of CBDs and cannabinoids</li><li>The company uses an extremely efficient two-stage extraction method to make high-quality oils</li><li>Hemp used is locally spruced in Colorado and is not grown with pesticides and synthetic chemicals</li><li>Very high potency blends</li><li>Free shipping for all orders in the US</li></ul><p><strong>Hemp Source</strong></p><ul><li>Colorado, USA</li></ul><p><strong>Extraction Method</strong></p><ul><li>2-stage CO2 extraction</li></ul><p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p><ul><li>Full Spectrum Hemp Extract, Organic Virgin Hemp Seed Oil</li></ul><p><strong>Size</strong></p><ul><li>300-6000 mg</li></ul><p><strong>Flavors</strong></p><ul><li>Natural</li></ul><p><strong>Lab Results</strong></p><ul><li>30 mg CBD per mL (900 mg tincture)</li><li>0.14% THC</li></ul><p><strong>Shipping Policy</strong></p><ul><li>Nuleaf Naturals offers free shipping to all 50 US states. They ship their products through USPS. </li></ul><p><strong>Refund Policies</strong></p><ul><li>Nuleaf Naturals offers a 20-day money-back guarantee for unused and unopened products. Customers do have to pay shipping on returns</li></ul><p><strong>Coupons</strong></p><ul><li>BLISS20 (20% off all online purchases)</li></ul><p><strong>Price</strong></p><ul><li>Nuleaf Naturals are all competitively priced. The cost for their 900mg CBD oil blend is $0.11 per mg. Even though their prices are affordable, they are very potent and high-quality.</li></ul><p><strong>Overview:</strong></p><p>Nuleaf Naturals is one of the best CBD manufacturers in the country. Their blends are made using a high-tech extraction process and are not made with any synthetic chemicals. All products are third party tested and they also have a very generous free shipping policy for all of their products, no matter the price.</p><p><a href="http://nu.trkclkss.online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><strong>Visit Nuleaf Naturals & Get 20% discount using BLISS20</strong></a></p><h2>4. <a href="http://jy.trkclkss.online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Joy Organics</a> - Best Taste</h2>
<a href="http://jy.trkclkss.online" target="_blank"><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQzOTU5OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MzA4Mzc1MX0.h6FQKruUEtYB3Asq6m7Fo0OUgRFknEz1yNext45znr0/img.jpg?width=980" id="57c82" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a8377527108a388345541cf3a3da46ed" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /></a><p>4th on our roundup is Joy Organics. Joy Organics was founded in 2017 by current CEO Joy Smith. Smith was inspired to make Joy Organics after her own experiences with CBD. Joy Organics is based out of Colorado and currently has branches in Texas and Kansas. The company is dedicated to creating premium CBD products that will help people live happily and healthily.</p><p>All of Joy Organics products are made with a high-grade proprietary supercritical CO2 extraction process. This process ensures that the plant's phytocannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids are intact, resulting in a high-quality Broad Spectrum blend. </p><p>Joy Organics offsets a wide range of CBD products including oils, gummies, soft gels, and tinctures. They also have salves to apply directly to the skin and energy drink mixtures. </p><p>Joy Organics offers free shipping to all 50 US states and also has a generous 30-day money-back guarantee for unused and unopened products. </p><p><strong>Product and Brand Highlights</strong></p><ul><li>Broad Spectrum cbd oil blends</li><li>Uses proprietary extraction and emulsification processes to make their products</li><li>All products are THC-free</li><li>CBD products go through in-house and third-party testing</li><li>Creation process creates small particles that are absorbed more quickly by the body</li><li>Free shipping and money-back policy</li></ul><p><strong>Hemp Source</strong></p><ul><li>Colorado, USA</li></ul><p><strong>Extraction Method</strong></p><ul><li>Supercritical CO2 extraction</li></ul><p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p><ul><li>Organic Extra-Virgin Olive Oil and Phytocannabinoid-Rich Hemp Extract</li></ul><p><strong>Size</strong></p><ul><li>225 mg</li><li>450 mg</li><li>900 mg</li><li>1350 mg</li></ul><p><strong>Flavors</strong></p><ul><li>Tranquil Mint, Natural, Summer Lemon, Orange Bliss</li></ul><p><strong>Lab Results</strong></p><ul><li>30 mg CBD per mL (900 mg tincture)</li><li>0 THC (<0.01 mg/mL)</li></ul><p><strong>Shipping Policy</strong></p><ul><li>Free shipping on all orders</li></ul><p><strong>Refund Policies</strong></p><ul><li>30-day money-back guarantee for unused and unopened products</li></ul><p><strong>Coupons</strong></p><ul><li>BLISS15 (15% off sitewide)</li></ul><p><strong>Price</strong></p><ul><li>Joy Organics falls in the middle of the price spectrum. Their products cost about $0.12 per mg.</li></ul><p><strong>Overview:</strong></p><p>Overall, Joy organics is a fantastic CBD company that makes high-quality organic products. Their CBD products are made using a unique technique that creates very small particles that are absorbed faster in the bloodstream. All products are THC-free and also go through in-house and third-party testing.</p><p><a href="http://jy.trkclkss.online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><strong>Check Joy Organic's CBD Oil here</strong></a></p><h2>5. <a href="http://dm.trkclkss.online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Diamond CBD</a> - Best Variety</h2>
<a href="http://dm.trkclkss.online" target="_blank"><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQzOTYwMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NjM3MzY3NH0.HES9WlJmUvtlI6wc6uswn6rxmSVZos0CpcXo35Ao2sI/img.jpg?width=980" id="b8af3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="39450ce6a3de5fe51b4092680ad9f269" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /></a><p>Last on our list is Diamond CBD. Diamond CBD offers an extremely wide selection of products including oils, gummies, and vape liquids. Diamond CBD is owned by Potnetwork Holdings who own several other CBD companies. The company is based out of Colorado and uses hemp sourced from both Colorado and Kentucky. </p><p>Diamond CBD uses a sophisticated CO2 extraction process to make its products and third-party tests everything. Diamond CBD has been through a lot of changes in the past few years. <br><br></p><p>One thing that makes Diamond CBD stand out is its enormous array of products. They have hundreds of products. There are over 3 product pages just for their selection of oils. You can also scroll to the bottom of the screen to get access to lab reports on hundreds of products. </p><p>Diamond CBD's Relax line are CBD products made specifically for sleep aid. Relax oils and gummies include a Full Spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes. You can buy sizes ranging from 100 mg to over 3500 mg. </p><p>Diamond CBD also includes a wide range of flavors, including honey, watermelon, and blueberry. They have the most flavor options and products out of most of the CBD companies we have seen. This flexibility is great when you are looking for something for a specific ailment. </p><p><strong>Product and Brand Highlights</strong></p><ul><li>Enormous range of products</li><li>Relax line is meant specifically for sleep</li><li>Supercritical CO2 extraction</li><li>Wide range of sizes for products (100 mg - 3500 mg)</li><li>Locally sourced hemp</li></ul><p><strong>Hemp Source</strong></p><ul><li>Colorado and Kentucky</li></ul><p><strong>Extraction Method</strong></p><ul><li>Supercritical CO2 extraction</li></ul><p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p><ul><li>Full Spectrum CBD, Vegetable Glycerin, Propylene Glycol</li></ul><p><strong>Size</strong></p><ul><li>25-3500 mg</li></ul><p><strong>Flavors</strong></p><ul><li>Extremely broad range of flavors</li></ul><p><strong>Lab Results</strong></p><ul><li>68.1 mg CBD per mL (1500 mg Relax Blend)</li></ul><p><strong>Shipping Policy</strong></p><ul><li>Free shipping in the US on orders more than $100. $10 on smaller orders. </li></ul><p><strong>Refund Policies</strong></p><ul><li>90-day money-back guarantee for unused and unopened products</li></ul><p><strong>Price</strong></p><ul><li>Diamond CBD products range from $0.05-$0.12 per mg</li></ul><p><strong>Overview:</strong></p><p>They have a huge list of products and an entire line created specifically for relaxation and sleep. Diamond CBD also has a very generous 90-day money-back guarantee on all its products.</p><p><strong><a href="http://dm.trkclkss.online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Visit Diamond CBD to buy their CBD Oil</a></strong></p>
