Cannabidiol (CBD) has gained a lot of popularity in recent years among active individuals and athletes. CBD is derived from the cannabis plant, and it showed that it offers a wide variety of therapeutic advantages without any psychoactive effects. This is why CBD has emerged as a go-to supplement for numerous athletes for relieving pain, enhancing recovery, improving focus and managing other issues that active people might face during competition or training.
In this article, we will explore more about the intriguing world of CBD and its benefits for athletes.
What is CBD?
CBD, or Cannabidiol, is one of the 100 active compounds found in the cannabis plant, generally known under the name of cannabinoids. Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the one that produces high and intoxicating effects, but that is not the case with CBD. Instead, CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system of the body, which can regulate various aspects, including mood, pain sensation, inflammation and memory. CBD mimics the natural effects of endocannabinoids produced by the body, and in this way, it supplements the low levels.
Currently, cannabidiol is usually obtained from the hemp plant, containing less than 0.3% THC, which makes it legal in most places and available in numerous forms like edibles, oils, topicals, capsules and many more.
If it is appropriately taken, CBD can have therapeutic benefits without causing any impairment and dependency. This is the reason why athletes have started to add it to their routines to increase their recovery and have a natural performance enhancement.
Benefits of CBD for your body
Any professional athlete will tell you that there is no substitute for passion, discipline, and hard work. These qualities, along with others like the ability to cope with stress, resiliency, and humility, make up one of the most important qualities a successful athlete must have. Cannabidiol will not be a miracle supplement but something that can help you enhance these attributes. And no, CBD will not make you an unbeatable machine if that is what you were thinking.
Although there needs to be more research to understand the full capabilities of cannabis, the studies that exist currently have discovered some critical benefits of cannabis, including:
Furthermore, for athletes seeking alternative wellness options, exploring CBD-infused products like mood edibles could offer a natural way to support overall well-being and enhance performance.
Improve sleep cycles
Athletes should sleep seven to nine hours, but they usually get six and a half hours or even less. Numerous factors can interfere with sleep quality, including travel, rigorous training, insomnia caused by anxiety and stress, and excessive screen time.
Unfortunately, sleep deficits can have adverse effects on performance because they can affect psychomotor vigilance, cognition, reaction times, alertness and moods. If you are an athlete looking to improve your sleep pattern, then it might be good to try CBD. Of course, CBD will not force you to put your phone away before you go to bed, but it can create the ideal internal vibe for a good night’s sleep. If you want to see if CBD has a positive effect on your body, you can try something from the many products you find on the market. Or, you can grow your own cannabis with the help of feminised seeds. They are the perfect option for beginners, as these seeds produce buds no matter the conditions and they don’t require special care.
Reduce anxiety and stress
What exactly is stress? Stress appears when your body releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, also known as stress hormones. Stress can occur for many reasons, including mental, physical, and emotional pressure. Any person who has competed professionally has surely felt that emotional pressure, as it is part of the game.
The problem of stress is when it develops into anxiety and becomes a constant in your life with no relief. Unfortunately, stress can lead to several health problems and disorders in the long run. And that is not something you want to happen, especially if you have an active lifestyle. So, you should prioritise your mental and emotional health as well as you do with your physical well-being. CBD is known for having a considerable effect on reducing your stress and anxiety.
Pink Kush CBD 30:1 Auto can be a good option if you want to take your first steps into CBD, as it can reduce anxiety and depression because it imparts an uplifting and energising euphoria, increases the focus and makes creativity flow.
Better gut and digestive health
Experts in the field of athletic performance and nutrition have pointed out numerous times that you can’t have good performance if you have a bad diet. If you fuel your body correctly, you will offer it all the nutrients it needs to deliver the high performance you demand and have the ability to repair afterwards. However, hydrating well and eating the right foods will not guarantee that the ingredients will be absorbed and digested well by your system because for that to happen, you will need top-notch gut health.
Gut health refers to your microbiota, which represents the community of microorganisms present in your gastrointestinal tract. Even if it sounds hard to believe, there are more than 100 trillion microorganisms in your body. That means a lot of zeros! The good news is that together, all these microorganisms impact your metabolic, immune, and neurobehavioral functions.
Yes, eating healthy food matters in this aspect, but sometimes your body also needs a helping hand, and this is when CBD can be a viable solution.
Athletes who use CBD
CBD has become so popular also with the help of pro athletes who have started to advocate for CBD use. CBD is handy for contact sports, where injuries are very common because it can offer a source of relief. David Ahrens and Ryan VandenBussche are some of the athletes who consume CBD. The list can continue with Nate Diaz, an MMA fighter, and Derrick Morgan, an NFL player.
As you can see, CBD can bring many benefits to the life of athletes.