- Relieves stress
- Soothes discomfort and tension
- Maintains calmness
- Promotes recovery
- Works with the endocannabinoid system
- Improves focus and mood
- Increases stamina and endurance
- Improves wellness
- CBD will not get you high
- No long term side effects
Athletes apply greater stress to their bodies daily, leading to more discomforts and tensions. CBD can provide athletes with relief, recovery, and focus, making it a new (legal) secret weapon.
The use of CBD in athletes is a controversial topic, with some organizations banning it outright, and others limiting THC content to the legal 0.3%. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) permits CBD use for Olympic athletes. We suggest athletes wanting to use CBD research guidelines permitting the use of CBD in their sport before starting use.
Extract Labs suggest athletes try our CBD Muscle Cream for relief and restoration from discomfort and tension or our CBD Isolate for that extra boost, which can easily be mixed into a pre-workout smoothie or drink.
CBD is the non-psychoactive compound in hemp and will not get you high.
CBD is a natural alternative for one's wellness routine. Currently, there are no long term side effects that have been found with CBD.
Are you ready to take your athletic performance to the next level? Look no further than CBD! CBD for athletes is gaining popularity for its potential benefits. From reducing discomfort and tension to improving recovery and focus, CBD may be the secret weapon you never knew you needed. So, put down the ibuprofen and join us as we explore the top 10 reasons why athletes should give CBD a try!
1. Reducing Anxiety?
CBD may help reduce stress, which can help athletes perform better under pressure. Studies have researched if CBD acts on the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating mood and other bodily functions, to help reduce feelings of stress. (2) CBD promotes a general feeling of well-being and relaxation, and may also help to alleviate discomfort, which can be a source of stress for athletes.
2. Helping with Pain?
Many athletes consume over-the-counter drugs to help with the aches and pains they experience.
Unfortunately, a lot of these drugs like NSAIDS are not as safe as they were once thought to be. That’s why many athletes are turning to alternative options, like CBD. Unlike NSAIDs, CBD is a natural compound that may offer similar relief benefits without the risk of harmful side effects.
So, if you’re an athlete looking for a safe and effective way to soothe discomfort, tension, and enhance your performance, CBD may be worth considering. (1) Just be sure to speak with a healthcare professional before adding it to your routine and make sure to purchase high-quality products from reputable sources, like Extract Labs lab-tested, high-quality CBD.
3. Improving Sleep?
CBD may help improve relaxation for athletes. Reports suggest that consuming CBD may aid in falling asleep more easily and help maintain sleep. This may be due to CBD’s potential to inhibit the reuptake of adenosine, leading to faster accumulation of the substance and inducing sleep. CBD may also have stress relieving effects for some individuals, contributing to restfulness (3).
4. Reducing Inflammation?
Soothing discomfort and tension can be beneficial for athletes in moderate amounts, promoting positive training adaptations. However, excessive discomfort can negatively impact recovery and performance. CBD may help regulate this discomfort through its binding to CB2 receptors, which are more concentrated in immune tissues. This binding may lead to a reduction in cytokine production, resulting in a soothing effect. In simpler terms, CBD can help “quiet” the immune system response after intense workouts. (4)
5. Helping the Central Nervous System?
The central nervous system (CNS), consisting of the brain and spinal cord, controls the communication and perception within the body by transmitting signals through its nerves and neurons. When there’s increased activity within the body, the CNS is more active and vice versa. Sports that involve resistance movements, such as weight training, can be demanding on the CNS. Over time, this excessive demand can result in decreased firing power and a loss of strength.
Athletes experiencing CNS burnout may feel slower and weaker during exercise, and if left unaddressed, their muscles can become unresponsive to normal neuronal firing.
Thankfully, CBD may be beneficial for the CNS. It may help synchronize neural signaling and balance pre- and postsynaptic neurotransmitters. CBD may also support the preservation of the myelin sheaths surrounding nerves. (5)
6. Improving Focus and Mood?
CBD may help support focus and alertness, which can be beneficial for athletes during competition. It is generally thought that if you improve your sleep and stress levels, your focus and mood could be improved.
