In our last blog, we touched upon the reasons people take CBD and whilst it wasn’t an exhaustive list, it gives some insight into a few of the main reasons CBD is used. Talking briefly about CBD and fitness, we wanted to give a deeper insight into why CBD can be a great addition to your training and exercise routine.
Athlete or not, a workout for one person could be as simple as taking the dog out in the evening. You don’t need to be a professional to enjoy the benefits. There are now so many ways to take CBD including:
• Sprays (both oral and topical)
• Oils (with or without tinctures)
• Vape juice
• Gummies
As for how much to take, there is no exact dosage, this is something that will vary from person to person. It’s worth experimenting with ways of taking it to find out what works for you. This could be down to something as simple as taste and choosing a flavoured oil over something bland.
Natural is best. Endocannabinoids are produced in our body naturally as they are needed to help keep internal functions working as they should. CBD interacts with our endocannabinoid system and specific receptors to influence different functions. You can read more about the ECS in another of our blogs.
If you’re new to CBD, we would recommend consulting your doctor before adding supplements to your diet.
CBD and Exercise
You may think of exercise in a more traditional sense and picture a runner or footballer, but truth be told, many of our clients come from diverse sporting backgrounds. Our products are used by horse riders, mountain bikers and many enjoy taking it as part of their gym routine. CBD is great for a number of reasons:
- It contains no THC so you will not feel any psychoactive effects or feel high.
- It can help with delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
- CBD has anti-inflammatory properties.
- CBD can help to improve sleep.
In 2018, the WADA (world anti-doping agency) removed CBD from its list of prohibited substances. In the past few years, the interest in and use of CBD from a sporting standpoint has increased. A recent study showed that CBD has merit for use during recovery from exercise.
No matter where you look there are conflicting reports and studies, what most of them agree on is that further study is needed. We are inclined to agree. To make the use of CBD safe and effective, study and research are necessary. It’s why we publish our lab results; we believe in being open and transparent and are 100% confident in the quality of our products.
Using CBD as part of your workout recovery is simple. Pop a drop of CDB oil in your recovery shake, take a gummy or use some CBD spray when leaving the gym. Try alternating methods and doses and make note of which seems to offer the most benefit to you.
CBD and Sleep
Sleep is vital to recovery but at times being overtired, overworked or in pain can mean getting a decent rest is difficult. Studies have indicated that dosage has an impact on sleep with higher doses being most beneficial.
In some cases, lower doses were shown to promote wakefulness which could be beneficial before exercise. Many studies are yet to progress to human testing but have shown some promising results. There are also indications that CBD could potentially provide extra benefits for those with pre-existing sleep issues, perhaps more so than those without.
Taking CBD to help with sleep to ensure you are well-rested is one of the biggest benefits of CBD and taking it as part of your training. It can be hard to fall asleep after a workout, your body needs time to unwind. Using CBD as part of your sleep routine amongst other good sleep practices such as avoiding screens before bed and some gentle stretching will help with recovery.
Try taking CBD around an hour before you go to bed and adjust your dosage accordingly. If you’re new to CBD start slow with a lower dose and build it up over a few weeks. Our blog on CBD and sleep will give you more insight into how it can help you get better rest.
CBD for Sport
In terms of different sports, CBD will have a lot of the same benefits, regardless of what you’re doing. We’re not going to promise miracle results because taking CBD differs for everyone, it can take a little while to figure out dosage, strength and which method is best for you and your needs. However, some of the main benefits of taking CBD for sports are:
- It can help with sleep which means better recovery.
- It can help manage pain from injury or sore muscles.
- It works within the endocannabinoid system to help support the immune system.
For professional athletes, we would advise checking whether substances are banned for competition. CBD can contain traces of other cannabinoids that are banned by the UKAD (UK anti-doping) or WADA. However, for recreational use, CBD can mean the difference between wanting to exercise or not. The main thing we’d recommend if you’re not sure of something is to talk to us, we’re a message away and ready to help!
