Cannabis is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about sports and working out, but research is uncovering that CBD may be one of the most helpful cures for post-workout recovery. Believed to help with everything from inflammation to chronic pain, the hemp-sourced compound’s popularity has surged in recent years.

Recovering and Rebuilding Muscle

Most fitness enthusiasts and athletes are aware that downtime is vital for successful post-workout recovery. Muscles develop microtears during exercise—a normal part of working out. However, the time it takes the body to heal these tears is nearly as important as the actual workout.

During the post-workout recovery process, the body adapts by repairing any damaged muscle fibres, and making them stronger. If further and consecutive bouts of resistance exercise is consistently undertaken, providing you are eating enough protein and quality calories, muscular hypertrophy can then occur. But as athletes well know, muscle recovery is not all fun and games. Intense workouts trigger the body’s natural inflammatory response resulting in DOMS (Delayed onset muscle soreness) DOMS is painful and has the potential to keep you on the bench or away from the gym until it resolves. If you haven’t heard of DOMS before, or are worried about any muscle pain that you encounter after your workout, we recommend that you read an expert guide on DOMS by clicking here. Needless to say, it is important for any athlete to recover from exercise-induced muscle pain so that they can properly continue with their training.

Active people don’t like sitting on the sidelines or missing out because of tired and sore muscles, and most have a medicine cabinet full of things they have tried to minimize their recovery time. Traditional pain meds like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or stronger narcotic drugs all have the potential to be damaging to the body. This is where CBD comes in.

Could CBD Help You Recover Faster From Your Workout?

The key to recovering after a grueling workout is to reduce the inflammatory response in the body. Research has shown that phytocannabinoids like CBD may offer a terrific way to treat muscle fatigue and soreness. As a potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic, CBD has gained a positive reputation in the professional sports world, and unlike medical cannabis, it can be obtained legally without a medical marijuana card.

Cannabis contains over 100 beneficial compounds, but the two that get the most press are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Marijuana is cultivated for medicinal and recreational use and contains the psychoactive chemical THC. THC is responsible for the high that users get when they smoke or ingest a cannabis product. CBD, on the other hand, is sourced from hemp that contains no psychoactive ingredients, but many of the same benefits as medical cannabis.

How Does CBD Work to Minimize Post Recovery Time?

Every mammal has an endocannabinoid system (ECS). This vital and complex system has only been discovered and researched within the past couple of decades. The ECS is responsible for maintaining homeostasis by creating its own cannabinoids that interact with receptors located throughout the brain and body. This vast network of receptors controls a host of biological processes including inflammation, pain perception, mood, memory, sleep, appetite, and much more.

Researchers now know that cannabinoids sourced from plants can improve this process by mimicking the body’s own cannabinoids. Sometimes the ECS needs an extra push, and this is where CBD can improve the response the body has to pain, inflammation, and fatigue. This can significantly decrease post-workout recovery time as well as enhance athletic performance.

How Do You Take CBD?

CBD can be found in a variety of forms. Products like CBD oils and tinctures, sports creams, and soft gels are ideal to add to your recovery plan. CBD oil taken sublingually is one of the most effective methods, but salves and creams can also help by delivering targeted relief to the areas of soreness. Both of these methods work relatively fast.

CBD edibles and beverages can take a little longer to work as they must pass through the digestive tract, however, if time is not a concern, these can also be effective in eliminating pain and inflammation.

When you first begin using CBD, start with a small dose and build up from there. With CBD, more is not necessarily better, and even small doses can have a significant effect on the ECS. If you don’t see the desired results immediately, increase your dose slightly each day until you feel better. No matter what form you choose, CBD is a terrific addition to your pre-and post-workout routine. Not only is it incredibly safe, but it also has very few side effects and is gentle to the body.

Is CBD Legal?

At the Federal Level, CBD has been legal since the passage of the farm act of 2018. Individual states retain the right to interpret the law as they wish. In most places, you will not have any difficulty obtaining the compound, but there are a few states that have lagged behind the times with legislation. When in doubt, check your own state regulations before purchasing CBD.

Where Can I Purchase CBD?

It is likely you have seen CBD products in infomercials, advertisements, and even in your local gas station. In fact, CBD is literally everywhere. But it is important to note that it is still largely unregulated by the FDA so there are many substandard products for sale on the open market. It is important to educate yourself about what you are planning to ingest before you make a purchase

CBD Review sites like CBD Best Review work hard to take the guesswork out of finding the safest and most potent CBD. They carefully review and research each brand and judge them based on a very specific set of standards. The source of the hemp must be disclosed, extraction and manufacturing methods are researched, and most importantly, third-party lab results are evaluated.

As research efforts surrounding cannabis continue, CBD may well prove to be the remedy of choice when it comes to a host of conditions. When it comes to post-workout recovery, thousands of people agree that is has helped them get back in the game faster.