CBD for Fitness and Health, Does it work?

Benefits of using CBD for improved health and fitness

Finding the right workout regime can provide amazing benefits for your overall fitness and health. When supplemented with a good diet, it can prevent many diseases from obesity to heart disease and can help improve your mood as well as manage blood sugar levels. CBD is constantly growing in popularity amongst the Fitness industry as one of the best supplements to help sore muscles, increased focus and reduce recovery time.

The Cannabis plant has been used by humans for many years for medicinal purposes. In recent years the research conducted on CBD has shown to have many benefits, which are in the early stages as more benefits are still becoming discovered with yet to prove any downsides. Currently athletes and fitness enthusiasts have gone to CBD tinctures, creams and lotions, edibles and capsules for reduced recovery time from a heavy workout. Furthermore, the supplement aids in pain relief, better sleep and boosted energy levels. 

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an organic compound found in the cannabis and hemp plant. However, unlike its famous counterpart Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not leave you feeling “high” when consumed as it’s used for its therapeutic properties. There are over 100 cannabidiols that can be found in the cannabis plant and unlike many other cannabinoids, CBD does not have psychoactive properties like THC does. For CBD to be legal in the UK there must be a limit of 0.2% or less of THC in any given product.

CBD was first researched in 1942 when scientists found it difficult to complete research on the benefits of CBD. Since then there has been a lot of research to uncover how CBD oil can help with muscle recovery, chronic pain and stress. Like any other supplement you should always consult a doctor before taking as there may be an important reason for not taking it.



Can CBD help inflammation and reduce pain after workouts?

one-way CBD has helped athletes is by reducing the inflammation and pain from an intense workout. If you work out on a regular basis you will know that a heavy exercise session can cause a lot of discomfort the next day.

If you can reduce the inflammation in the body post workout then you'll be able to work out harder and longer on the next session, minimising injury. Studies have shown us that when CBD is rubbed onto the affected area that it can decrease the pain/inflammation or when taken orally. They showed that CBD interacts with receptors in your brain which are effective in overall pain management and didn’t cause any negative side effects.



Can CBD make rest and recovery easier?

Many fitness enthusiasts and athletes use CBD for better sleep quality. As we already know the better your sleep is the quicker you can recover and be ready to hit another heavy session. There have been studies on CBD and sleep which found that CBD can interact with receptors in the brain that relate to having better quality sleep.
With the ability to aid in sleep quality, reduce inflammation and control blood sugar levels, this makes CBD oil potentially the perfect supplement for muscle recovery.

Tough training regimes which you go through create micro tears in the muscle fibres, in turn setting off muscle inflammation. The body responds by repairing the damaged fibres making them stronger and increasing growth. When the muscle gets bigger the process is called hypertrophy.
This is all natural and leads to growth however it is easy to overwork yourself. When this happens the damaged fibres and inflammation is no longer useful, can reduce your gains and cause injuries. When recovering from hard workouts, the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD prove to aid in healing the damage.

Does CBD help with Performance Anxiety?

Athletes go through a lot of pre-competition stress or Sport Performance Anxiety (SPA), which can be critical to winning or losing. Some athletes get so stressed before a game that they can't eat, sleep or perform on game day. While behaviour therapies are the preferred way of dealing with (SPA) there has been some evidence that show CBD can ease these symptoms. Research has shown that CBD can help grow new cells in areas of the brain including the hippocampus, this is an area of which the main role is managing emotions.

Does CBD boost energy levels?

Having a lack of energy is a major challenge to athletes and fitness enthusiast as it limits your training. Low energy could be a result of poor diet, not enough sleep or fatigue which can leave you feeling downhearted. Not having stable energy levels can be a result of an underlying health issue which in that case you should always consult a doctor.
Some of the energy boosting properties of CBD are neuro-chemical regulators which help balance your serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain. This won't boost your energy like caffeine does. Instead, may help in regulating your sleep wake cycle, encouraging a restful night's sleep and aiding balanced energy levels throughout the day.


Can CBD help with my fitness?

CBD with its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, is an organic post workout treat. Even if you're not hitting the gym every day, the daily wear and tear like sitting at a deck, standing up all day or working on the house chores can still be helped with CBD. Whether in edibles, tinctures, creams and lotions or capsules, CBD can help ease pain and soreness of joints and muscles as well as DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) which creeps up in about 24-48 hours after intensive exercise session. CBD helps reduce anxiety, boosts mood and get a better night's sleep which is crucial to muscle recovery, gaining muscle and losing weight. Gaining the full benefits of CBD requires you to understand which product works best for your system.

We always advise to new CBD user that you should start on a lower dose and build your way up from there. Always consult a doctor before using if you're on any medications as it may be affected by it.