What are the benefits of CBD for athletes?
The World Anti-Doping Agency removed CBD from the list of globally prohibited substances on January 1, 2020. Now any professional athlete can benefit from the positive effects of cannabidiol (CBD) without the risk of being penalized for doping.
CBD is a natural alternative to anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen, which are commonly consumed by athletes as anti-inflammatories and painkillers. There is evidence that taking these drugs for long periods can damage kidney function and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. CBD on the other hand provides all its anti-inflammatory benefits, improving rest, and concentration, with no psychoactive or narcotic effect. The explanation of how CBD works in our system lies in the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is a set of receptors found in our nervous system that regulates many physiological processes such as pain sensation, stress response or sleep
Among the most outstanding effects of CBD for athletes we highlight:
Better sleep: CBD promotes sleep without modifying its architecture as can happen with drugs that help us sleep. Quality sleep is one of the most important aspects of physical recovery. It is during sleep that your body repairs, recharges, balances hormones, and even lowers fat.
Muscle recovery: Recent studies suggest that CBD can reduce pre- and post-exercise inflammation. These anti-inflammatory benefits can help you recover faster, improve your workout, and avoid delayed muscle soreness.
Pain relief: Cannabis has great analgesic power, which helps relieve pain both during and after exercise. Many athletes use CBD after training to help manage pain, from muscle aches to sore joints and injuries they may have previously suffered.
Reducing Muscle Spasms: Dehydration, muscle sprains and nerve injuries are just some of the causes of muscle spasms. Cannabinoids are known to have antispasmodic properties and CBD oil can help you reduce these spasms.