While an athlete is training for a ski competition, the stress that the muscles undergo leads to adaptation and improved performance. However, the muscles also suffer from physical strain and prolonged wear that result in injuries and pain.
CBD has been seen to be a safer and more effective pain reliever and enhances sports recovery. It is far better because it barely has any side effects while the other methods have adverse effects. The main concern has now become whether CBD is appropriate for athletes.
The Legality of CBD for Athletes
From the beginning of 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) declassified CBD as a prohibited product both in and out of the competition. Even the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) followed suit. However, it is worth noting that only CBD was removed from the list of prohibited substances. THC, which is the psychoactive derivative of the marijuana plant, is still banned in completion and the same applies to other synthetic cannabinoids.
Benefits of CBD for Athletes
Athletes exert excessive pressure on their body, resulting in more pain and inflammation than their endocannabinoid system can deal with. Consuming CBD could help the overwhelmed system to cope and the athletes to maintain homeostasis.
Here are some of the benefits of CBD for athletes:
Minimize inflammation
Some level of inflammation may have a positive effect as it can stimulate adaptation to training. However, too much inflammation will have a negative effect, hindering training and interfering with recovery. Cannabinoids bind to CB2 receptors, which are more concentrated in the immune system, although they are also in the brain and periphery, to produce an anti-inflammatory effect. They do so by lowering the production of cytokine (cell messengers). What this means is that when CBD binds to CB2 receptors, it helps to regulate your body’s response once the immune system sends an alert after intense exercises.
As an athlete, you can try CBD products to help you with handling post-training inflammation and for other benefits. You can check the website for more information on where and how to buy high-quality CBD products at great prices.
Alleviate pain
According to studies, cannabis, which typically has a high THC concentration and a little bit of CBD, can effectively alleviate pain. These pains include the exercise-related musculoskeletal pain as well as stiff joints. But there is little research on the efficacy of CBD alone or a 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC. However, even without much evidence, it is clear that CBD is effective in helping to relieve pain for the majority of athletes.
Improve the quality of sleep
Athletes can reap greater benefits from training if they have more and better quality sleep. From shared personal experiences, athletes who consume CBD indicate that they have greater ease falling asleep and enjoy a more restful sleep. One way that CBD promotes sleep is due to its anti-anxiety effect, which helps people to have a calm mind, fall asleep faster, and have a more restful sleep. CBD also relieves stress, which helps you sleep well.
The Bottom Line
CBD has proven to be of much help to endurance athletes mainly by reducing inflammation and relieving pain that results from intense training and competitions. It also helps athletes with recovery from injuries and improves their sleep, all of which contribute to better training and performance. However, athletes need to look for trusted CBD product brands to avoid doping violations due to excess quantities of THC or other unauthorized substances.
