How Athletes are Using CBD to Recover
CBD has so many beneficial uses that it can be hard to keep track of them all! You can now add one more amazing use to that list as CBD is now gaining popularity with athletes, being used in a variety of ways to help improve performance and to help athletes feel better overall. Here is all you need to know about how many athletes, in all kinds of sports, are now using CBD.
Is CBD Allowed?
One of the first questions you may have about athletes using CBD is if it is even permissible in the world of organized sports. The answer is yes! The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has stated that using CBD is allowed for all athletes as it is not actually a drug. CBD does not contain excessive amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is the chemical responsible for the psychological effects that marijuana causes. When athletes undergo a drug test, THC is one of the chemicals that is usually being tested for and CBD will not typically cause a THC positive test.
There is a very small chance that extremely trace amounts of THC would show up on a professional drug test however, if the athlete discloses that they are using CBD, a very legal and permitted substance, it should not be a problem!
Why Athletes Should Use CBD?
When you work out or push your body in a physically challenging way, you break down muscle fibers which allows them to grow back even stronger. However, anyone who has ever had a challenging workout knows that this can be physically difficult! You may suffer from injury or simply sore muscles even if you are at a peak in your physical capabilities. Fatigue, stress and physical ailments can begin to plague any athlete.
Luckily, CBD can help with a lot of those symptoms, helping with everything from fighting muscle inflammation to improving your mood to giving you energy. These traits of the oil are all things that appeal to athletes especially as many of the benefits are immediate and other will help in the long run. Any athlete using CBD is on the right track! CBD for athletes comes in many different shapes and sizes, creams tend to be their top choice.
Reduce Pain
One of the biggest ways in which athletes are using CBD is to help reduce their pain. Pain caused by inflammation is the most common pain experienced by athletes since they are constantly pushing their muscles to the limit and sometimes getting injured in the process. CBD is known to help reduce inflammation, being used in a variety of pain reducing applications from helping reduce inflamed muscles to long term arthritis management.
To reduce pain, athletes can take consistent low doses of CBD, either ingesting it or using a CBD cream to apply directly onto the inflamed area. CBD has been shown to be safe for long term use in regards to helping with inflammation which is why it is perfect for athletes- they can safely use it after every workout, preventing inflammation related pain!
CBD for Sleep
After a long work out or before a big game, athletes may have trouble sleeping. A good night’s sleep is so important for an athlete in order to help them recover from the extreme physical activity they do day to day and also to give them more energy for the next day.
Whether the difficulty sleeping comes from pain, anxiety or another source all together, CBD can help. CBD helps your body maintain a state of balance and stability, both of which are needed to make you sleep. CBD has actually been tested and shown to improve insomnia and promote a restful, undisturbed night’s sleep. If you are an athlete, this can be a miracle! Eating a few CBD edibles or taking a CBD capsule about an hour before bed will help any athlete get a good night’s sleep.
Improve Mood
Almost everyone has struggled at some point with anxiety, stress or depression. All of these can hinder an athlete’s ability to perform their best. CBD has been shown to help with certain forms of anxiety and depression. The human body has many receptors in the brain which receive different signals from various stimuli. CBD is thought to interact with some of the receptors of the central nervous system and can alter serotonin signals, a neurotransmitter that is commonly associated with mood.
When CBD is ingested, it can improve one’s mood, reduce the feelings of anxiety and stress and lessen depression. This is all beneficial to an athlete who needs to feel their best on game day!
Ways to Take CBD
Since CBD is constantly becoming more and more popular, it is now available in many different forms. In fact, you can find new CBD products almost every week! You can ingest CBD by cooking with CBD oil or using CBD pills or capsules. It also is now available in many CBD sports drinks and recovery drinks which athletes may find quite appealing.
In addition, CBD is mixed into many different topical creams and lotions that can be applied directly to a part of the body that is injured or sore. Many athletes have said that the topical CBD products work faster than edibles as they do not need to be digested. However, the fastest way to get the immediate benefits of CBD is to place a few drops of the oil under your tongue or to use the CBD in a vaporizer to inhale.
How Much CBD an Athlete Should Use
The tricky part about using CBD is that there is no set quantity that you should use. Since every person differs, with their bodies reacting in different ways to CBD, it is hard to give a set dosage for each person and each athlete to try. All companies that sell and produce CBD products recommend that you start with a very low dose of CBD and then increase your dosage based on your personal effects and experience. The most precise way to consume consistent amounts of CBD is to take the capsules or use a dropper from a measured tincture. Track how much CBD you ingest and how it effects your athletic performance and then go from there!
CBD is a breakthrough in pain management and performance for athletes. This non-addictive, completely legal substance has so many benefits that athletes across the globe are taking advantage of its powers. Why not give it a try? Whether you are a casual runner or a professional football player, you should try CBD to help you heal, sleep better, feel better and so much more!
To learn more about CBD, visit CBD Education Online