The Impact of CBD On Athletic Performance
CBD before a workout or game could have lasting benefits. CBD can help athletes to get the edge in their performance and recovery.
CBD has had a lot of airtime in the last few years, showing signs of growth to become a $2 billion industry by 2022. CBD products find their way into homes across the United States and can be applied to various aspects of day-to-day life. One consideration that might surprise you is how CBD can be beneficial to athletes. It makes a lot of sense when you take into account the various purported benefits of CBD.
So, how might something like a CBD recovery drink affect the performance of an athlete?
CBD: Always Something New
CBD has been around for a long time as a natural therapeutic but remained misunderstood until just after the 1960s. Recent studies have shown that CBD has several medicinal uses, such as pain management, among others. Lately, CBD benefits have expanded to include benefits such as helping with skin concerns and maintaining heart health.
CBD is a growing industry and has been spreading across the US and many other parts of the world. As CBD is a byproduct of the hemp plant, there are suggestions for an entourage effect. This effect, conceived in 1999 by researchers Dr. Raphael Mechoulam and Shimon Ben-Shabat, proposes that cannabinoids, such as CBD, work in synergy with other chemicals to work more efficiently. So, the entourage effect means the CBD can work in tandem with other cannabinoids.
There are still many studies concerning CBD benefits in general. But what about athletes? How might CBD oils, and recovery drinks aid them?
CBD for Pain Management
Recent studies into CBD suggest significant benefits to pain management beyond what has already been observed. Further analysis of CBD and other cannabinoids explores the potential benefits in various inflammatory, osteoarthritis, and neuropathic pains.
There are several examples of how CBD can help manage pain. In athletes, pain management is essential. Any strenuous activities will result in aches and may increase the time it takes for muscles and joints to recover.
Muscle aches and pain affect everyone, with the UK’s National Health Service stating that “Muscle soreness that shows up 1 or 2 days after exercising can affect anyone, regardless of your fitness level.”
CBD for Muscle Recovery
CBD can help an athlete in conjunction with other therapies to ensure proper recovery after an intense workout. CBD oils and other products can possibly reduce the pain of such recoveries and quickly become part of post-activity cooldowns alongside ice or compression therapies.
CBD is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. The soreness associated with muscle recovery comes from the actual tearing of muscle fibers. Muscle tearing is a natural part of strenuous activity, as those torn muscles rebuild and become stronger. It is this rebuilding process that creates pain and stiffness.
One of the most convenient ways to apply CBD daily is through personal care items such as creams. Because the skin is the largest organ of the human body, it is one of the best sites for absorbing compounds. Whereas an oral CBD supplement can take close to a half-hour to be absorbed by the blood, CBD topical compounds work far faster. These products can even have cosmetological use as well. CBD can also help with headaches and migraines.
CBD to Start Your Day
The increasing popularity of CBD and THC has resulted in it popping up in many ways, some expected, some surprising. CBD isn’t just the little brown bottle anymore. You can now find CBD in pharmacies, herbalists, and even supermarkets. The biggest retailer of CBD and your best source for CBD delivery services are still online, however.
For example, one potential CBD benefit for athletes, or just about anyone, is CBD as a coffee substitute. Studies suggest that CBD’s effect on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) can prolong the effects of other cannabinoids, such as the case of the entourage effect - this means instead of stimulating the body like a cup of coffee does, CBD can sustain a level of energy longer. It is the difference between the crash and burn of a jolt of caffeine and smooth, ongoing energy enabled by CBD use.
So with that in mind, a little CBD to start your day before a big workout or game could have lasting benefits. It is just something for athletes to consider to get the edge in their performance and recovery.
Image 1: https://unsplash.com/photos/rdgGNjj69zI
About the Creator
Tess DiNapoli
Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry and world of fitness.
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