Although a little physical and mental stress is good for the body, chronic issues or inadequate rest can quickly lead to more injuries, poor performance, and ultimately, less time doing the things you love. Fortunately for athletes old and new, CBD, an organic compound found inside hemp, could help improve your performance on multiple fronts.
When consumed, it interacts with receptors found in our brain, skin, digestive, immune, and central nervous systems. Together with the help of this vast network,
CBD encourages a state of balance. After all, it’s when our body is balanced that it’s better equipped to deal with the disease, disorder, and the challenges of an active lifestyle.
How can CBD oil enhance your sports performance?
If you are someone that likes to keep fit, there’s a lot to like about CBD. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how exactly the compound supports athletic performance.
1. Aids recovery
A crucial part of recovery is sleep. It’s during sleep that our body consolidates memories, strengthens the immune system, and builds muscle fibers. The latter is vitally important to up your game, as faster muscle growth means improved performance no matter your discipline.
Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to get the restful sleep you deserve, and that’s where CBD could help. In a study published in FEBS Letters, researchers found that CBD increased wakefulness during the day, supporting our body’s circadian rhythm (our internal clock).
Often, stress (both physical and mental) and the light from electronic devices disturb our body’s internal clock, making it harder for us to sleep at night and feel alert during the day. CBD supplements with melatonin could help combat this all too common occurrence.
2. Soothes inflammation
The idea of inflammation may sound bad to some, but in truth, it’s a necessary part of recovery. Without inflammation, our muscles wouldn’t have the resources they need to repair. But, it’s when inflammation becomes chronic that issues occur.
A weak or chronic inflammatory response not only slows recovery but leads to the dreaded DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). If you’ve ever pushed yourself in the gym and wondered why your muscles feel sore, even days after, the answer is DOMS.
This time, researchers from the University of South Carolina found that CBD plays a crucial role in muscle repair by suppressing our inflammatory response.
They concluded that exogenous cannabinoids (a fancy term for compounds like CBD) could be a potent ally against inflammatory disorders.
3. Keeps you focused
Sometimes the biggest hurdle in the gym is not the weights, but our minds! Focus and determination are essential traits for anyone serious about their sports performance, but again, modern lifestyles can disrupt this focus, giving way to tension, stress, and worry.
In a placebo-controlled trial, patients with a generalised social anxiety disorder were administered a single dose of CBD. While the group who took the placebo saw no improvement in symptoms, the CBD control group experienced “significantly reduced anxiety, cognitive impairment and discomfort”.
If you ever struggled to perform in a competitive setting, or you simply lack the motivation to get into the gym—a few drops of CBD oil could be the answer.
4. Support your immune system
A robust and healthy immune system goes hand in hand with your sports performance. After all, you can’t take part in the activities you love if you’re feeling under the weather. As our immune response is intrinsically linked to our inflammatory response (our immune system tells our body how to act), a strong immune system is a necessity.
An incredibly detailed review published by Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research highlighted the impact of CBD on our immune response. Now, remember, the key to a robust immune system is just the right amount of response—balance is crucial.
The report identified that CBD takes a direct role in the “activation of various immune cells”. CBD’s overall impact on our immune system and our inflammatory response could prove vital not just for people that work-out, but anyone looking to strengthen their immune system.
CBD and sports performance—final thoughts
As you can see, the impact of CBD appears vast. Not only could it influence multiple elements of your performance in the gym, but it’s well-tolerated and approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Even with the benefits highlighted above, perhaps the most significant advantage for anyone looking to improve their sports performance is the range of CBD products available.
While CBD oil remains the most popular option, there’s a growing catalog of CBD balms, creams, and supplements aimed at anyone looking to stay active and healthy. If you’re interested in making CBD part of your training regime, learn more about how it can support your goals.
Author’s Bio:
Luke Sholl is a copywriter for Cibdol with a passion for natural alternatives and healthy living.