CBD (cannabidiol) is growing in popularity among athletes and fitness enthusiasts due to its various reported therapeutic properties. CBD users state benefits such as pain relief, quicker muscle recovery, and better sleep.
Curious to know how CBD can improve your gym performance and recovery? Read on to find out how CBD can help you boost your energy and craft the perfect post-gym routine.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical substance that grows naturally in the Cannabis sativa plant. Like the euphoric chemical molecule found in the same plant known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) is composed of the same atoms but in a slightly different order.
The distinction between THC compounds, which cause intoxication, and CBD substances, which can have therapeutic effects on the body without intoxication, may appear subtle, but it has significant consequences.
CBD oil that is derived from the hemp plant is combined with a carrier oil, typically coconut or hemp seed oil, to create CBD products. These extracts can be used topically, consumed orally in capsule form, or placed in drops under the tongue.
Is CBD Good for Gym Performance and Recovery?
Many athletes, fitness professionals, and gym goers have built healthier habits with the help of CBD. CBD can also help athletes and gym bunnies by enhancing performance.
How CBD Helps Performance
Some people use CBD as a supplement for their workouts to boost energy and heighten performance. CBD can also enhance blood flow, the removal of waste, and the oxygen supply. Lowering blood pressure in this way can help alleviate stress and anxiety when doing strenuous exercise.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is thought to affect things like motor control, motivation, reward, and cognition; taking CBD increases its release in the body. That is to say, it is crucial in boosting physical performance, especially among athletes.
The United States Anti-Doping Agency even permits the use of CBD as long as products don't contain prohibited components such as THC.
When you use CBD for exercise, your body also responds by producing more serotonin, which boosts your mood and gives you more energy. The aforementioned neurotransmitters work in tandem to improve focus, memory, and stamina—all of which are critical to peak athletic performance.
How CBD Helps with Post-Workout Recovery
Though research on the topic is still in its infancy, a study in the International Journal of Physical Education, Sports, and Health found that athletes who took CBD after their workout reported significantly less muscle soreness.
The researchers concluded that CBD consumed immediately after strenuous activity influences muscle soreness induced by exercise.
Best Ways to Use CBD for Workout and Recovery
As a Sleeping Aid
Are you the type to lay out your gym clothes and pack your bag the night before? You're in luck. Adding CBD to your night routine is as simple as putting a few drops of Verma Farms CBD oil in your bedtime tea.
Research has shown that CBD decreases REM sleep length while increasing deep sleep (NREM Stage 3). Since the brain uses less energy in deep sleep, the body's temperature and heart rate decrease as well, leading to a more restful slumber.
Sleep is vital for maintaining your mood, memory, and cognitive abilities as your body repair your immune, nervous, skeletal, and muscular systems. This helps ensure you'll be prepared for a strenuous workout in the morning.
To Combat Stress and Anxiety
You need to be physically, emotionally, and mentally prepared to get the most out of your workout.
Concerns about anxiety are recognized as important issues in sports and fitness psychology, especially as they relate to people's performance when exercising or working out. Anxiety can affect coordination, increase muscle tension, and in some cases, cause nausea.
Taking Verma Farms CBD gummies or capsules before a workout can help reduce blood pressure and lessen anxiety, allowing you to bring your A-game to the gym.
To Increase Focus and Endurance
Concentration and stamina are essential for a productive workout. If you don't push yourself to your limits, you may not get the full benefits of exercise.
Since CBD reduces stress and improves relaxation, it also boosts cognitive function. More specifically, CBD enhances vigor, concentration, memory, and other mental capabilities. Clearing your mind with CBD oil will allow you to perform at your peak right from the first push-up.
To Relieve Muscle Soreness
Whether you're a newbie at the gym or a seasoned pro, you'll inevitably experience some degree of muscle pain and inflammation after a session. However, you shouldn't let DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) dictate your entire workout plan.
CBD is great for sports and workout recovery. Recent studies show that CBD oil's anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving characteristics can be used to alleviate the DOMS and exercise-induced muscle damage that happens naturally after exercise.
CBD, whether taken orally or topically, provides a more natural kind of comfort than many other medications, such as protein supplements or Tiger Balm. Does this mean that a post-workout smoothie with only a few drops of CBD oil will have you raring to go again the next day? Maybe, maybe not! But your muscles will feel far better than if you settled for your usual protein shake.
