CBD for Athletes: What Every Athlete Should Know About CBD
Whether you’re an athlete who enjoys mild to extreme movement and exercise, or are simply passionate about overall wellness, CBD may be able to offer the support to help bring you to the next level.
According to an emerging but growing body of research, the array of cannabinoids, including CBD, has the potential to offer support for post-workout muscle soreness and recovery.
Today we wanted to dive into more about the many potential benefits of CBD for athletes, both pre-workout and post-workout.
Why Do Our Bodies Experience Soreness After A Workout?
Experiencing soreness after a workout is an everyday experience for many people, especially for athletes who tend to push the boundaries of what they’re capable of achieving. Muscle soreness, sometimes called Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), may result from:
A higher intensity workout
A prolonged workout
Exercising more often
Introducing a new exercise or style of movement
How Long Will Post-Workout Soreness Last?
Many experts believe that muscle soreness results from microscopic tears in the muscle fibers during a workout. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) believes that muscle soreness appears around 12-24 hours after working out. It then peaks in the intensity of soreness around 24-72 hours, followed by an easing of the discomfort after this time.
Using CBD Pre-Workout
Before the workout even begins, there are some strategies you can implement that may encourage a more successful workout, along with a more satisfying post-workout recovery. Depending on the type of athlete you are, you might already be familiar with the necessity to hydrate, carbo-load and get a good night’s sleep. After all, if you’re suffering from a lack of zzz’s, you won’t perform to your potential during your strenuous exercise.
But, believe it or not, feeling rested isn’t the only reason a good night of sleep matters.
And this is why we always say your pre-workout CBD routine should begin the night before your planned activities.
During sleep, when your body is in a non-REM sleep cycle, protein synthesis increases which helps muscles overworked during exercise. Glycogen–a fuel reserve that also helps promote healthy blood sugar levels–is also produced while you sleep. Since glycogen acts as such an effective fuel for your muscles, a lack of it can keep you from reaching your potential performance.
Many people take a variety of pre-workout approaches to help support healthy inflammation response, deal with occasional stress, and prepare for muscle recovery post-workout, and it’s certainly not uncommon for some of those products to contain CBD.
How To Use CBD for Post-Workout Soreness and Muscle Recovery
The array of cannabinoids, including CBD, has the potential to offer support for post-workout muscle soreness and recovery, but much research is still needed to know the full potential of this wonderful plant-based compound. An emerging but growing bank of research is starting to add to decades of anecdotal evidence on its many balancing properties.
As always, consult with a trusted healthcare provider when making big decisions about your health and wellness because, ultimately, it’s up to you to be as informed as possible about your choices.
How To Use CBD for Post-Workout Soreness and Muscle Recovery
The array of cannabinoids, including CBD, has the potential to offer support for post-workout muscle soreness and recovery, but much research is still needed to know the full potential of this wonderful plant-based compound. An emerging but growing bank of research is starting to add to decades of anecdotal evidence on its many balancing properties.
As always, consult with a trusted healthcare provider when making big decisions about your health and wellness because, ultimately, it’s up to you to be as informed as possible about your choices.
How to Best Use CBD to Support Post-Workout Recovery
CBD post-workout comes in the form of tinctures and capsules. The most popular in this bunch internally are CBD tinctures. You place the drops of CBD oil in the mouth and then swallow.
If you’re a bodybuilder, or you’re looking to combine CBD, muscle growth, and athletic performance, you’ll likely need to do a little bit of trial and error. There are many factors that contribute to athletic performance. It’s best to do your research and consult with a professional to find out what strategies are best for you. When infused with other botanicals, some CBD products may promote a calmer mind, relaxation that may ultimately support more restful sleep, so consider if these may be a great addition to your post-recovery routine.
So, CBD For Athletes? Yes!
CBD for athletes might seem like a new trend, but it has shown promise in the world of post-workout recovery. If you’re looking to support your performance and take your fitness to the next level, give CBD oil a try.