7. Increasing Stamina and Endurance?
CBD has been suggested to have potential benefits for increasing stamina and endurance in athletes. The compound has tension relieving properties, which may help soothe discomfort and tension caused by intense physical activity, allowing athletes to perform for longer periods of time. CBD may also help regulate the body’s response to stress, which can increase mental focus and clarity, allowing athletes to better perform in high-stress situations.
More research is needed to fully understand how CBD may impact stamina and endurance in athletes. It is important to note that every person’s body reacts differently to CBD, so it is important to start with a low dose and to consult with a healthcare professional before starting CBD.
8. Improving Heart Health?
Studies have researched CBD’s potential effects on blood pressure and circulation. CBD has been studied for improving recovery and wellness, which puts less stress on the body and potentially can lower the risk of heart disease. Additionally, CBD may help to relieve stress, which is a known risk factor for heart disease (6). However, it is important to note that more research is needed to fully understand the effects of CBD on heart health.
9. CBD Will Not Get You High
Cannabidol is non-psychoactive and thus does not get you “high”. It does not have the same mind-altering effects that THC does. Athletes should be very careful when selecting a CBD product, as some may contain higher amounts of THC than others. A broad spectrum or isolate product will be the go to if you want to avoid THC altogether.
10. Long Term Side Effects
CBD is a natural alternative for one’s wellness routines. Currently, there are no long term side effects that have been found with CBD. If you are taking any other medications, you should check with your doctor about potential interactions with CBD.
How to Use CBD | CBD for Athletes
Athletes may consider incorporating CBD into their routine to help manage discomfort, tension, or stress. If the athlete is subject to drug testing, it is recommended to choose a broad spectrum or isolate product as they contain minimal or no THC, the psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant. This will ensure that they avoid a positive test result for THC.
When using CBD, it is important to start with a low dose and gradually increase as needed, as every person’s body reacts differently to CBD. It is also important to choose a high-quality product from a reputable manufacturer and to consult with a healthcare professional before starting to take CBD, especially if the athlete is taking any medications or has a pre-existing medical condition.
Athletes may consume CBD in various forms, including oils, tinctures, capsules, and topicals, depending on their personal preferences and specific needs. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use and to store the product properly to maintain its potency.
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So, Are You Going to Give CBD a Try?
Incorporating CBD for athletes into a routine can have numerous benefits, including soothing discomfort and tension, promoting a restful night, relieving stress, and supporting recovery. CBD is a natural alternative to traditional tension relieving methods, which may have negative side effects, and it doesn’t have any psychoactive properties, so it won’t affect athletic performance. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, taking advantage of the benefits of CBD can help you perform at your best and reach your goals. So, don’t be afraid to give it a try and see for yourself why so many athletes are making CBD a part of their game plan!
More CBD Industry | CBD & The World Stage
CBD on the World Stage: Cannabis and Sports
Works Cited
1. Halawa, Omar I., et al. “Chapter 56 – Role of Cannabinoids in Pain Management.” Science direct, 2018, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323401968000565. Accessed 1 2 2023.
2. Henson, Jeremy D., et al. “JCM | Free Full-Text | Enhancing Endocannabinoid Control of Stress with Cannabidiol.” MDPI, 2021, https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/24/5852. Accessed 1 February 2023.
3. Murillo-Rodriguez, Eric, et al. “Anandamide Enhances Extracellular Levels of Adenosine and Induces Sleep: An In Vivo Microdialysis Study.” Oxford Academic, 2003, https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/26/8/943/2707921. Accessed 1 2 2023.
4. Nagarkatti, Prakash, et al. “Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs – PMC.” NCBI, 2009, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/. Accessed 27 January 2023.
5. Prenderville, Jack A., et al. “The role of cannabinoids in adult neurogenesis.” NCBI, 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4543605/. Accessed 1 February 2023.
6. Stanley, Christopher P., et al. “Is the cardiovascular system a therapeutic target for cannabidiol?” PubMed, 2013, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22670794/. Accessed 1 February 2023.
