How Athletes Can Benefit from Using CBD

CBD or cannabidiol is a compound found in cannabis. It’s a natural botanical compound extracted from the stalk and seeds of the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids are beneficial to the body without experiencing the high and they’re not addictive. They’re natural supplements that help with relaxation, health, and sports recovery. Fortunately, it’s legal in all 50 states.

CBD has been incorporated into the recovery regimen of fitness enthusiasts and professional athletes. CBD oil is commonly used to help reduce inflammation, chronic pain, relieve stress from competitions, and improve the quality of sleep.

Here are some of the benefits of using CBD for sports recovery.

1. Inflammation

Studies have shown that CBD reduces inflammation before and after exercise. This helps athletes recover faster, prevents muscle soreness, and therefore, sets the stage for more effective training, workouts, and performance.

2. Pain Relief

CBD is an analgesic which means that it relieves pain. It helps manage pain from sore joints, muscle aches, and even old injuries. 

3. Muscles

CBD is very effective in doctoring the muscles. It helps reduce the breakdown of lean muscle tissue and helps develop more muscle mass. CBD decreases catabolic hormones and controls the stress hormone known as cortisol. Cortisol breaks down the muscle tissue that supplies the body with blood sugar.

4. Nausea

Sometimes intense workouts re-route the blood flow from the stomach. This can cause nausea. CBD helps reduce this nausea.

5. Appetite

The more and harder you workout, the more calories your body requires. The additional calories aid in optimal recovery of your body. CBD oil aids in stimulating your appetite in a healthy way.

6.Cardiovascular

CBD reduces inflammation and lowers blood pressure. Because of this it may be an effective option for cardiovascular disease.

7. Muscle Spasms

Muscle spasms can result from damage to the nerves, muscle sprains, and dehydration. CBD oil can help reduce spasms.

8.Sleep & Relaxation

CBD supports quality sleep and healthy sleep cycles without causing drowsiness. Quality sleep aids in the recovery of the body, balances hormones, decreases fat, and recharges your mind and body for upcoming workouts and events.

What Form of CBD Should I Take?

Adding CBD supplements to your post-workout and recovery regiment can help boost your athletic performance. CBD can be taken in many different forms.

Here are some different ways to take CBD.

• Protein Bars

You can consume CBD while enjoying a snack. The CBD-infused protein bar will speed up the recovery process and help you relax. CBD bars obviously include plenty of protein and around 25 mg of CBD. These make a great snack for post-workouts.

• Tincture

CBD tincture comes in the form of a liquid. It’s taken in doses of ml with a dropper.  The liquid by itself can have a bitter taste so it helps to blend it with food or a beverage such as coffee, tea, honey, soup, dressings, honey, smoothies, cereal, and oatmeal. 

You can also place a few drops under your tongue. When taken under the tongue the body absorbs it faster. Taking too much of this will not lead to an overdose or give you a greater high. The same goes for smoking cannabis. You can’t get higher by holding the smoke in longer after inhaling it.

• Topical

If you don’t want to ingest CBD, you can apply it as a topical. Topical CBD can be applied directly to the skin and aids with aches and pains. Topicals will relieve pain and inflamed muscles. 

Topicals typically contain 200 mg of CBD and around four percent of natural menthol. Once you apply a thin layer over the sore area, you will feel a cool, numbing sensation that will relax the muscle and mind.

CBD can also be smoked or vaped but athletes typically take it either in the form of a protein bar, tincture, or topical.

Athletes put a lot of stress on their body. Prolonged wear and tear on the body can lead to chronic pain. Traditional methods of pain relief are effective but are not always the safest. NSAIDS and opioids come with a certain amount of risk. That is why more and more athletes are turning to cannabidiol or CBD. There are a variety of products and methods for incorporating CBD into your recovery sports routine. You just need to find what works best for you.