Are you looking for everything about CBD oil for athletes? If yes, you have come to the right place. Athletes’ bodies go through tremendous amounts of stress and are prone to multiple types of physical trauma and wear and tear. Most athletes often struggle with pain and inflammation in their muscles and joints, which can negatively impact their performance.
Over-the-counter pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication have countless side effects and are only short-lived solutions to the problem. Consequently, scientists are looking at using CBD oil for athletes to help them be more comfortable and pain-free on the field
What CBD Really Is?
Cannabidiol, popularly known as CBD, is of the many compounds found in the cannabis plant. It is a close relative of the marijuana plant. However, it does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the compound of the hemp plant that causes the characteristic “high.” CBD has therapeutic effects on the human body, and research has proven it to be safe as well as recommended for chronic pain relief as well as stress and anxiety. There are also studies that have shown the positive impact of CBD on epilepsy and diabetes.
Recently, CBD has garnered immense popularity all over the world, and ongoing research continues to prove its practical uses and benefits. CBD has also recently become popular in the sports world as pain-stricken athletes desperately seek relief from physical pain and stress without long-term side effects.
How Do Athletes Benefit from CBD?
Athletes in the sports world are some of the biggest supporters of CBD. This is because of the countless benefits it has for them and because it is a practical, natural pain relief supplement that they can legally intake. Under sports federations and governments around the world, CBD is not performance-enhancing oil, which is why it is so popular among athletes.
One of the main properties of CBD that is most beneficial for athletes is that its pain-relieving. As mentioned above, with rigorous training routines and jam-packed tournament schedules, the intensity of physical activity can impact an athlete’s body and cause unwanted pain. This pain does nothing but hold an athlete back from giving their hundred percent on the field. Medicines like fentanyl and ibuprofen are usually the prescribed course of treatment in such situations. However, all of these have long-term side effects which can reduce the lifespan of the athlete.
Using CBD oil for athletes struggling CBD oil for exercise and recovery with an old injury resurfacing or post-workout muscle soreness has proven effective on multiple occasions. This is because CBD is a natural solution to pain relief because of how it is received by the endocannabinoid system in the human body. This system controls the signals sent to the brain, and, with CBD, it focuses more on the signals that promote happiness and a feeling of well-being.
Another area where CBD is beneficial for athletes is stress management. Athletes undergo intense amounts of not just physical stress but mental stress as well. Competing at professional levels and worrying about not letting your team or your country down can harm their mental health, causing anxiety and stress.
Because CBD is famous for its therapeutic properties and its ability to promote feelings of happiness and well-being, athletes make use of it to alleviate their stress. As mentioned before, this is primarily because of how CBD reacts with the endocannabinoid system in the body and promotes the production of the “happy” chemicals called serotonin and dopamine.
Additionally, reports show that CBD oil helps athletes sleep better at night. This alleviates stress and anxiety and helps athletes get a good night’s sleep before a competition or a big game. Besides using CBD before and after a big match or training session, athletes also prefer using CBD oil during long and boring training or exercises. This is because CBD also has the potential to improve concentration and help athletes stay focused while maintaining a pleasant mood.
Moreover, athletes use CBD oil for post-workout recovery. After an intense workout, the human body tires out and is at risk of developing inflammation which can be a discomfort and hindrance for an athlete. Along with other supplements for muscle repair, like protein, athletes use CBD for its anti-inflammatory properties. This helps athletes reduce the number of rest days they take in between workouts.
What Type Of CBD Products Are Most Useful for Athletes?
While CBD oil may be the most commonly used CBD product by athletes, there is a wide variety of products that they can choose from according to their routines, workout plans, and schedules. Athletes use CBD as vitamins which they take as supplements on a regular basis. They also use CBD-infused massage creams, which are applied directly to the sore or inflamed muscle to help it heal quicker. These topical creams are especially effective on fresh sores and injuries and can provide relief.
On the other hand, athletes also have CBD-infused sports drinks at their disposal. These are most commonly in use during workouts or games because the CBD digests quicker and, hence, shows its effect quicker. CBD sports drinks are also an excellent replacement for regular sports drinks because they are natural. CBD-infused coffee and tea are also famous in the sports world and people take them alongside a heavy breakfast or late at night to curb the late-night snack cravings and help with weight management.
A Final Word
CBD oil for athletes is one of the most significant breakthroughs in the sports world. CBD can easily replace traditional medicines because it is 100% natural. There are a plethora of mental and physical benefits of using CBD as an athlete without any side effects. However, we know that CBD is closely related to THC, which is why it is still likely to show up on drug tests and get an athlete into trouble. This can happen if there is even the slightest infusion of THC in your CBD product. Therefore, specialists recommend always buying your CBD products from a reliable and reputable brand such as Procana that has accurate claims on its label and has also passed third-party lab tests.
Also read: CBD Oil for Exercise and Recovery
