Whether you are a gym enthusiast or a fitness beginner, you should be taking advantage of every opportunity to increase your performance level.
Staying hydrated, stretching, and having a balanced diet is a great place to start, but those things may not be enough to reach your goals.
However, using CBD for fitness may be just what you’re looking for.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is making its way into the fitness world and the initial results are very promising. Keep reading to find out more about CBD and how you can use it to enhance your fitness.
Table of Contents
What Is CBD?
You may already be familiar with CBD, but if not, here is a quick rundown. CBD is a non-psychoactive ingredient found in the cannabis or hemp plant. In order to harvest the CBD, the plant goes through the process of winterization followed by short path distillation.
The result of these processes is a pure form of CBD often referred to as CBD extract. This product can then be used to create everything from lotions to CBD-infused cookies. And with the use of modern technology, products can reset balance CBD because different products contain different amounts of CBD.
Although CBD can be extracted from the marijuana plant it does not make you feel “high” because it does not contain THC (the compound responsible for the psychoactive effects of marijuana).
What Does CBD Do?
CBD works via its interaction with your endocannabinoid system. This is the system responsible for regulating your body including how your organs function and how your immune system responds to stimulus.
CBD binds to specific receptors in your body and regulates them. These receptors are located in your brain, nervous system, muscle tissue, and even a few of your organs.
To make a long story short, CBD reacts with existing human body systems to provide regulation.
Using CBD for Fitness
CBD can be used to alleviate symptoms of a number of ailments including arthritis, anxiety, chronic pain, and seizures. This same form of CBD is now making its way into the fitness world as a way to help regulate the body and promote recovery and healing.
Want to know more? Below is a list of the ways that people are using the benefits of CBD to improve their fitness and health.
1. Reduce Inflammation
Believe it or not, every time you work out you are doing damage to your muscles. Once recovered those muscles repair and come back even stronger. Some inflammation of the muscle is expected during this process.
However, if the body experiences too much inflammation it can cause pain or fatigue, resulting in poor workout performance.
CBD is used as an anti-inflammatory meaning it reduces the swelling of the muscles and promotes efficient healing. To use CBD as an anti-inflammatory you can apply a topical variety to the affected area, or choose an edible version that will be processed by your system more quickly.
Adding CBD to your weekly workout routine may reduce inflammation allowing you to push yourself harder during your workouts and reach your fitness goals.
2. Improve Recovery Time
Related to reducing inflammation, CBD can also help you recover from a hard workout or an injury more quickly. If you are able to cut your recovery time, you may be able to enhance your training level by working out harder or more often.
CBD can also help you recover from muscle and joint injuries more quickly. The sooner you can address the injury, the sooner you can get back into the gym!
3. Relieve Pain
Pain caused by inflammation or an injury can get in the way of you reaching your fitness goals. Forms of CBD have been used to alleviate acute and chronic pain from exercise.
Although the initial research for CBD as a way to alleviate pain is promising, there is still a lot to learn about this compound. If you experience a serious injury or severe pain when exercising you should contact a medical professional.
4. Help Sleep
A major part of health and fitness is getting enough sleep. When you sleep your body is recovering and healing from the strain of the day. Without enough sleep, it can be hard to get the most out of your workouts.
Although CBD does not have psychoactive effects, it can help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and have high-quality sleep. Proper rest is essential in recovery and muscle growth.
5. Boost Energy
Fatigue after a workout is totally normal. But feeling tired and lethargic for the rest of the day hardly seems enjoyable. Using CBD post-workout may help regain some of the energy lost during exercise.
CBD is not the same as caffeine or other energy supplements. It works by regulating your body’s existing system of producing energy and maintaining energy levels.
Does CBD Have Side Effects?
There are a lot of diet and exercise supplements out there that promise results but come with a long list of side effects. So, if you are concerned about your long-term health, you rightfully may feel skeptical.
While some studies have found mild side effects from CBD, it is generally regarded as a side-effect free solution. If you are concerned about potential side effects you should consult a medical professional before using CBD. You may also want to start at a low dose to see how your body responds.
Fit and Happy
If you are trying to reach a new level of fitness and struggling or if you are new to exercise but discouraged by all the aches and pains, CBD may be the answer.
Using CBD for fitness is still a relatively new concept, but the initial evidence from athletes and other high-performing fitness junkies shows serious potential. Reducing your recovery time and exercise-induced inflammation and pain could be a game-changer.
Give it a try and experience the results for yourself!
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