Can CBD Support Your Body During Exercise in the Heat? Insights from a Recent Study

If you’ve ever gone for a run on a hot summer day or taken part in a workout class in a stuffy gym, you’ll know how quickly the heat can take its toll. Your heart races, you sweat buckets, and recovery seems twice as difficult. But what if something as simple as a CBD oil supplement could help your body cope better with the effects of heat and physical exertion? A recent clinical study has taken a closer look at that exact question - and the results might surprise you!

When Exercise Meets Heat: A Perfect Storm for the Body

Working out in high temperatures or even extreme heat pushes the body into overdrive. As your muscles work harder, your internal temperature also rises. To keep you from overheating, your body activates its built-in cooling system: sweating. But that’s just one part of the story.

Behind the scenes, heat and exertion trigger a cascade of reactions that go far beyond surface-level sweat. The gut lining can become temporarily more permeable (sometimes called "leaky gut"), which allows bacterial fragments to enter the bloodstream. In response, the immune system kicks into gear, launching an inflammatory reaction that further enhances stress on the body. This natural, short-term response is normal - but in extreme cases or when it happens over and over again, it can contribute to longer recovery times, fatigue, and even illness.

This is where researchers have started to ask: could cannabidiol (CBD), a compound derived from the hemp or cannabis plant, known for its antiinflammatory properties, play a supportive role?

How did the Study Work?

A group of scientists set out to explore how CBD affects the body’s thermoregulation (its ability to manage heat) and immune response during exercise in hot conditions. The study involved 13 recreationally active men, all of whom exercised regularly and were in good cardiovascular shape.

Each participant took part in two sessions of treadmill exercise in a controlled hot environment (32°C and 50% humidity), once after ingesting 298 mg of pure CBD, and once with a placebo. They exercised for one hour at a moderate intensity (60–65% of their peak oxygen uptake), designed to replicate a typical training session in challenging heat conditions.

Throughout the session, researchers measured body temperature, heart rate, sweat loss, and how participants felt. They also collected blood samples before and after the physical activity to measure specific markers related to gut stress and immune response.

What Did the Researchers Discover?

The first important finding was that CBD did actually not affect core body temperature or how much participants sweated. This means that CBD didn’t interfere with the body’s natural ability to regulate temperature and to cool itself down during exercise - which is a good thing.

But while it didn’t change thermoregulation, CBD did seem to make a difference in how the immune system responded to the workout.

Post-exercise, the researchers noticed that participants who had taken CBD showed a smaller increase in certain inflammation-related markers, particularly IL-6 and CD14. IL-6 is a cytokine - a type of signaling protein the immune system uses to coordinate responses - and it's known to spike during physical stress. CD14 is involved in immune activation and tends to rise when the body detects bacterial fragments, like those that might leak through a stressed gut lining.

While these changes were small, they suggest that CBD may help modulate how the immune system responds to physical stress, without shutting it down or interfering with recovery.

Why Do These Results Matter?

Exercise-induced inflammation is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it's a normal - even beneficial - part of training and helps the body adapt and grow stronger. On the other, excessive or prolonged inflammation can make recovery harder, cause fatigue, and potentially increase the risk of illness.

In hot environments, these effects can be even more pronounced. For people who train in warmer climates, work outdoors, or simply enjoy summer workouts, even a small reduction in exercise-related stress could improve how they feel after training.

CBD has already attracted interest in the world of wellness for its potential to support relaxation, stress resilience, and recovery. While more research is still needed, studies like this add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that CBD might help the body respond more calmly and efficiently to stressors like heat and exercise.

CBD Isolate vs. Full-Spectrum: What Was Used?

It’s important to note that this study used CBD isolate - a purified form of CBD that contains no THC or other cannabinoids. This is especially relevant for athletes and professionals who may be subject to drug testing, as THC is banned by the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA).

If you're looking to explore CBD without the presence of THC, CBD isolate or CBD broad-spectrum products like our Harmony CBD Oils are straightforward options that offer consistency and peace of mind.

How to Incorporate CBD Products Into Your Recovery Routine

While everyone’s body is different, a good starting point for oral CBD (for example using CBD oil or CBD gummies) is to begin with a low daily dose - around 10 to 20 mg - and observe how your body responds over the course of a week. From there, you can gradually increase if needed.

For those who are physically active, taking CBD about 60–90 minutes before a workout may offer an opportunity to observe its effects on focus, recovery, or general well-being. Others may prefer using it in the evening to wind down and support rest and a good night's sleep.

Of course, CBD is not a cure or a performance enhancer. It works best when seen as one piece of a broader wellness routine that includes proper hydration, sleep, and nutrition, along with stress management.

CBD Oil: A Companion for Hot Temperature Workouts?

This new research offers an interesting glimpse into how CBD may support the body during challenging conditions like exercising in the heat. While it didn’t change how the body cooled itself, it did appear to gently influence immune activity, suggesting a potential role in helping the body manage stress more smoothly.

As always, more studies are needed - especially in larger and more diverse groups - but this piece of research adds to the emerging conversation around CBD and exercise. If you're someone who trains hard, works out in warm environments, or simply wants to explore new ways to support your recovery, CBD might be worth a closer look.

Curious to learn more? Reach out with any questions - our team is here to help!

Sources

[1] Johnson DA, Cable TG, Funnell MP, Peden DL, Thorley J, Ferreira DA Cunha M, Reynolds KM, Harris L, Wood M, Chavez-O'Reilly T, Carrington J, Bailey SJ, Clifford T, Heaney LM, James LJ. Effects of Cannabidiol Ingestion on Thermoregulatory and Inflammatory Responses to Treadmill Exercise in the Heat in Recreationally Active Males. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2025 Feb 1;57(2):413-424.