28 Apr The Truth About CBD Benefits For Athletes

CBD shows great potential as a supplement for athletes of all levels. If you play sports or enjoy athletics of any kind, you know how easy it is to stress the body and suffer strains, sprains, and other painful injuries. 

CBD, or cannabidiol to use its full name is one of 113 currently identified cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. CBD is gaining attention because of its many positive health effects. Amateur and professional athletes alike are reaping the benefits of this non-psychoactive plant supplement. 

To fully understand CBD, more research is needed. We do know that it shows great promise in treating conditions that affect athletes, including inflammation, joint pain, and muscle soreness.

Here are three reasons you should consider the CBD benefits for pain relief and sports recovery.

1.   CBD provides non-psychoactive pain relief

Research shows that CBD helps relieve pain. People who frequently participate in intense exercise can experience pain in their joints and muscles. 

The welcome news is that CBD can be used without concern for misuse or dependence, which can happen with opioid pain relief. In fact, CBD products shows the potential for treating addiction to opiates. 

2.   CBD has anti-inflammatory effects

Our bodies need inflammation to help recover from injuries. Problems occur when there is too much inflammation because it can slow down or stop recovery and hinder performance.

Everyone has an endocannabinoid system that helps the body to maintain homeostasis or balance. CBD acts on this system by binding to specific receptors. This process triggers an anti-inflammatory effect by reducing the production of signaling proteins called cytokines. CBD limits inflammation by preventing the immune system from going into overdrive after a hard workout.

These anti-inflammatory effects can also benefit your digestive system. Intestinal discomfort affects athletic performance. Inflammation is a leading cause of gastrointestinal distress, and CBD could help to reduce the symptoms. 

3.   CBD improves sleep quality and anxiety levels

Quality sleep is essential for athletes. Better sleep leads to greater achievements during training and competition. 

CBD could help you to fall asleep in less time and increase your deep or REM sleep. Research found that in people with sleep disorders, CBD helped to reduce sleep disturbances and didn’t cause side effects. 

Some people find that their sleep patterns are disturbed due to anxiety. Many athletes have concerns over their performance, especially before competitive events.  CBD oil also helps to reduce anxiety, which, in turn, allows people to get to sleep quickly and enjoy deep, restful sleep.

Is CBD legal for athletes?

The World Anti-Doping Agency removed CBD from the list of prohibited substances in 2018. This happened because the CBD benefits are now widely recognized. The rules regarding THC are different, and most major sports still prohibit its use. 

Could CBD, Magnesium and MSM help your athletic performance?

CBD has impressive potential benefits as a pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, and sleep aid. You don’t have to worry about unwanted side-effects. CBD products could be exactly what you’ve been looking for to help you recover from training stress and to manage pain from sports injuries.

Magnesium and Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) powder make a powerful addition to CBD  to help with the recovery period after a strenuous work out or athletic event.  Improvement in exercise performance and tissue recovery has been observed in individuals with magnesium supplementation.  In animal studies, magnesium supplementation helped to regulate the accumulation of lactate in blood, delaying muscle fatigue.  Evidence from human studies taut the same results.  One study indicated a positive association of magnesium with maximum isometric trunk flexion, hand grip, jumping and rotation for male athletes.

MSM is a supplement that is proven to decrease joint pain and significantly reduce inflammation in the body.  MSM reduces the formation of inflammatory cytokines TNF-a and IL-6, helping to decrease systemic inflammation.  To help aid in sports recovery, MSM can significantly reduce exercise induced muscle damage.  It cam also help reduce pain after prolonged exercise. 

A CBD, Magnesium and MSM combination can be the perfect antidote for muscle soreness, painful joints, and prolonged sports recovery.