Although athletics may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of cannabis, it can be beneficial for players. Working out while stoned does not sound like the most acceptable plan ever. But, it can help your body perform better in sports. This is because cannabis includes hundreds of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.
Talking of cannabinoids, one of its most active compounds is CBD or Cannabidiol. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural substance found in the resinous flower of the cannabis Sativa plant, which has a long history of use as a medicine. It is safe, non-addictive, and does not have any psychoactive effects. CBD dissolves in our body in various ways and has medicinal properties, which people have studied for ages. Since CBD is derived from the hemp flower, which is the sister plant of marijuana. When consumed alone, it does not give a high.
For decades people have been using CBD to cure various physical and mental ailments like insomnia, anxiety, chronic pain, and more. It is available in multiple forms such – as oil and tinctures, capsules, gummies, etc.
With hemp becoming more widely available and more nations moving towards the legalization of recreational cannabis. But do you know CBD from https://cbd.co/lazarus-naturals can boost your sports performance? Yes, it can. Let us know how!
CBD and Sports Performance
CBD has recently piqued the public’s curiosity, as indicated by an exponential spike in online searches for ‘CBD’ in the United States (USA). Despite the lack of published studies proving therapeutic impacts on sport or exercise performance, several professional athletes appear to be utilizing CBD. Hence, it is proven that CBD helps enhance performance in sports. Following are the benefits of CBD –
Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage (EIMD)
When exercise becomes too vigorous and strenuous, it potentially harms skeletal muscle myofibrils and the extracellular matrix enclosing them ultrastructurally. The damage caused due to the practice weakens the muscle functions and causes excessive inflammation, which may lead to muscular discomfort and a slower healing process.
CBD has an anti-inflammatory process. CBD has been shown to reduce immune cell buildup (neutrophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages), enhance anti-inflammatory cytokine production, and impede pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species production. In addition, human research demonstrates that anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen have little effect on EIMD, inflammation, or pain. CBD can be taken orally or directly applied to the affected area, accelerating the healing process.
Mental Health
In sports, the significance of focus and attention is self-evident. Some athletes use pre-workout CBD pills to boost engagement which may aid concentration by lowering stress and anxiety. Anyone suffering from anxiety can experience distractions, which is very harmful to sportsmen. Anxiety can impair decision-making abilities, attentiveness, and self-confidence, which are crucial for peak sports performance. In addition, sportsmen may encounter anxiety of the dread of performing poorly, the pressure to perform well, the fear of injury, and career instability.
CBD is known to have anti-anxiety properties that react with various receptors in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and help suppress anxiety, resulting in better performance.
Improves Sleep Quality
According to research, a good night’s sleep and enough rest are crucial for optimum sports performance and recuperation. The body may regenerate and repair the damaged muscle fibers while sleeping. CBD also helps to modulate sleep patterns, resulting in better sleep quality and duration.
Helps in Weight Management
CBD helps to manage and maintain weight by curbing appetite. An athlete needs to intake the best foods and supplements to enhance durability and performance. CBD can assist you if you struggle to keep to a diet or wish to lose weight before the final big event.
While THC is known for causing terrible “hunger pangs,” CBD is said to have the opposite result. It’ll help you feel satisfied for longer by decelerating your hunger and slowing down your digestion. It may also enhance insulin function, making you feel better after eating and lowering your risk of overeating.
Clinical studies are also required to see if CBD affects appetite and eating habits in humans, specifically during the pre-and post-exercise phase when nutrient provision is vital.
Acts as a Pain Reliever
Post-workout and pain always go side by side. If the pain is neglected, especially the one caused due to tissue damage, it can prevent any activities. This can adversely affect performance. Athletes Sportsmen may benefit from having CBD in their recovery kits in comparison to other pain medicines like opioids or NSAIDs on the market. Drugs like these have more detrimental effects than beneficial effects on the human body. On the other hand, CBD is generally low-risk and has no adverse effects.
CBD oil’s anti-inflammatory properties have led to research suggesting it may be helpful in treating certain forms of pain and coping with the regular wear and strain that their bodies go through. In the studies mentioned earlier on CBD’s ability to reduce inflammation, they reported that CBD effectively reduces chronic and neuropathic pain.
CBD is set to become a safer alternative to the pain killers of the new century.
Concussion Protection
Almost 6-36 % of athletes suffer from concussions more than once, putting them at risk for long-term neurodegenerative disorders. Concussions are mild traumatic brain injuries in which a biomechanical force disrupts regular brain activity for a short period, resulting in neurological, intellectual, and psychological signs and symptoms.
Studies have shown that CBD reduces anxiety and aggression, depressive-like behavior, impaired social interactions, pain-related behaviors, and brain biochemical abnormalities.
Final Thoughts
CBD is sweeping the sports world, providing athletes with a unique and effective way to improve their performance. It might represent a watershed moment in how sportsmen heal from workouts and ensure their optimum performance.
There is so much to understand about how CBD works and how athletes might benefit from it. However, preliminary research reveals that CBD has several advantages that may be particularly beneficial to athletes. There are numerous paths of research, ranging from lowering pain and inflammation to assisting in the return of the adrenal glands to balance. With a little more research, we could see many more post-workout recovery products, including CBD and pre-workout energy boosters with CBD.