<h2>Factors that Help Us Determine the Best CBD Oils for Sleep</h2><p><strong>Hemp source: </strong>We only look for products that are made with quality organically sourced hemp. We also analyze the supply chain process to ensure their products are ethically sourced with sustainable green technologies. We also study cultivation practices to determine that no synthetic pesticides of growth hormones have been used throughout the growing process. </p>
<p><strong>Extraction Methods:</strong> There are three main procedures to manufacture CBD oil. The first is the simplest and just involves grinding the seeds and stems and removing the material from the ensuing mixture. Manual extraction is the method that has been used historically. Anyone can make hemp oil in their own kitchen by grinding plant material and filtering out the excess. </p>
<p>The second way is solvent extraction. Solvent extraction involves compressing the hemp in some solvent (most often ethanol or butane) and then boiling off the excess solvent. Solvent extraction is more efficient than manual extraction and yields a more pure product. However, improper extraction can leave solvent residue in the oil. </p>
<p>The last method of extraction is called supercritical carbon extraction. Supercritical carbon extraction uses a highly pressurized liquid carbon dioxide as a solvent. Supercritical carbon extraction is considered the gold standard of CBD extraction and makes the highest quality products. However, carbon dioxide extraction is an intricate process so carbon-extracted oils are usually more expensive than other types. </p>
<p><strong>Extract Types: </strong>CBD oils can be Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum, and isolate. Full spectrum and Broad Spectrum oils contain CBD, along with other cannabinoids including THC, cannabinol (CBN), and cannabigerol (CBG). The main difference between Full Spectrum and Broad Spectrum is that Broad Spectrum blends normally do not contain THC while Full Spectrum blends do. Full Spectrum and Broad Spectrum CBD oils may also contain other chemicals such as terpenes. Isolates, in contrast, only contain CBD. </p>
<p>Full Spectrum and Broad Spectrum blends contain many different types of cannabinoids because they work together and enhance each others' properties. The synergistic interaction of cannabinoids is known as the <em>entourage effect</em>. </p>
<p><strong>Potency:</strong> The potency of a specific blend is determined by the amount of CBD in the bottle (measured in mg) and the volume of the bottle. Some CBD manufacturers will make this easy for you and list the concentration per mL of oil. If they do not provide it, you can figure out the potency with a simple calculation:</p>
<p>CBD in mg ÷ bottle volume in ml = CBD in mg/ml</p><p>So for example, if you have 900 mg in a 1 oz. (30 mL) bottle, then the potency would be:</p><p>900mg/30mL = 30 mg/mL</p>
<p>Most of the time, the bottle dropper has measurements in mL so it is easy to see how much oil you are administering. </p>
<p><strong>Lab Results: </strong>CBD oil has exploded in popularity in recent years, thus a rise in competition. Unfortunately, the sale of CBD is not regulated by the FDA. As a result, there are varying levels of quality in manufacturing. We often come across CBD products that have been inaccurately labeled, or even worse, do not contain CBD at all. </p>
<p>To combat this problem, we require companies to meet strict third-party testing criteria. All products we have chosen have been tested by independent organizations for content and purity. Any brand that does not test its products is automatically excluded from our lists. </p>
<p><strong>Size Variation: </strong>CBD oils vary in size, ranging from 100 mg to over 1000 mg per 1 oz (30mL). In general larger bottles tend to have higher potencies, but this is not always true. We make sure to choose brands that include various sizes for their CBD products.</p>
<p><strong>Flavors:</strong> Unflavored CBD typically has a very earthy taste. For those of you who prefer a little more excitement, manufacturers often make blends that have flavorings, such as cherry, lemon, or lavender. However, flavors do not change potency. At the end of the day, CBD is CBD regardless of its taste.</p>
<p><strong>Price: </strong>Price can vary greatly. Concentrations and the size of the bottle all need to be taken into consideration. In general supercritical carbon extracted CBD oils cost more than their counterparts. </p>
<p>We estimate CBD oils on the lower end of the spectrum fall anywhere between $0.10-$0.15 per mg. Middle-grade blends fall somewhere between $0.15-$0.25 per mg and high-quality blends generally cost $0.25+ per mg. </p>
<p>So for example, a low, medium, and high-grade 500 mg blend would cost around $50, $90, and $125, respectively. In general, isolates and pure blends are more expensive because it takes longer to filter out the other molecules. </p>
<p><strong>Brand Transparency: </strong>Reputable companies are transparent about their policies and provide customers with supporting documentation and clear labeling. Good companies will also have good reputations online. </p>
<p>Other aspects of brand transparency include return and shipping policies. We make sure that all chosen products are from companies that are transparent about their practices and business relations. </p>
<p><strong>Website Experience:</strong> We also make sure to consider the overall experience of shopping on the company's website. We look at whether pages are laid out in a logical and consistent manner and have a streamlined purchase process. A bad web design can ruin a shopping experience and turn someone away from a brand.</p>
<h2>How Does CBD Oil Help You Sleep Better?</h2><p>First off, let's talk about what, exactly, CBD is. CBD (<em>cannabidiol</em>) is an organic molecule that falls under a family of chemicals called <em>cannabinoids. </em>Hundreds of varieties of cannabinoids exist in the cannabis plant, also called the marijuana plant. CBD is just one kind of cannabinoid, THC being another. </p>
<p>Cannabinoids interact with <em>cannabinoid receptors</em> in our brains and central nervous systems. This interaction is what explains CBD's therapeutic effects. Although CBD has a similar chemical formula and profile as THC, it interacts with cannabinoid receptors differently than THC and so has different effects. There <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">are studies</a> that suggest ingesting CBD as an effective method of managing pain, stimulating the appetite, lessening anxiety, and lowering inflammation.<strong> CBD also does not cause any psychoactive or intoxicating effects, unlike THC.</strong></p><p>As CBD has increased in popularity, more people are using it as a sleep aid. It is well known that CBDs close pharmaceutical cousin, THC, can induce sleepiness and can be a powerful sleep aid, but THC also comes with intoxicating effects. </p><h3>The Endocannabinoid System and Sleep</h3><p>CBD and other cannabinoids regulate bodily functions through their interaction with the body's endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is the name given to the network of cannabinoid receptors linked through our brains and nervous systems. The endocannabinoid system is composed primarily of 2 kinds of receptors: CB1 and CB2 receptors. Interacting with these receptors is how cannabinoids exert their effects on the human body. </p>
<p>The study of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is still relatively new. However, there is a growing <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5877694/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">body of evidence</a> that the endocannabinoid system plays some role in mediating homeostatic mechanisms in the body. The ECS seems to be implicated in processes that regulate digestion, appetite, mood, memory, and pain sensation, among others. </p>
<p>As such, many medical researchers have theorized that seemingly disparate chronic conditions might be linked by being caused by an endocannabinoid deficiency. The ECS is also implicated in sleep patterns/waking cycles by regulating the circadian rhythm, so it is reasonable to suspect the CBD has an effect on sleep cycles by acting through the body's endocannabinoid system.</p>
