Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the over 100 chemicals that occur naturally in marijuana, marketed for its wide therapeutic applications. CBD is mainly used for pain management.
Cannabidiol’s powerful analgesic properties are the primary reason CBD-based products are now available in sectors other than the health and wellness industry. Today, it’s not unusual to find plenty of CBD-infused sports and fitness supplements.
But as you’re about to find out, there are a lot more ways athletes can benefit from cannabidiol other than its pain-mediating effects. Read on as we unpack the six ways CBD may enhance athletic performance.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
CBD May Relieve Pain
Athletes typically put up with hours of rigorous workouts before hitting the tracks. These workouts have a way of inducing muscle pain and soreness.
Now, pain is the primary medical condition that CBD-based products may help to relieve.
Cannabidiol exerts its analgesic effects by impacting specific endocannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system. Studies have established positive interactions between CBD and vanilloid receptor, an essential endocannabinoid receptor noted for its crucial role in pain mediation.
CBD may also relieve workout-induced pain by increasing anandamide signaling. Anandamide is a neurotransmitter that plays a significant role in regulating the body’s natural pain mediation processes. CBD improves anandamide signaling by inhibiting fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), an enzyme notorious for degrading anandamide.
However, note that not all CBD products you come across will be effective in easing workout pain. To have better luck, be sure to invest in high-quality products by established brands like Pinnacle. Pinnacle CBD products from Sunday Scaries CBD have demonstrated a remarkable ability to enhance athletic performance.
Generally, the quality of CBD products depends on how the product was obtained. Experts usually root for products formulated with the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Extraction Method.
CBD May Ease Inflammation
Inflammation is an immediate response to the presence of foreign substances in the body. In the case of athletes, inflammation generally results from microscopic damages to muscle cells after periods of engaging in strenuous activity.
Numerous studies investigating the role of CBD in managing inflammation have yielded positive findings.
For instance, this study found that CBD may alleviate inflammation by blocking the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cytokines are the main chemicals involved in propagating the body’s inflammatory messenger activity.
Besides inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines, CBD may also promote T-cells’ apoptosis (death), another significant inflammatory marker.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
CBD May Increase Your Energy Levels
You’ve probably read in numerous publications how cannabis is an energy-boosting drug. What you might not already know is that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary chemical in weed that gives the plant most of its energizing properties. THC is also the chemical noted for marijuana’s psychedelic properties.
Now, most medical marijuana experts recommend CBD products formulated with significant THC levels. Such products are commercially sold as ‘full-spectrum CBD.’
Consuming full-spectrum CBD products allows you to synergize the therapeutic benefits of CBD and THC through a mechanism called the entourage effect.
However, remember to consider products formulated with legally accepted THC levels.
CBD May Alleviate Anxiety
Sometimes, anxiety is the only thing that stands in the way of winning a crucial match. Anxiety can cloud an athlete’s mind and cause them to make potentially career-ending blunders.
Consuming CBD before hitting the gym or the tracks can make a world of difference in easing performance anxiety.
CBD alleviates anxiety by inhibiting the stress hormone cortisol. The compound may also boost serotonin signaling.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in mental health. Low levels of this hormone have been observed in people with anxiety and depression.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
CBD May Promote Muscle Recovery
Have you ever heard of the term delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS)? Well, if you’re a professional athlete, the chances are that you’ve probably experienced DOMS time without number.
DOMS refers to the muscle pain and soreness that sets in within a day or three of engaging in strenuous workouts.
DOMS usually resolves on its own. However, it can set you back with your workouts or even hamper your performance in a match while it lasts.
Cannabidiol is a potent vasodilator. When consumed, the compound dilates blood vessels, increasing the flow of oxygenated blood and nutrients to the sore muscles, speeding up recovery.
CBD may also relieve DOMS through its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
CBD May Aid Sleep
Every athlete requires at least eight hours of restful sleep every night. The longer, the better.
Sleep promotes the self-healing of damaged muscles and joints, allowing athletes to prepare for the day ahead.
Studies have shown that consuming cannabidiol before bedtime might aid sleep.
CBD is a sedative. As such, it may boost sleep by shortening sleep latency.
CBD also promotes sleep duration. That’s mainly due to the compound’s ability to reduce or shorten rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the sleep phase characterized by vivid dreaming.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
Final Word
As an athlete, there are numerous ways you may benefit by integrating cannabidiol into your health and fitness routine. Just ensure to go slow on the compound.
While CBD has a better safety profile than many herbal extracts, an overdose might prove counteractive.
