The user group of CBD includes people of all age groups. In fact, the cannabis compound has been proven effective in treating medical conditions like autism and forms of epilepsy in children in addition to a wide range of medical conditions in adults. CBD is beneficial for people of all professions in one or the other way. This means CBD is a thing for athletes as well.
In this article, we discuss the top reasons why athletes should take CBD.
CBD Offers Muscle Relaxation
A post-workout session is never that easy as portrayed in the media and athletes would know it. A heavy workout causes muscle cramps and soreness, which makes even the simplest of physical activities seem like a big struggle.
CBD is known for its muscle relaxing properties. Lower levels of GABA in our system could cause muscle cramps and spasms. CBD influences the GABA-A receptors and promotes the working of GABA.
CBD Helps Handle Stress Better
An athlete has to undergo a lot of stress because the world out there will be waiting to praise or bash them depending on their performance. The athletes have to constantly watch their fitness and strive to give their best performances all the time. CBD could make their life easier, as it has the ability to promote relaxing effects, thereby helping the users cope with stress.
It is not always possible to eliminate stress-inducing factors from our lives altogether but we still have a choice when it comes to the way in which we handle it.
CBD Is An Adaptogen
Adaptogens are non-toxic herbs and plants that offer stress relief and boost your performance. Reishi mushrooms and Echinacea are popular adaptogens that have been used in traditional medicines. CBD has properties similar to them.
CBD helps the athletes adapt better to their training. After a workout, your body temperature and the cortisol levels will be high. In addition, muscle protein will have broken down and glycogen reserve will have exhausted. On sensing this stress, our body produces a greater amount of endocannabinoids like anandamide to assist the recovery process. Adding CBD to your post-workout routine will give an additional boost to the recovery process.
CBD Improves Sleep
One of the most notable effects of CBD is in the user’s sleep cycle. CBD promotes quality sleep that helps you start your day energetically. It has the ability to lower the rates of production of the stress hormone, cortisol that can interfere with normal sleep cycles.
Sleeping facilitates muscle recovery. CBD works differently from conventional sleep aids. It does not induce drowsiness unlike sleep aids but still manages to offer quality sleep to the users. Athletes often experience disturbances in their sleep-wake cycle. CBD helps regulate their circadian rhythms and keep them active during the day and help get good sleep at night.
CBD Reduces Inflammation And Oxidative Stress
Inflammation stands as a barrier to the fast recovery of athletes. Some choose NSAIDs to reduce pain and inflammation but they aren’t really a viable option. CBD is a much needed holistic option that is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties among its other benefits. It induces apoptosis and suppresses cytokine production.
In addition to the psychological stress, athletes may also be bothered by oxidative stress that is caused by the accumulation of free radicals in the body. An internal antioxidant called glutathione is known for reducing oxygen buildup in our body. Recent animal studies indicate that CBD may boost the levels of glutathione and reduce cell damage induced by oxidative stress.
Lesser oxidative stress reduces muscle soreness, promotes immune function and regulates cellular recycling. Glutathione is also known to promote insulin sensitivity, thereby allowing the athletes to utilize carbs efficiently and improve their body composition.
CBD Protects The Central Nervous System
The central nervous system has two primary units, the brain and spinal cord. Sports that involve movements against resistance are taxing to the central nervous system. Over time, the system may lose the firing power bit by bit, thereby affecting the effectiveness of muscle contraction and strength of muscles adversely.
CBD promotes the synchronization of neural signaling and a better balance of pre and post-synaptic neurotransmitters. The compound may also help retain the myelin sheath of nerves.
The endocannabinoid system is known for promoting neuronal health. Because CBD produces its effects in the body by interacting with the endocannabinoid system, it seems to be promising in promoting neuronal health.
An athlete’s physical and mental fitness is the key to having an excellent career. The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) has permitted athletes to use CBD. However, traces of THC found in their blood during drug tests can lead to their disqualification from important meets and game sessions. Hence, it is important that athletes choose THC free CBD option like CBD isolate.