<h4>What does the research say, though?</h4><p>Studies focused specifically on the connection between CBD and sleep are sparse. However, there are a few key studies we can mention that hint at a connection between cannabinoid use and sleep. </p>
<p>One study published in the journal <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6164964/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Medicines</a> involved trials on 402 people with insomnia symptoms. The study divided this sample into smaller groups and followed their sleep habits over the course of 2 years to determine if cannabis consumption affected sleep patterns positively or negatively. At the beginning, participants rated their insomnia severity as an average of 6.6 out of 10, where 1 is no problem at all, and 10 is incredibly severe. </p>
<p>Participants in each group were treated with cannabis using various methods of ingestion. The average THC potency of cannabis was around 20% and the average CBD potency was 5.7%. After 2 years of continual cannabis use, the participants had an average insomnia symptom rating of 2.2. Thus, this study highly suggests that ingesting cannabis<strong> is an extremely effective form of reducing insomnia and improving sleep.</strong></p>
<p>We found another study published in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326553/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Permanente Journal</a> that studied 72 adults with anxiety and poor sleep habits. The participants first completed a sleep and anxiety assessment at the beginning and at a one-month follow-up. Each study participant was given 25 mg capsules of CBD to take in the evening for sleep disturbances and in the morning for anxiety problems. </p>
<p>At the end of the first month, over 80% of participants had reduced anxiety scores and 66& of participants say their sleep improved. <strong>This study highly suggests that CBD specifically is effective at improving sleep and reducing anxiety.</strong> </p>
<p>Aside from these clinical studies, there are several smaller studies and individual case studies suggesting that CBD is an effective method of improving sleep. </p>
<h3>CBD Sources</h3><p>CBD is extracted from the cannabis plant, but the whole story is a bit more complicated than that.</p>
<p>First, let's talk about how cannabis plants are classified. Despite what many think, "cannabis" is not the name of an individual plant species, but the name for a genus of plants. There are two main species of the cannabis plant, <em>C. sativa</em> and <em>C. indica</em> (Some botanists include a third species <em>C. rubella</em>.). </p>
<p>Most cannabis products are made from the <em>C. sativa</em> plant. Specifically, there are two varieties of <em>C. sativa </em>used: marijuana and hemp. Marijuana contains higher concentrations of THC and may or may not contain high concentrations of CBD. Hemp, in contrast, comes from the seeds and stalks of the plant and has a low THC content. Cannabis with less than 0.2% THC composition is normally considered hemp. CBD oils can be made from both marijuana and hemp. </p>
<p>CBD oils made from marijuana usually contain a non-negligible amount of THC while CBD oils made from hemp usually have low THC content. Because cannabis oils can have different concentrations of THC and laws surrounding THC differ from state to state, different states might have different legislation regarding CBD oils. Generally, CBD oils that contain less than 0.3% THC are legal to create, cultivate, and sell in the US. </p>
<p>CBD is ingested in a number of ways. Most commonly:</p>
<ul><li>Edibles: Edibles are food items that are made with quantities of CBD oils. Cookies, cakes, and gummy bears are some popular CBD edibles. </li><li>Tinctures: Oil tinctures containing CBD and other cannabinoids are also fairly common. CBD tinctures can be added to food and drink with an eyedropper. </li><li>Vaporizing: CBD extract can be used with a vaporizer or vape pen. Vaporization is normally considered the most potent form of ingesting. </li></ul>
<p>We should mention that CBD <em>is not </em>medicine and is not meant to be a substitute for any medicine or medical treatment. CBD-based treatments are not approved for medical use by the FDA, with 2 major exceptions. Sativex and Epidolex are two oral CBD-based sprays that are used for pain management and epilepsy. To date, Sativex and Epidolex are the only CBD-based treatments that are approved by the US FDA.</p>
<h3>How to Use CBD Oil</h3><p>The way to use CBD depends on the kind of CBD product that you buy. Edibles, for example, can just be eaten like normal food. The CBD will be absorbed by the intestines. It takes about 45 minutes-1 hour to feel the effects of an edible. </p>
<p>Tinctures and oils are likewise easy to ingest. You can either place oil drops directly on your tongue or you can mix a few drops of oil in with your food or drink. Generally, tinctures come with an eyedropper for serving. It takes about 20-40 minutes to feel the effects of ingesting oil. </p>
<p>Lastly is vaporization. To vaporize CBD you will need a special set up. THC vape usually uses a removable cartridge of CBD suspended in some matrix, most commonly vegetable glycerin. The onset of effects is almost immediate as the vapor in your lungs is absorbed in the bloodstream very rapidly. Vaporizing CBD oils is the most potent form of ingesting so it is only recommended for experienced users. </p>
<p><strong>Dosage: </strong>Various studies have shown that CBD is safe to consume, even in very large doses. Studies in animals show that CBD has an extremely high lethal dosage and even large doses do not cause long-term lasting impairments. </p>
<p>For example, one <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/24734306.2018.1434470" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">2018 study</a> found that the LD50 (the quantity it takes to kill 50% of subjects) or CBD for mice is 50 mg per kg of body weight. For larger mammals, the LD50 is even higher. The LD50 for dogs is over 250 mg per kg of body weight and the LD50 for monkeys is above 200 mg per kg of body weight. </p>
<p>To put these numbers in perspective, assuming you weigh about 160 lbs. It would take about 18g of CBD oil ingested very quickly to kill you. A normal bottle of CBD oil contains only about 500mg. So, CBD is incredibly safe to take. </p>
<p>As far as specific dosages go, it's better to start small then increase to get the desired effects. The general rule of thumb is you should take about 5 mg per 30 lbs. Of body weight. So if you weigh 150 lbs, then an appropriate dose should be about 25mg per day. It is recommended to start small and then increase the dosage by 5mg for each week until you achieve the desired effects. </p>
<h3>CBD Side Effects</h3><p>Compared to other supplements, CBD has very few mild side effects. Unlike THC, CBD does not produce psychoactive or intoxicating effects. This is because CBD molecules alter the shape of CB1 receptors. The most common reported side effects of taking CBD include:</p>
<ul><li>Dry mouth</li><li>Lightheadedness</li><li>Drowsiness</li><li>Low blood pressure</li></ul>
<p>In some cases, CBD can cause an upset stomach or diarrhea. In most cases, these side effects are mild and will subside as you get used to taking the product. </p><h2>Conclusion</h2><p>So there you have it, 5 of the best CBD oils for sleep. Insomnia is a real downer and can wreak havoc on the body and mind but CBD supplements can help. Just a drop or two before you go to bed can help you get the restful sleep that you deserve. These top 5 CBD companies have been chosen as the best of the best due to their high quality products and brand transparency. So, if you are looking for the best CBD for sleep, then this guide is a handy place to start. </p>
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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) talks to reporters during her weekly news conference at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center on Sept. 18, 2020 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
The House of Representatives passed a sweeping bill to boost clean energy while phasing out the use of coolants in air conditioners and refrigerators that are known pollutants and contribute to the climate crisis, as the AP reported.
