CBD For Athletes. What is CBD and How Can It Help?
Everything You Need To Know About CBD For Athletes
CBD has been touted for its wide array of potential benefits; one of the most notable are its ability to reduce pain and inflammation in the body. While reducing pain and inflammation is something that benefits most people, it is especially beneficial for athletes or those who are working to increase their overall fitness.
What is CBD and How Does It Work?
CBD, otherwise known as cannabidiol, is one of over 100 known cannabinoids found in hemp. Research has shown that CBD works within the body’s endocannabinoid system, a network of preexisting cannabinoid receptors, to help regulate necessary bodily functions such as sleep, chronic pain, and also inflammation. It is thought that CBD interacts with the existing CB1 and CB2 receptors within the endocannabinoid system to positively influence the regulation of such functions.
Yep, you read that right. Your body has naturally occurring cannabinoids which are responsible for regulating the above mentioned sleep, appetite, mood, and even your body’s response to inflammation and pain management. Much like your body’s naturally occurring cannabinoids, the cannabinoids found in hemp (CBD, THC, CBG, etc) attach to or interact with these receptors to signal the various responses.
So what does this mean for muscle recovery?
CBD For Muscle Recovery
Inflammation + Pain
Now that we have a better understanding of how CBD works, what does that mean for athletes and muscle recovery? Well, the truth is that CBD's effect on muscle recovery and residual soreness post-workout could be potentially significant.
A good workout will cause tiny, microscopic tears within your muscles. This is an important part of muscle growth and is the cause of the ‘sore’ feeling you experience after an intense workout otherwise known as ‘delayed onset muscle soreness’, or DOMS. In short, DOMS is caused by natural inflammation created in your body which is meant to help your muscles heal after physical activity. While this response within the body is completely normal and necessary for muscle recovery, for those that may be performing intense and physically demanding workouts frequently, this response could lead to excess inflammation in the body which may actually hinder muscle recovery and growth over time.
As studies suggest, CBD may be extremely helpful in reducing inflammation throughout the body which may actually be able to shorten the recovery time between workouts to promote muscle healing and overall growth. This means you can be back in the gym faster and feeling better sooner.
Aside from experiencing DOMS, many athletes may begin to experience chronic muscle or joint pain over time. In addition to reducing inflammation in the body, studies have also reported CBD’s ability to reduce chronic pain, including joint pain. If you are someone who suffers from chronic pain, you know how that can affect your workouts. CBD’s potential ability to reduce pain, especially joint pain, is great news for any athlete.
CBD For Sleep
As most of us know, sleep is the time when our bodies heal and recover from the day’s activities. This includes muscle recovery. In fact, most of our muscle recovery occurs at night while we sleep. This means that in order for our bodies to recover faster, we need to be getting high quality sleep at night.
One of the most common reasons people choose to take CBD, is for the numerous studies showing how CBD may be an effective sleep aid. As we mentioned, CBD works within the endocannabinoid system which is responsible for regulating our sleep-wake cycles, or circadian rhythm. Additionally, CBD also helps to calm your central nervous system to aid in falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer, which can result in a better night's sleep for optimal muscle recovery.
Infact, a lack of sleep over time can lead to things like cortisol increases, reduction of testosterone in the body, as well as a reduced amount of muscle stem cell growth which can have a negative impact on overall muscle recovery.
Will CBD Get You high?
Unlike THC, the active compound in marijunana, CBD is a non-psychoactive compound and will not make you high. Legally, all CBD should contain no more than .3% THC and many CBD brands choose to remove all traces of THC from their formulas meaning THC should not show up on a drug test and you will not feel any psychoactive effects.
Is CBD Safe and Legal For Athletes?
Yes! CBD was removed from the banned list of substances by the Anti-Doping Agency in 2018. However, it is always important to check that you are purchasing THC-Free CBD and to also review your state’s regulations regarding CBD as policies can vary from state to state.
