Cannabidiol has become so popular and widespread. From being virtually unknown, it is now used not only by patients with severe conditions and for recreation but also by healthy people like sports enthusiasts and athletes. But while many of them are starting to take CBD oil during training, performance, and recovery, other sports buffs are still questioning the cannabinoid’s efficacy especially to people who are in top physical health.

Are CBD products, which get accolades for their medicinal properties, beneficial (and legal) for amateur and professional athletes? Read on to find out.

Medical marijuana has been legalized in 33 U.S. states for its capacity to treat a wide range of health issues from anxiety, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and many others. But its multiple benefits do not stop in the treatment of diseases. Cannabidiol can also boost the performance of professionals, including athletes.

To improve their chances of winning, athletes use a variety of supplements. Part of their regimen is taking stimulants, protein powders and other performance-enhancing substances to gain an advantage over their rivals. For these people, even a tiny edge over their competitors or previous records can lead to a win.

How CBD Help Athletes Bring Out Their A-Game

To win, athletes need to work out their muscles through regular, intense training and body conditioning. Here are some benefits CBD can provide for those who want to win the coveted medal.

• It lowers the release of stress hormones

Pro athletes and other people who often engage in sports put a lot of strain on both their body and mind. The stress coming from intense training can result in physical trauma to the point of injuring themselves. These people find joy and satisfaction in testing the limits of their body. As such they are prone to severe pain from muscle strains, cramps, and other injuries.

During strenuous training, the body including the organs responsible for producing hormones must work harder, which can trigger an overproduction of cortisol, the stress hormone. Having an abundance of cortisol in the blood can lead to tissue damage and can impact your health and performance.

CBD has a unique ability to reduce the production of cortisol during extreme training. A study by the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil found that this cannabinoid can limit the production of stress hormone.

• CBD has potent anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.

Inflammation of muscles, especially during intense physical activities can result in pain. Apart from experiencing muscle aches, swelling in your body can have a severe impact on your performance. Cannabidiol has properties that can effectively relieve swelling.

A study by the National Institutes of Health’s Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience found that CBD can suppress the body’s inflammatory response. With its anti-inflammatory property, some CBD oil advocates even say this cannabinoid may replace many prescription medicines that curb inflammation, including pain relievers.

Athletes are accustomed to pain, especially after an extreme workout. If not given relief, the excruciating pain can limit their physical activity to the point that they can no longer move their muscles. Having potent painkillers in their medical kits can make them regain their performance level. The best part of taking CBD is it is safe with a minimal side effect.

• Help resolve your gut problems

Athletes are prone to inflammation in the small and large intestines, which can cause extreme discomfort. In fact, this condition is among the leading reasons endurance athletes quit from racing.

While CBD will not solve these problems in the gut brought about by dehydration and overheating mainly to those engaged in endurance sports, it can help treat inflammation during or after physical training that can lead to gut problems. In these cases, CBD can be useful for lowering these symptoms.

• Enhance Sleep Quality

Getting quality sleep every night is highly beneficial for athletes to get the most from their training. Sleep allows their body to repair itself after enduring long hours of exhausting workouts. This activity also keeps their brain sharp, especially during competitions where even a small error can lead to a devastating loss.

Many athletes who take CBD report the cannabinoid helps them to fall asleep with ease and improve their sleep quality. After an action-packed day, many athletes find a hard time getting sufficient restful slumber in the evening. This condition has a lot to do with the overproduction of stress hormones. Stress is one of the deterrents for having deep shuteye. CBD can relieve stress by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is responsible for regulating the activities inside the body, including sleep. Hence, a regular dose of CBD can help physically active people get restful slumber every night.

• Helps in Muscle Recovery

The soreness athletes experience after a competition or hard gym session is a product of damage and inflammation of muscles. This inflammatory response is a process that the body does to heal itself. However, for athletes, the symptoms of this natural bodily process can impact their training. To counter the inflammatory response, many of them resort to taking measures that will hasten recovery. They often use methods like putting on ice and compression that divert blood away from the swollen area.

With CBD, they can get relief faster as the substance can interact with the ECS. Once CBD communicates with the endocannabinoid receptors, it can signal the brain to reduce the inflammation.

• Reduces Fear and Anxieties

Just like other people, athletes can suffer from periods of fear and anxiety, particularly during competition. Many of them fear of losing and getting injured.  Some of them even have social anxiety that can impair their performance when they are playing in sports arenas with large crowds. Failure to cope with these anxieties can lead to lackluster performance.

Many studies show CBD’s ability to reduce anxiety in people suffering from extreme social anxiety. Different research papers found that CBD oil can lower the intensity of fear memories, which are a challenging symptom of PTSD. Another study, this time on CBD oil effects on people with performance-based anxiety, finds that the administration of the cannabinoid decreased the anxiety of people before and during delivering a public speech. These findings can help athletes overcome their deepest fears that can hinder them from giving a remarkable performance during a competition.

• Helps in Weight Loss

Athletes also have a problem maintaining weight just like most people do. In some sports like boxing wherein maintaining a specific weight is crucial, they do different methods to keep the desired weight that can sometimes adversely affect their performance. Many of them increase or decrease their food intake. While this method allows them to reach their intended weight, it can negatively affect their performance during the match.

Taking a regular dose of cannabidiol can help them keep the right weight without the endangering their health. In 2016, Korean researchers found that cannabidiol has three ways of effecting fat browning. Aside from finding out that the substance activates the proteins and genes responsible for increasing the breakdown of fat, they also discovered that it could multiply mitochondria’s number and activity, which intensify the body’s capability to burn calories.

Legality of CBD for Athletes

After reading the many benefits of CBD for athletes, the next question is whether they can use the substance legally. The answer is a resounding yes. Since the early part of 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed cannabidiol from its list of prohibited substances whether inside or outside of competition. Following WADA’s lead, the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) also did the same.

However, athletes should take note that the WADA only removes CBD from the list. THC and other cannabinoids are still prohibited. However, with their new guideline, WADA has set a urinary threshold of 150 nanograms per milliliter. Hence, these professionals should only buy pure CBD oil from reputable stores and dispensaries to make sure that it is free from even trace amounts of other cannabinoids.

How to Use CBD?

Cannabidiol products come in many forms. CBD can be taken orally through capsules, tinctures or oil. Athletes can also inhale it through a vape pen. They can also drink CBD-infused beverage such as sports drinks, tonics, and recovery drinks. For muscle ache and pain, they can also apply topical creams and lotions that contain CBD on the affected part.

CBD is also available in two varieties – full spectrum or isolate. Full spectrum cannabidiol products are composed of CBD and other compounds coming from the original plant, which may include traces of THC. Products infused with CBD isolate only contain CBD. CBD isolate and CBD produced from hemp are better choices, as they contain only minute amounts of THC that can put the career of athletes at risk.

Athletes need to take supplements and other legal substances that will improve their chances of winning. Many research and anecdotal evidence say CBD oil can give them a winning edge. However, they need to check the type and quality of the brand they are using because it may contain traces of THC that can endanger their careers.

Medical Disclaimer:

The information provided in these blog posts is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The use of any information provided in these blog posts is solely at your own risk. The authors and the website do not recommend or endorse any specific products, treatments, or procedures mentioned. Reliance on any information in these blog posts is solely at your own discretion.