<p>The 900-page Clean Energy and Jobs Innovation Act passed the House in a 220-185 vote. The bill, if it were approved by the Senate and signed by the president, would increase the energy efficiency standards for building and boost research and investment in the development of solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric power, according to <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/518102-house-passes-sweeping-clean-energy-bill" target="_blank">The Hill</a>.</p><p>The Clean Energy and Jobs Innovation Act was crafted after negotiations with the Senate. It is full of agreed upon, "practical and achievable clean energy policies that are possible for us to achieve this year," said Frank Pallone, Democrat from New Jersey and chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, as <a href="https://www.utilitydive.com/news/trump-veto-of-house-clean-energy-bill-likely-as-ginsburg-replacement-fight/585625/" target="_blank">Utility Drive</a> reported.</p>
<p>Pallone added that the bill would "modernize our energy system, create jobs and take positive steps towards addressing the climate crisis," as the AP reported. He called it "one of the most impactful steps we can take now to create manufacturing jobs and boost our competitiveness, all while protecting our environment."</p><p>The effort to pass the bill, however, may have been in vain. Earlier in the week, The White House said the president's advisors would suggest he veto the bill. "With the news of Justice Ginsburg's passing, I cannot even venture a guess of how the next few weeks and months may play out," said Rep. Paul Tonko, a Democrat from New York in speaking to a National Clean Energy Week symposium, according to Utility Drive.</p><p>And yet, some in Congress were somewhat hopeful that the bill had a chance of becoming law. The Hill reported that a House Democratic aide believed that if the Senate passes their similar bill, then the respective committees can work together to settle the small discrepancies between the two bills.</p>
<p>The bills that are in the House and the Senate are modest in their ambition, which House Democrats acknowledged.</p><p>"I want to give a clear-eyed assessment: This bill is not going to stop climate change," said Tonko, as the AP reported. "But it is a good opportunity to make good and sometimes necessary changes to programs, which might make it easier to do a bigger, more ambitious bill in the near future."</p><p>The National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), an advocacy group, examined the bill and praised it in a <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/marc-boom/house-bill-would-deliver-needed-steps-toward-clean-economy" target="_blank">blog post</a> as "a needed step forward to ensure future climate action will be built from a solid foundation." It added that this bill is unique from past legislation because it "has opened the door for better ideas on how to spur progress in clean energy innovation."</p>
<p>And yet, the NRDC noted that the funding for clean energy fell behind the money spent for fossil fuels and nuclear energy. "This bill is very promising but it's obvious that it won't provide the transformative change we need to win the fight against climate change and protect our environment," the NRDC wrote.</p><p>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the bill for taking a step to thwart the climate crisis and putting the wheels in motion to start legislation aimed at climate action.</p><p>"It takes actions that scientists, researchers and experts tell us is needed by launching the research and development needed to unleash a clean energy revolution and reduce pollution in our communities, making a bold down payment for future climate action by modernizing America's energy innovation infrastructure," she said, as The Hill reported.</p>
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Gov. Jay Inslee on the Climate Crisis: ‘We Cannot Give in to Defeat and Pessimism’
25 September
Insights + Opinion
Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington comforts Marsha Maus, 75, whose home was destroyed during California's deadly 2018 wildfires, on March 11, 2019 in Agoura Hills, California. Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times / Getty Images
By Governor Jay Inslee
Climate Week this year coincides with clear skies in Washington state for the first time in almost two weeks.
In just a few days in early September, Washington state saw enough acres burned – more than 600,000 – to reach our second-worst fire season on record. Our worst fire season came only five years ago. Wildfires aren't new to the west, but their scope and danger today is unlike anything firefighters have seen. People up and down the West Coast – young and old, in rural areas and in cities – were choking on smoke for days on end, trapped in their homes.
Fires like these are becoming the norm, not the exception.
<p>That's because as the climate changes, our fires change. Climate scientists tell us that if greenhouse gas emissions continue on their current path, later this century the <em>average </em>year in Washington will eventually be warmer than the single hottest year of the 20th century. The heat leaves our land and vegetation dry and primed for ignition, with blazes for which our landscapes are not evolved to cope. We're seeing more acres burned, and more days with our state swathed in hazardous smoke and ash.</p><p>Rain, cooler weather, and heroic firefighting efforts have finally tamped down the fires and poor air quality; but the burn scars remain, and they are most acutely felt by those who lost homes, businesses, and loved ones in fires this year.</p><p>I have seen the chaos firsthand in recent visits to burned areas both east and west of the Cascade Mountains. As communities in Malden, Bonney Lake, and Graham, Washington, recover from the damage done this month, it's not enough for us as leaders to help our towns recover from one devastating event after another. We need a plan to stop these increasingly ferocious natural disasters from becoming uncontrollable. The situation demands that <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/t/climate-change/" target="_blank">climate change</a> be front and center in this plan – because it is the root and stem of the new challenges we face in disaster response.</p>
<p>While wildfires are the most recent, and some of the most visceral images of climate change, they are unfortunately just one manifestation of a <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/t/climate-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">climate crisis</a> with far-reaching implications.</p><p>From the woods and prairies to the oceans, rivers and streams, we see the damaging effects of climate change. West Coast marine waters are acidifying at twice the global rate, our streams are becoming too warm to support salmon, and our agricultural productivity is falling as a result of record heat.</p><p>But we cannot give in to defeat and pessimism. This is not a lost cause.</p><p>There is broad consensus on what we need to do to slow and turn back the effects of human-driven climate change: all hands on deck for a global decarbonization that grows jobs and protects communities.</p>
<p>Every year, Climate Week gives us the opportunity to highlight this urgent need. But we need every week to be Climate Week. Given the science, knowledge and tools at our disposal, it is unacceptable that more has not been done to address the terrifying implications of climate change in the 21st century. We have no more time to waste.</p><p>We face a powerful oil and gas industry that has sunk its claws into Congress and numerous state governments, and a presidential administration backed by a major political party dedicated to protecting polluters and spreading lies and confusion about the science. On the flip side is the urgent and painfully clear scientific consensus, coupled with the fact that the majority of Americans support action now on climate change.</p><p>This is a battle that we can – and must – win, beginning with our votes in November.</p><p>And winning the fight won't just protect our communities from the dangerous effects of climate change. It will create enormous new economic opportunity.</p>
<p>The latest jobs report from E2, a national nonpartisan group of business leaders and investors focused on sustainable energy policies, shows there are already more than 3 million clean energy jobs in America today. If we can find the will to massively accelerate the development of renewable resources, we can create millions of more jobs.</p><p>If 2020 has taught us anything, it's that facts are stubborn things, and denial can be fatal. The federal government's failure to accept the reality of the Covid-19 crisis once again demonstrated why aloofness is no replacement for proactive leadership.</p><p>While we know this administration would be wise to change its destructive path – by bringing our country back into the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, by putting in place strong clean car standards, or by restoring key environmental protections razed by Trump's cronies – we know they won't. However, public opinion is clear even after years of misinformation and downright lies. There is not enough oil money in the world to stop the American people from rising up for what's right, and it's time to hit back.</p><p>Let this Climate Week be a reminder not merely of the long road ahead, but of our own power to make that journey together. Start now, so that in Climate Week 2021 we'll have a little less distance to cover.</p>
<p><em>This story originally appeared in</em><em> <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/" target="_blank">Rolling Stone </a></em><em>and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story.</em></p>
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Vote as if the Climate and the Future of Humanity Depend on It—Because They Do
25 September
Insights + Opinion
Four more years will be enough to cement in place Trump's anti-environmental policies and to make sure it's too late to really change course. Enrique Meseguer / Pixabay
By Bill McKibben
To understand the planetary importance of this autumn's presidential election, check the calendar. Voting ends on November 3—and by a fluke of timing, on the morning of November 4 the United States is scheduled to pull out of the Paris Agreement.
President Trump announced that we would abrogate our Paris commitments during a Rose Garden speech in 2017. But under the terms of the accords, it takes three years to formalize the withdrawal. So on Election Day it won't be just Americans watching: The people of the world will see whether the country that has poured more carbon into the atmosphere than any other over the course of history will become the only country that refuses to cooperate in the one international effort to do something about the climate crisis.
<p>Trump's withdrawal benefited oil executives, who have donated millions of dollars to his reelection campaign, and the small, strange fringe of climate deniers who continue to insist that the planet is cooling. But most people living in the rational world were appalled. Polling showed widespread opposition, and by some measures, Trump is more out of line with the American populace on environmental issues than any other. In his withdrawal announcement he said he'd been elected "to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris"; before the day was out, Pittsburgh's mayor had pledged that his city would follow the guidelines set in the French capital. Young people, above all, have despised the president's climate moves: Poll after poll shows that climate change is a top-tier issue with them and often the most important one—mostly, I think, because they've come to understand how tightly linked it is not just to their future but to questions of justice, equity, and race. </p><p>Here's the truth: At this late date, meeting the promises set in Paris will be nowhere near enough. If you add up the various pledges that nations made at that conference, they plan on moving so timidly that the planet's temperature will still rise more than 3 degrees Celsius from preindustrial levels. So far, we've raised the mercury 1 degree Celsius, and that's been enough to melt millions of square miles of ice in the Arctic, extend fire seasons for months, and dramatically alter the planet's rainfall patterns. Settling for 3 degrees is kind of like writing a global suicide note. </p>
<p>Happily, we could go much faster if we wanted. The price of solar and wind power has fallen so fast and so far in the last few years that they are now the cheapest power on earth. There are plenty of calculations to show it will soon be cheaper to build solar and wind farms than to operate the fossil fuel power stations we've already built. Climate-smart investments are also better for workers and economic equality. "We need to have climate justice, which means to invest in green energy, [which] creates three times more jobs than to invest in fossil fuel energy," United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said in an interview with Covering Climate Now in September. If we wanted to make it happen, in other words, an energy revolution is entirely possible. The best new study shows that the United States could cut its current power sector emissions 80 percent by 2035 and create 20 million jobs along the way. </p><p>Joe Biden and Kamala Harris haven't pledged to move that quickly, but their climate plan is the farthest-reaching of any presidential ticket in history. More to the point, we can pressure them to go farther and faster. Already, seeing the polling on the wall, they've adopted many of the proposals of climate stalwarts like Washington Governor Jay Inslee. A team of Biden and Bernie Sanders representatives worked out a pragmatic but powerful compromise in talks before the Democratic National Convention; the Biden-Harris ticket seems primed to use a transition to green energy as a crucial part of a push to rebuild the pandemic-devastated economy. </p>
<p>Perhaps most important, they've pledged to try to lead the rest of the world in the climate fight. The United States has never really done this. Our role as the single biggest producer of hydrocarbons has meant that our response to global warming has always been crippled by the political power of Big Oil. But that power has begun to slip. Once the biggest economic force on the planet, the oil industry is a shadow of its former self. (You could buy all the oil companies in America for less than the cost of Apple; Tesla is worth more than any other auto company on earth.) And so it's possible that the hammerlock on policy exercised by this reckless industry will loosen if Trump is beaten.</p><p>But only if he's beaten. Four more years will be enough to cement in place his anti-environmental policies and to make sure it's too late to really change course. The world's climate scientists declared in 2018 that if we had any chance of meeting sane climate targets, we had to cut emissions almost in half by 2030. That's less than 10 years away. We're at the last possible moment to turn the wheel of the supertanker that is our government. Captain Trump wants to steer us straight onto the rocks, mumbling all the while about hoaxes. If we let him do it, history won't forgive us. Nor will the rest of the world.</p>
<p><em>This story originally appeared in</em> <em><a href="https://www.thenation.com" target="_blank">The Nation</a></em> <em>and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story.</em></p>
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A woman marks down her vote on a ballot for the Democratic presidential primary election at a polling place on Super Tuesday, March 3, 2020 in Herndon, Virginia. Samuel Corum / Getty Images
By Oliver Milman
The climate crisis is set to be a significant factor in a U.S. presidential election for the first time, with new polling showing a clear majority of American voters want decisive action to deal with the threats posed by global heating.
<p>Seven in 10 voters support government action to address climate change, with three-quarters wanting the U.S. to generate all of its electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind within 15 years.</p><p>Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they would be more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who supports the complete shift to clean energy, with a further seven in 10 voters supporting US involvement in the Paris climate agreement, which commits countries to tackling dangerous heating. Two-thirds of voters said climate should be a priority for whoever wins the election.</p><p>"There may be a divide on Capitol Hill but the large majority of us are worried about climate change and want to see leaders deal with it," said Ed Maibach, director of George Mason University's Center for Climate Change Communication. "This is the first election where climate change has featured heavily. It's unlike anything we've seen in American politics before."</p><p>Over the past decade, the crisis has become a sharply partisan political topic as Republicans embraced denial and obfuscation of the escalating crisis. Donald Trump called climate science a "hoax" and his administration set about dismantling every policy put in place by Barack Obama to reduce planet-heating emissions.</p><p>However, the new polling, on behalf of the Guardian, Vice Media Group and Covering Climate Now, by Climate Nexus, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication, shows that the political landscape among voters appears to be shifting.</p>
Do you support or oppose each of the following policies as part of the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic?
