CBD for workouts and recovery: Here are 5 things to know

Because of its perceived benefits in managing pain, controlling inflammation, accelerating muscle recovery, among other advantages, CBD (aka cannabidiol) use is gaining ground as a tool for workouts and recovery. While there isn’t conclusive data to back up claims of overall improved athletic performance among athletes and sports players yet, star athletes including Megan Rapinoe. Lamar Odom and Rob Gronkowski are endorsing the use of CBD.

Cannabidiol or CBD is one of the 100 different cannabinoids that occur naturally in the cannabis plant. It is showing promise in treating conditions associated with intense exercise and physical stress, including joint pain, inflammation, and muscle soreness. As of last year, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency allows the use of CBD, though THC remains banned. And the NFL still bans all cannabis use, though several retired players are vocal supporters of CBD.

For those of you who exercise on the regular and are looking for ways to enhance your fitness routine or shorten recovery time, here are 5 ways CBD can play a role in exercise and recovery for both pre- and post- workout.

1. Start with a body in balance

CBD works by stimulating the body’s natural endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for maintaining homeostasis in an array of processes, including mood, appetite, metabolism, stress, and sleep. CBD’s role in enhancing internal harmony is what makes it just as effective before workouts as after.

Studies show cannabidiol is a vasorelaxant, which means it eases tension in veins and arteries so blood can flow more freely. CBD also reduces blood pressure, so you can extend your workout without the typical stress and fatigue.

2. Get motivated

A study from UC Boulder reports that nearly 50 percent of pre-workout smokers felt getting high helped increase their motivation to exercise as well as their endurance. It sounds counterintuitive thanks to the lazy stoner stereotype, but THC might activate that runner’s high feeling, the researchers say.

Here’s how that works: Exercise creates that euphoric feeling by activating your endocannabinoid receptors that are connected to the reward and dopamine pathways in the brain. Since the cannabinoids in cannabis also activate these receptors, ingesting THC and CBD might create an artificial runner’s high, making you crave more of the feeling by way of getting out for a run. You’ll want to consume strains and products featuring an uplifting and motivating combination of cannabinoids and terpenes.

Here are a few of our favorite uplifting and motivating cannabis products:

3. Reduce inflammation

Exercise can induce an inflammatory response, contributing to delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) that can be felt for days after activity. When you work out, your body becomes inflamed because of the intense muscle and weight pushing, pulling, and stretching. This triggers the muscles to tear and cells to break apart. Inflammation comes in as the first stage of your body’s healing process. You’ll feel sore and painful all over as the body increases blood flow, regenerates the muscles, and removes toxins formed during the various muscle stresses and activities. There were no significant side effects noted.

CBD is said to be effective in reducing inflammation and pain post-workout. And, because chronic inflammation is blamed for the progressive conditions of specific serious diseases, such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia, and cancer, CBD use may be effective in easing their symptoms, too.

4. Target pain

Research on CBD shows encouraging results in terms of reducing inflammation and minimizing both nociceptive and neuropathic pain. The National Centers for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says CBD may be effective in managing chronic pain, although more research has yet to be done to establish its efficacy and safety.

For targeted pain relief, we recommend these products:

5. Consume for your goal

There different ways to consume and apply CBD. Besides the common tinctures and capsules, there are also CBD coffees, pre-workout drinks, and muscle balms. Be mindful of your lungs as smoking, while not necessarily detrimental to your respiratory system like cigarettes, can take a toll. Vaporizers, edibles, and sublingual sprays or oils might be a better route.

CBD is definitely not a miracle cure for health and wellness-related issues — including when it comes to exercise — but it does have the potential to help. Most important to keep in mind: Your goal is to enhance your workout, not get high so dose and consume consciously.

Things to note
CBD may interact with some medications, changing the way the body breaks down these medications. This is especially true of drugs that are processed by the liver. As with other supplements, you may need to consult with your healthcare professional before trying it out, especially if you have certain health conditions or are taking medications. In addition, everyone responds to cannabis’ hundreds of compounds differently thanks to their own unique endocannabinoid system. