Unlocking the Power of CBD for Athletes: New Insights for Inflammation and Recovery
The Paris Olympics are over, but they left many of us motivated to tackle new workout challenges and push our bodies to the limits. Whether you’re lifting weights, running marathons, or engaging in high-intensity interval training - exercise, especially when it’s a new type or more intense than usual, can take a toll on your body. Inflammation, muscle soreness, and even the mental stress of staying in shape and maintaining peak performance can pose obstacles on your fitness journey. What if we told you that there was a natural supplement that might help you recover faster, reduce inflammation and even help you to be more relaxed? CBD (short for cannabidiol) — a compound extracted from the hemp plant, is rapidly gaining traction in the wellness world for its potential benefits. Today, we’re looking at insights from a new scientific publication highlighting the benefits of CBD For athletes.
What is CBD and How Does it Work?
CBD is one of more than 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Unlike its more famous cousin THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD doesn’t have psychoactive effects, meaning it won’t get you “high”. Instead, CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (in short “ECS”) in your body. The ECS is a complex network of receptors and enzymes that spreads all the way into your central nervous system and plays a crucial role in regulating everything from pain and mood to inflammation and immune responses.
This is why CBD may offer anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain-relieving), and even neuroprotective properties. Recently, the scientific community has become more and more interested in how this could benefit athletes, as these benefits could be particularly valuable for those who push their bodies to the limit through exercise on a regular basis.
The Science Behind CBD and Inflammation
Inflammation is our body’s natural response to injury or stress, for example from hard workouts, and a very common state for athletes to be in. Some acute inflammation is essential for healing and growing stronger muscles and bones, but chronic inflammation can lead to prolonged muscle soreness, overall slower recovery times and ultimately even long-term health issues.
Scientific evidence supports that CBD can influence the activity of specific small molecules that play a role in inflammation and act as an anti-inflammatory agent. This could mean faster recovery times and less muscle soreness after intense workouts, making it easier to stay on track with a training regimen.
CBD’s Role in Pain Relief and Muscle Recovery
After a tough workout, you can experience what’s known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) - a pain that can be anything from light to absolutely debilitating. DOMS can set in 24 to 72 hours after exercise, and they can make it painful to move and reduce your overall performance.
Studies looking into the application of CBD for DOMS and muscle recovery have shown that the compound can reduce inflammation markers 48 hours after exercise compared to a placebo. This could potentially reduce DOMS and speed up recovery.
Further, a combination of CBD, CBG (Cannabigerol, another cannabinoid), beta-caryophyllene (a cannabis terpene), BCAAs and magnesium was shown to reduce pain and discomfort from DOMS 72 hours after a hard workout. Another indicator of the value of CBD for getting you back on your feet and into the gym faster.
Mental Health: The Anxiolytic Benefits of CBD
Next to the physical aspects, many competing athletes also face mental challenges. Pressure to perform well in competition and anxiety can be almost overwhelming. And this is yet another point where CBD, known for its anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties, could be useful.
As mentioned before, the endocannabinoid system has a hand in regulating mood and stress responses. Several studies have shown that CBD can calm the mind, reduce anxiety and even improve sleep quality - all factors that are extremely important for performance and recovery.
What We Still Don’t Know
While all of this research data is extremely promising, we shouldn’t ignore that most of it comes from small-scale trials that maybe don’t allow us to see the full picture. CBD might benefit athletes in certain sports more than others, and doses might vary with the issues the athletes want to address.
One thing we can say is that CBD in small doses seems to be safe and well-tolerated. However, drug-tested athletes should make sure that the products they use don’t contain traces of THC, a compound still banned by many sporting associations.
Is CBD Right for You?
If you’re looking to recover faster from exercise or ease your anxious mind, CBD might well be worth looking into. It is, however, important to not expect any miracles and approach finding the right dose with patience.
We recommend you start with a low daily dose of 10-20 mg (that’s, for example, 1-2 sprays from one of our 1500mg CBD Relax Oils) and see how it makes you feel. From there, you can adjust your dose accordingly every few days until you achieve your desired results. Keep in mind that CBD, just like any other supplement, is just one piece of the puzzle in your wellness journey.
The Future of CBD in Sports
Using CBD as a sports supplement makes sense for a variety of reasons. Evidence suggests that it can reduce inflammation and pain, as well as improve mental well-being. We’re hoping to see more research on this topic in the future to better understand how the full potential of this powerful compound can be harnessed for athletic performance and recovery.
In the meantime, if you’re curious about trying CBD to recover faster and feel better but you don’t know where to start - just send us an email! We’ll be happy to help you unlock your full potential.