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQzODcyMC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNjg4MzY4OX0.B-bt9mltOhK0MHFbzK8G3_8sBkDAeUsAWm-AhNZYoxQ/img.png?width=980" id="acd43" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8724178274b9f96e27055f74a1bafe20" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQzODcyMi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MTk1OTAzMH0.F8_i9pQeThex_R0SLjOoE0Xk11avxGilB6n6RmRzxe8/img.png?width=980" id="cde28" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="36da755f25cfa2d1120f46f112e7d577" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<p>Democrats are becoming increasingly alarmed over the climate crisis, with 90% describing it as either a "very serious" or "somewhat serious" problem and more than eight in 10 supporting a Green New Deal, a vast government-led climate program, to combat it.</p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/22/us-politics-minute-sign-up-email-newsletter-app-notification" target="_blank"></a><p>This concern is filtering through, to a lesser degree, to Republican voters. More than half say climate change is a very or somewhat serious problem, with 41% backing the Green New Deal, despite it being widely vilified by Republican party leaders. A further 51% of Republican voters support U.S. involvement in the Paris climate accords.</p><p>The polling suggests Trump, who has triggered the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement and routinely disparages climate science, will be the first U.S. president to face a voter backlash over the climate crisis. His Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, meanwhile, has vowed to reduce U.S. energy emissions to net zero by 2050 and promised a $2tn investment to create millions of new jobs in clean energy industries.</p>
<p>"Republican officeholders really do have to worry about this," said Maibach. "Young Republicans are becoming less accepting of the party line that climate change isn't real or isn't a serious problem. They don't want climate denial any more, moderate Republicans don't want climate denial any more and women voters largely don't want to support climate denialist candidates any more either."</p><p>The surge in voter appetite for climate action follows a barrage of disasters that have hit the U.S. recently, including huge wildfires that have scorched the west coast and powerful hurricanes that have pummeled the U.S. south. Scientists say rising global temperatures, caused by humans burning fossil fuels, are aiding the spread of wildfires and making hurricanes more intense.</p><p>Trump's first term in office has also seen a growing youth-led climate protest movement, with the Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg as its figurehead. Younger U.S. voters see the climate crisis as a top-tier issue, <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2019/11/25/u-s-public-views-on-climate-and-energy/?utm_source=adaptivemailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=19-11-25%20climate&org=982&lvl=100&ite=5010&lea=1139465&ctr=0&par=1&trk=" target="_blank">polling has shown</a>, while the latest opinion research shows broad support for a greater focus on the issue in the media.</p><p>More than six in 10 respondents said the media should explicitly outline the link between extreme weather events and the climate crisis, while nearly three-quarters want moderators to ask questions about the climate crisis during the three televised presidential debates, which start next week. In 2016, no questions were asked about climate during the debates between Trump and Hillary Clinton.</p>
<p><em>This story originally appeared in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> </em><em>and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story.</em></p>
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A black bear cub climbs a tree at Tongass National Forest in Alaska. sarkophoto / iStock / Getty Images Plus
America's largest national forest, Tongass National Forest in Alaska, will be opened up to logging and road construction after the Trump administration finalizes its plans to open up the forest on Friday, according to The New York Times.
<p>The plans to open up the forest to logging have been in the works for years. In March, the Trump administration faced a setback when a federal judge halted plans to open 1.8 million acres to logging and road building because the administration had failed to evaluate the environmental impact fully, as <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/national-forest-trump-logging-tongass-%202645476974.html" target="_self">EcoWatch</a> reported at the time.</p><p>The roughly 9 million acres that the administration wants to open up now have been protected since the 2001 by the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, or Roadless Rule, which prohibits construction in nationally protected wild areas, according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/24/tongass-national-forest-trump-administration-logging" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>. The U.S Forest Service is expected to release a full environmental impact statement later on Friday, saying that lifting the rule will not damage the 16.7 million-acre temperate rainforest in southeast Alaska. The administration will consequently revoke the Roadless Rule and move forward with plans to lease the land for logging.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQzODc5OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NTAyNzY2MX0.SZTIW9byPmjJzEqUrAY4midPIAU14f50liCctiggGcI/img.jpg?width=980" id="c3d9b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="646dd5c09a8e4f58d9f702f13abedff5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Aerial view of the Tongass National Forest. Alan Wu / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
<p><br></p><p>The drive to open up Tongass National Forest to logging, as well as energy and mineral exploration, started in 2018 when Alaska's Governor Bill Walker asked the federal government to consider removing protections for the forest. While Alaska's senators have supported the idea, environmental advocates have criticized it, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/environment-juneau-bill-walker-forests-alaska-14542223458790b775b98c1384cb333a" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AP</a>.</p><p>The U.S. Forest Service evaluated several plans, including more moderate ones that would maintain protections for 80 percent of the forest and another that would have opened up logging and road construction to 2.3 million acres. The Forest Service, however, decided to fully remove the Roadless Rule protections and open 9 million acres to developers and loggers, according to a <a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2020/09/24/us-department-agriculture-releases-final-environmental-impact" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">statement</a> from the Department of Agriculture, as The New York Times reported.</p>
<p>"This administration has opted to take the road well traveled by continuing to spend tens of millions of dollars every year to expand logging roads for a dying old-growth timber industry," said Andy Moderow, a director for the Alaska Wilderness League, in a statement, as The Guardian reported. "This is bad for people, bad for a sustainable economy and bad for <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildlife">wildlife</a>."</p><p>Earthjustice, an environmental legal-advocacy group that successfully stopped development in Tongass in March, said it would fight the plan in the courts. Katie Glover, an attorney for Earthjustice, said, "We will use every tool available to continue defending this majestic and irreplaceable national forest," as the AP reported.</p>
<p>Scientists have also criticized the plan, saying that Tongass is one of the world's largest carbon sinks, absorbing nearly 8 percent of the greenhouse gas pollution that the U.S. emits. Scientists also note that cutting down the old growth trees will put trapped greenhouse gases back into the atmosphere, which is particularly imprudent when the world is grappling with increasingly severe heat waves and wildfires triggered by the climate crisis, as The New York Times reported.</p><p>"The Forest Service's environmental impact statement is junk science on assessing the impacts of releasing the carbon," said Dominick DellaSala, chief scientist and president of Geos Institute, a nonprofit organization that studies climate change, to The New York Times. "They are saying that the carbon that would be released by logging the timber is insignificant. There's no science that supports their analysis."</p><p>That sentiment was echoed by Randi Spivak, public lands director at the Center for Biological Diversity, who vowed to fight the lifting of the Roadless Rule, as the AP reported. She said in a statement that the new plan will pour "gasoline on the inferno of climate change. These towering ancient trees take enormous amounts of carbon out of the air and we need them now more than ever. We'll do everything possible to keep these magnificent giants standing for centuries to come."</p>
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Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg protests in front of the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm on September 25, 2020. Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP / Getty Images
By Ruby Russell and Ajit Niranjan
Hamstrung by coronavirus lockdowns, frustrated school strikers have spent months staging digital protests against world leaders failing to act urgently on climate change.
