Can CBD Help Improve Athletic Performance?

 

Athletes all over the world over have been on a search for safe, effective ways to control pain and alleviate certain issues that could negatively affect their performance. Countless products are on the market, ranging from over-the-counter remedies to prescription medications, that claim to provide numerous health benefits and other advantages for athletes. Of course, not all of them live up to their promises. Some can even be dangerous and cause harmful side effects.

With all that in mind, quite a few athletes, medical experts, sports officials, and other authorities began to look into the potential of CBD for pain relief and other helpful effects. It’s showing a great deal of promise, and many athletes swear by it, making it a welcome addition to the world of sports medicine.

What Is CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound found in marijuana and hemp plants. It’s one of many cannabinoids, or cannabis derivatives, that have been discovered over time. Along with THC, its well-known psychoactive counterpart, it’s accompanied by terpenes, flavonoids, and other chemicals that can alter its effects in several ways. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t generate any psychoactive effects on its own.

Along those same lines, you may be asking, “What is CBD oil?” As the name indicates, it’s an oil that contains cannabidiol. It can be pure CBD oil or a carrier oil that has been infused with CBD. It’s used in a long list of products from edibles and drinks to tinctures and topicals. You can also purchase CBD oils as standalone products.

 

 

Does CBD Offer Benefits for Athletes?

Studies show that CBD can certainly offer many benefits for athletes. Those who are already using CBD-based products agree with the research. At the same time, it doesn’t appear to produce any negative side effects to contend with unlike many of the other products on the market.

• Pain Relief. Being an athlete means dealing with pain in numerous forms. From tired, achy muscles and overworked joints to sprains and other serious injuries, you’re no stranger to discomfort. Millions of people currently use CBD for pain, and many of them are seeing significant results. Some studies also show that it may raise the pain threshold, so you can power through the pain more easily.
  
• Treats Inflammation. Inflammation is another common issue among athletes. It can affect the joints, muscles, and many other areas of the body. It’s a major source of pain and causes swelling, soreness, and even limited mobility. CBD has been shown to reduce and, in some cases, help prevent inflammation. That makes it effective for arthritis pain relief, asthma, skin irritation, and numerous other conditions.
  
• Speeds Recovery. Because of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties, it can aid in shortening recovery times following injuries. This applies when using CBD for joint pain and strains as well as muscle injuries to name a few. It can even promote muscle gain by reducing inflammation following workouts and allowing the muscle fibers to heal more efficiently.
  
• Promotes Sleep. CBD is a well-known sedative. In fact, many people who use CBD products do so to battle insomnia. As an athlete, getting a good night’s sleep is essential to your performance and endurance as well as having a clear head during training and competitions.
  
• Combats Anxiety. One of the most common uses for CBD products is to alleviate anxiety. Medical opinions vary on exactly how it helps with anxiety, but many believe it aids the brain and body in equalizing serotonin and dopamine levels. Whether you live with ongoing anxiety or suffer from pre-competition nervousness, CBD may provide calming and mood-enhancing effects.
  
• Improves Immunity. Some research suggests that CBD oil may have the power to help strengthen the immune system. It has been found to increase white blood cell production in certain cases. That makes the body more capable of fighting off infections and illnesses.

As you can see, CBD offers a broad range of benefits for athletes. It can improve your performance on the field and in the gym while setting you up for better health and mental well-being in every aspect of daily life.

 

 

Understanding the Different Types of CBD Products

If you’re thinking of trying CBD for pain relief or help with other issues, you have quite a few options to choose from. You can buy CBD topicals, edibles, and tinctures. Edibles are baked goods, gummies, lollipops, drinks, frozen treats, and other products that are infused with CBD. CBD tinctures come in droppers and are designed to be used sublingually, or under the tongue.

Several topicals are also available. Those are the products that are meant to be used on the skin rather than ingested. You can buy CBD cream for joint and muscle pain as well as to treat skin issues. This type of product allows you to target the site of the pain or inflammation directly.

CBD roll-on gel is also an option. You can apply it to the affected area without getting it on your hands, and it absorbs quickly. Some say the best CBD creams and roll-ons are the mentholated ones because of their hot and cold sensations, but that’s largely a matter of preference.

How to Use CBD Oils

Understanding how to use CBD oil is the key to maximizing its benefits. If you choose to purchase CBD oil and mix it into various products on your own, keep a couple of things in mind. First off, oils come in different strengths and varieties. In most cases, higher strengths mean you can use less product to achieve the desired effects.

Full-spectrum CBD oil has all its natural terpenes and other accompanying compounds intact whereas isolates only contain CBD. Experts point out that the best CBD oil for pain relief is the full-spectrum variety because all those compounds work together to provide more powerful, longer-lasting effects.

While the best CBD topicals work well for combating pain and inflammation, many people prefer ingestible forms of the compound. They’re the ones that can help strengthen the immune system and ward off insomnia and anxiety.

You can add CBD oils to foods and drinks or buy CBD tinctures. The best CBD oil tinctures work more quickly than other options and often provide more noticeable results because they absorb directly into the bloodstream.

 

 

Improve Your Health and Performance with CBD

Considering the many benefits of CBD, athletes around the world are choosing it over the endless list of marginally effective and potentially harmful alternatives. Back in 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency and US Anti-Doping Agency took the compound off of their list of prohibited substances, so there’s no risk of being disqualified or penalized for using CBD oil.

Whether you’re looking for a top CBD cream to reduce joint and muscle pain or CBD oils and tinctures for oral use, your performance and overall health are bound to improve as a result. Check out your full range of options, and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have.