Today’s world is seeing an incredible growth of legal cannabis products. Undoubtedly, the most popular of these products is CBD (cannabidiol). This natural product is now a common remedy to relieve the symptoms of many ailments. Many people also use CBD to improve different areas of their lifestyle and for a more holistic approach to their health. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of CBD for working out. Can cannabidiol improve your fitness experience? Keep reading to find out!
What Is CBD?
CBD (or cannabidiol) is one of cannabis’s most abundant chemicals (also known as cannabinoids). Like other cannabinoids, cannabidiol acts on your endocannabinoid system (ECS).
Even if you are not familiar with it, the endocannabinoid system was discovered back in the early 1990s. This system is incredibly important for your body’s proper functioning. The ECS regulates:
- Appetite
- Anxiety and stress
- Memory
- Mood
- Memory
- Pain
- Fertility
- Locomotion
Cannabis activates the endocannabinoid system via its cannabinoids and other chemicals that it contains. However, each cannabinoid has its own set of properties and, therefore, can trigger different effects. For example, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has psychoactive effects and is the main responsible for the cannabis “high”. On the other hand, CBD does not have any psychotropic effects. Moreover, it also blocks THC’s psychoactive properties. Furthermore, commercial cannabidiol comes from industrial hemp, which is a variety of Cannabis sativa that contains lower levels of THC and higher levels of CBD. On the other hand, marijuana usually refers to the cannabis plants that have higher levels of THC —and therefore have psychoactive effects. You can learn more about the differences between hemp and marijuana in this article. Finally, the highest amount of THC for cannabis-derived products is 0.3%. Hence, it is impossible to get high on CBD.
Common Uses of CBD
Although in this post we will mainly discuss the use of CBD for working out, cannabidiol has many other benefits and uses. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (which groups endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes), triggering certain effects that may have therapeutic benefits for your health. As a result of its effects, CBD can be very useful for:
- Relieving pain
- Relaxing
- Stimulating appetite
- Relieving eczema, acne or psoriasis
- Fighting insomnia
- Relieving seizures and epilepsy
- Alleviating the symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Relieving nausea
- Improving cognitive functions
- Alleviating symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Relieving side effects of chemotherapy
- Combating symptoms of hepatitis C
Moreover, CBD may also improve diabetes nerve damage and its symptoms, relieve some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, and thanks to its cognitive-enhancing effects it also has promising effects for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
CBD for Working Out: Does It Work?
What are the benefits of CBD for working out? Can I use cannabidiol for exercising? Most cannabidiol users agree that if you want to use cannabidiol for exercise, you should do it after your workout routine. Even if cannabidiol may increase your energy levels, the main benefits of using CBD for working out come when you use it afterward. And what is the reason for this? Cannabidiol anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties can help you alleviate the muscle soreness and the inflammation that occur after working out.
When you work out, you are damaging your muscles. Of course, it is just temporary damage. However, during the healing process, you will also experience inflammation. Another consequence of physical exercise is muscle soreness, which you will usually experience between 24 and 48 hours after your training routine.
And this is when CBD for working out comes in place. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, cannabidiol can be a great fitness buddy. When taking CBD just after exercise, you are speeding up the recovery time, while reducing the risk of suffering from inflammation and muscle soreness.
But there are more benefits to using CBD for working out. Cannabidiol can also help you fight insomnia and improve your sleep quality. Hence, by using CBD after exercise, you will be able to sleep better. While this benefit may not sound so interesting for working out, it can actually be very positive. On the one hand, if you exercise late in the evening, you may have sleep problems afterward, so using CBD can help you sleep better. On the other hand, sleeping better will also promote a faster recovery. And a good night’s sleep can also encourage you to exercise!
How to Use CBD for Working Out
You can find CBD in different formats:
- CBD oil
- Edible CBD products
- CBD vape juice
There are also CBD creams and gels that can help you alleviate soreness topically. And you can even make your own CBD cream.
While CBD is a safe product and has very few side effects, it can interact with some medications. Therefore, if you are using any medications, talk to your doctor before using a cannabidiol product.