How Much CBD Should I Take For Muscle Recovery?
How much CBD each person needs will be unique to them. Generally speaking, it is recommended to start with a smaller dosage, 5-10 mg daily, and increase from there as needed. It is also worth noting that CBD will build up in your system over time and it may take anywhere from a few days up to a few weeks to begin noticing a change.
Which Type Of CBD Should I Choose?
There are many CBD options available today with new brands popping up daily. While it is wonderful to see CBD becoming something more and more people have access to, it can lead to a bit of confusion when trying to determine which brand or method of ingestion is right for you. Here are some things to look out for when choosing which CBD is right for you:
When choosing the right CBD for you, it is important to first decide what type of CBD you are looking for. There are three different forms of CBD:
- CBD Isolate - consists of 99.9% pure CBD with no other beneficial compounds suchs a terpenes, flavonoids, and fatty acids.
- Full Spectrum - considered to be whole plant contraction, containing all of the additional cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and fatty acids that have been shown to be beneficial, as well as up to .3% THC. Because full spectrum CBD contains so many other beneficial compounds, it is known to provide the ‘entourage effect’.
- Broad Spectrum - similar to full spectrum CBD in that it also provides the entourage effect, leaving the beneficial cannabinoids, flavonoids, and fatty acids intact but all THC has been removed.
Other things to look out for:
- 3rd Party Lab Tested - this means that an independent party has tested the CBD oil to ensure its potency, purity, and quality.
- Organically farmed - it is always a good idea to choose certified organic or organically farmed CBD products whenever possible
- Nanoemulsion - this relates to the size of the CBD droplets found in your CBD oil. The smaller the size, the higher the bioavailability of the CBD meaning that you will get the most out of your oil.
- Non-GMO
Once you have decided which form of CBD is right for you, now it’s time to choose your brand. During your CBD search, you may notice that different brands focus on different customer needs. It is always a good idea to choose a brand that aligns with you, that offers CBD products based around your specific needs. When it comes to choosing a CBD brand with fitness in mind, there is one brand that stands out among the rest: Nanocraft.
All Nanocaft products are formulated with organically farmed CBD, 3rd party lab tested, and are processed using a proprietary process to transform the oil into nano-sized emulsions for increased bioavailability. The higher the bioavailability, the more able your body is to process and benefit, meaning the less you need to take!
Here Are Our Top Nanocraft Product Picks:
Energy + Recovery Powder
This Phytocannabinoid-rich post workout powder is packed with broad spectrum CBD that is THC-Free, phytocannabinoids, amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants, and vitamins to boost endurance and joint health while promoting a healthy complexion.
Get it here for $59.00
Super Strength Pain Stick
Formulated with 500 mg of Broad Spectrum CBD, along with essential oils and soothing herbs to provide targeted pain relief during recovery. This pain stick comes in an easy to apply stick for targeted and effective application to areas of discomfort.
Get it here for $59.00
Pure CBD Oil Formula
Simple, and straightforward, this CBD oil contains 750 mg of THC-Free CBD to help improve overall fitness and well being. This formula is free of any additives or GMOs and is deliciously flavored with ginger and citrus. We recommend taking this tincture sublingually (under the tongue) for fast acting effects.
Get it here for $69.00
SoftGel Capsules
Formulated with 25 mg of broad spectrum CBD in each capsule, these softgels are a great option for anyone looking for the full benefits of CBD without the hassle. In addition to THC-free CBD, each capsule contains over 40 naturally occurring terpenes and phytocannabinoids for maximum benefit.
Get it here for $79.00
Considering CBD’s benefits for athletes and little to no side effects, CBD seems to be an excellent option for anyone looking to improve their physical fitness by reducing DOMS as well as chronic pain. Source Fitness is proud to offer CBD for athletes for sale that offers all of the benefits of CBD and is crafted specifically for athletes.
Shop all CBD for athletes here and use code FITCBD10 for 10% off.
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