<p>Today they are <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-global-climate-strikers-take-on-inactive-leaders/a-55039689" target="_blank">taking to the streets once more</a>.</p><p>The Fridays for Futures movement, which started with activist Greta Thunberg skipping school to sit alone outside the Swedish Parliament in 2018, has become a global youth force calling for climate justice. But a surge in support last year was hobbled after coronavirus lockdowns closed schools and kept children at home. </p><p>The protest on Friday is the group's first global action since the pandemic struck and follows meetings between prominent activists and world leaders. Last month, Thunberg and three other climate activists presented German Chancellor Angela Merkel with <a href="https://climateemergencyeu.org/#letter" target="_blank">a letter signed by nearly 125,000 people</a> demanding EU leaders "stop pretending that we can solve the climate and ecological crisis without treating it as a crisis."</p>
<p>They have called for an immediate halt to investments and subsidies in fossil fuels and, in Germany, pressured the government to bring forward its deadline to phase out coal from <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/germany-approves-coal-phaseout-by-2038/a-54040605" target="_blank">2038 to 2030</a>, and to go carbon-neutral by 2035 instead of 2050.</p><p>Line Niedeggen, a physics student at the University of Heidelberg and Fridays for Future spokesperson, believes Germany has a responsibility to lead on climate action. Historically it has been one of the world's <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/climate-emissions-paris-agreement/a-55044341" target="_blank">biggest carbon emitters</a>, she says, is also rich enough to adopt cleaner energy systems, and last month it adopted presidency of the EU Council.</p><p>"We have to use this role as the leader of one of the biggest emitters in the world to start a change of direction because, scientifically, 2020 is the last year we can make changes to actually reach 1.5 degrees," Niedeggen told DW. </p>
Pandemic Stalls Protests
<p>Last November, the head of the UN Environment Program was among the public and scientific figures to warn that 2020 offered a last chance to cut emissions. Then, few could have suspected this deadline would coincide with an unprecedented public health emergency.</p><p>The pandemic has <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/tough-times-ahead-for-climate-protesters-during-corona-pandemic/a-52978469" target="_blank">dealt climate activism a blow</a>. Niedeggen says that as a movement demanding that the world act on scientific advice, the school strikers took lockdown restrictions extremely seriously, halted public protests immediately and took their activism online.</p><p>On April 24, Fridays for Future organized a "digital strike," with Niedeggen hosting a that racked up close to a quarter of a million views. "We were not physically standing together, but we were all fighting together," she says.</p><p><a href="https://www.dw.com/en/climate-strikers-get-inventive-during-the-covid-19-crisis-fridays-for-future/a-53229262" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Activists also gathered thousands of placards</a> from across Germany to lay out in front of the German Bundestag around the central slogan: "Fight every crisis."</p><p>Still, corona inevitably pushed <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/life-after-coronavirus-we-can-shape-a-totally-different-world/a-53496208" target="_blank">climate change down the agenda</a>, and according to a poll conducted by Postbank only 6% of German 16 to 18-year-olds joined an online strike, compared to nearly a third who had been to a physical Fridays for Future protest.</p><p>Elsewhere in the world, the shift to online activism may have been even more damaging.</p><p>Fatou Jeng, a climate activist from Gambia, says that in Africa, school strikes are anyway less effective than they are in Europe, although they have inspired other action. Her own activism has mainly focused on conservation work, planting trees to protect vulnerable coastlines, and educating communities about climate change. </p><p>Most of these activities have had to stop as a result of COVID-19, and while Gambian activists have continued to use digital means to pressure those in power, "the provincial areas which are more vulnerable to the impact of climate change don't really have access to the internet," Jeng told DW.</p>
Opportunity for a New NormalÂ
<p>Last September's Global Climate Strike drew young and old protestors around the world, with organizers estimating a global turnout of 7.6 million, including an estimated 270,000 people in Berlin. Activists have adjusted this year's event to account for social distancing and different levels of coronavirus restrictions in cities taking part.</p><p>They say COVID-19 also presents opportunities.</p><p>"The pandemic shows that we can change our normal daily life, and we are very able to adjust to a situation of crisis," she says. The key question is how economies get back on their feet: "We have the possibility to build a new normal, to build a renewable world order, and an environmentally just, climate-just normal for everybody."</p><p>In July, Jeng was among 20 female Fridays for Future activists from the Global South to sign an open letter to G20 finance ministers warning that their decisions in "exclusive backrooms" over stimulus packages and corporate bailouts would "lock in development pathways for decades."</p><p>"The system is not broken, it was built to be unjust. We don't need recovery, we need a reboot," the letter reads, stressing that "black people, indigenous peoples and people of color," have been disproportionately hit by the economic, climate and coronavirus crises. </p>Policy 'Not Quite There Yet'
<p>Figures on stimulus spending do not suggest their words had much impact. The ministers were criticized for failing to relieve the debt of poorer countries, and according to <a href="https://www.energypolicytracker.org/region/g20/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Energy Policy Tracker</a>, G20 countries by August had pledged $169 billion (142 billion euros) to fossil fuels since the beginning of the pandemic.</p><p>Katrin Uba, associate professor of political science at Uppsala University in Sweden, is researching Fridays for Future. She says that despite the movement raising awareness and gaining access to policymakers, real policy change "is not there yet."</p><p>Still, she stresses that social movements go through waves of mobilization as public attention on their core issues ebbs and flows. And perhaps one of Fridays for Future's biggest achievements is birthing a politically active generation that will keep the fight up long after corona becomes a memory. </p><p>"We know clearly from our research that many of the people who came to the streets hadn't done any protesting before in their lives," she told DW. "And we also know that if you do one protest, you are likely to do more."</p>From Your Site Articles
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This fall brings three new environmental movies. David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet | Official Trailer
This week marks the official start of fall, but longer nights and colder days can make it harder to spend time outdoors. Luckily, there are several inspiring environmental films that can be streamed at home.
1. Kiss the Ground
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ccc5f0c92a5603e68aec39e56b0db02a"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K3-V1j-zMZw?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p><strong>Streaming On: Netflix</strong></p><p><strong>Premiere Date: Sept. 22</strong></p><p>Between <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/wildfires-california-washington-oregon-photos-2647585008.html" target="_self">wildfires devastating the U.S. West Coast</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tropical-storm-beta-landfall-2647760268.html" target="_self">storms battering the Gulf</a>, the impacts of the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate crisis</a> can feel overwhelming right now. <em><a href="https://kissthegroundmovie.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kiss the Ground</a> </em>offers an alternative to all of the bad news by focusing on solutions.</p><p>The film, directed by Josh and Rebecca Tickell and narrated by Woody Harrelson, explains how we can heal the Earth through "regenerative agriculture," farming practices that draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and into soil as a way to restore soil health, which in turn boosts ecosystems and food supplies.</p><p>"<em>Kiss the Ground </em>shows how feasible it is to make these changes at a grassroots level immediately and make a truly substantive impact with low cost and easy to implement solutions," Executive Producer RJ Jain said in an email. "This is why I got involved."</p>2. Public Trust: The Fight for America's Public Lands
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5338f7a2931e356910026e5fd76fac56"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jsKMTAaj_wQ?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p><strong>Streaming On: YouTube</strong></p><p><strong>Premiere Date: Sept. 25</strong></p><p>This <a href="https://www.patagonia.com/films/public-trust/" target="_blank">award-winning documentary</a> tells the stories of Indigenous activists, journalists, whistleblowers and historians working to protect America's <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/public-lands" target="_self">public lands</a>. The film focuses on three political struggles: the shrinking of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/bears-ears" target="_self">Bears Ears</a> National Monument in Utah, the mining of Boundary Waters Wilderness in Minnesota and the opening of the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/Arctic-National-Wildlife-Refuge" target="_self">Arctic National Wildlife Refuge</a> to fossil fuel exploration.</p><p><em>Public Trust</em> was directed by David Garrett Byars and produced by Jeremy Rubingh. Patagonia Films, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard and actor Robert Redford are executive producers. It will be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGjnIG7puzY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">released</a> on YouTube in time for <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/national-public-lands-day-2640656776.html" target="_self">National Public Lands Day</a>.</p><p>"Our country is fortunate to have millions of acres of public lands, including National Parks, Monuments, Wildlife Refuges and Wilderness set aside for future generations," Redford said. "Sadly, these lands that belong to you and me are under unprecedented threats from the greed of big corporations, eager to weaken restrictions in the pursuit of profits. Many of our current politicians are also to blame. <em>Public Trust</em> tells the story of citizens who are fighting back. It's a much-needed wake-up call for all of us who want to preserve our unique and wild cultural heritage."<br><br>It will be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGjnIG7puzY" target="_blank">released</a> on YouTube at 2 p.m. EDT Friday in time for <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/national-public-lands-day-2640656776.html" target="_self">National Public Lands Day</a>.<br></p>3. David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="156438a30836a765d7a92982545fc334"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B_OFZvAd05Y?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p><strong>Streaming On: Netflix</strong></p><p><strong>Premiere Date: Oct. 4</strong></p><p>Beloved nature broadcaster <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/David-Attenborough" target="_self">David Attenborough</a> has spent his career introducing viewers to the wonders of our planet. In recent years, his footage of albatrosses swallowing <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics" target="_self">plastic</a> in <em>Blue Planet II</em> has been credited with <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/2018-fighting-plastic-waste-2624606566.html" target="_self">helping to ramp up</a> the global fight against plastic pollution. Now, in this <a href="https://www.wwf.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">World Wildlife Fund</a> (WWF)-produced <a href="https://www.attenborough.film/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">documentary</a>, he reflects on the defining moments of his career and the devastating changes he has witnessed.</p><p><em>David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet,</em> which was also produced by Silverback Films and directed by Alastair Fothergill, Jonnie Hughes and Keith Scholey, features an intimate conversation between Attenborough and Sir Michael Palin as the broadcaster reflects on his life and a career that took him to every continent on Earth. In addition to streaming on Netflix, the movie will be available in select theaters starting Sept. 28.</p><p>"For decades, David has brought the natural world to the homes of audiences worldwide, but there has never been a more significant moment for him to share his own story and reflections," WWF executive producer Colin Butfield said in a <a href="https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/david-attenborough-life-our-planet" target="_blank">statement</a>. "This film coincides with a monumental year for environmental action as world leaders make critical decisions on nature and climate. It sends a powerful message from the most inspiring and celebrated naturalist of our time."</p>From Your Site Articles
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Amazon Employees for Climate Justice walk out and rally at the company's headquarters to demand that leaders take action on climate change in Seattle, Washington on Sept. 20, 2019. JASON REDMOND / AFP via Getty Images
The world's largest online retailer is making it slightly easier for customer to make eco-conscious choices.
<p>Amazon announced Wednesday that approximately 25,000 products will receive a "Climate Pledge Friendly" designation to guide customers toward products that are helping the retail giant meet its commitment to be carbon neutral in 20 years, as <a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-com-climatechange/amazon-launches-climate-friendly-program-to-help-shop-for-sustainable-products-idUKKCN26E0TB" target="_blank">Reuters</a> reported.</p><p>Amazon noted that the label will apply to a broad range of products. In a <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005297/en/Amazon-Launches-%E2%80%98Climate-Pledge-Friendly%E2%80%99-to-Make-It-Easier-for-Customers-to-Discover-and-Shop-for-Sustainable-Products" target="_blank">press release</a>, the company said, "Climate Pledge Friendly selection includes grocery, household, fashion, beauty, and personal electronics products, as well as items from a range of other categories — from brands including Seventh Generation, Burt's Bees Baby, and HP Inc. Climate Pledge Friendly products are clearly labeled in shopping results, have additional sustainability information on the product page, and are featured in a dedicated section of our store."</p>
<p>Amazon has been under increasing pressure from its own employees who have <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/amazon-employees-for-climate-justice-risk-2644930204.html" target="_self">risked their own careers to speak out</a> against the company's climate policies. The Seattle-based company has an enormous carbon footprint due to its commitment to speedy deliveries, its transportation emissions and its data centers, as Reuters reported.</p><p>A paper in <em>Environmental Science & Technology</em>, a scientific journal published by the American Chemical Society, found that going to a physical store actually has a lower carbon footprint than shopping on Amazon. That's due to the fact that people tend to buy just a few items online. When they go to a store, they are more likely to stock up and reduce the need for further trips. Also, the demand for faster shipping leads to inefficient packing and delivery routes, as <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/23/business/amazon-climate-friendly-products/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a> reported.</p>
<p>Environmental activists and people working to make delivery systems more environmentally friendly gave a lukewarm reception to Amazon's announcement and expressed concern that the label was a bit of "green washing."</p><p>"Some of the language is a little bit deceiving," said Alexis Bateman, director of the <a href="https://ctl.mit.edu/research/current-projects/sustainable-supply-chains" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MIT Sustainable Supply Chains Initiative</a>, as <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-tries-to-make-it-easier-to-identify-green-products-with-new-climate-pledge-friendly-label/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Seattle Times</a> reported. "Not to minimize the value of animal welfare, fair trade or fair wages." He added that just because a company offers fair wages does not mean it is eco-conscious or reducing its carbon footprint.</p><p>"That said, the fact that Amazon is doing anything in this space is just awesome, because when Amazon acts, then the pressure will be diffused across every actor that sells on their platform and is in competition with them, the biggest retailers and e-tailers of the world," Bateman added.</p>
<p>Other activists echoed the sentiment, viewing the label as a burden passed on to the consumer when the company could share the environmental impact of all its products or cut ties with companies that are not eco-conscious.</p><p>"While Amazon's sustainable shopping site is a good first step, it's not the level of ambition needed," said Jenny Ahlen, director of EDF+Business, a branch of the Environmental Defense Fund, in a <a href="https://business.edf.org/insights/amazon-takes-long-overdue-first-step-in-driving-sustainable-shopping" target="_blank">blog post</a>, as The Seattle Times reported. "Shoppers might be able to look through products with certifications, but what about the hundreds of thousands of other products sold on Amazon that don't have certifications. How will shoppers know what their impacts are?"</p>
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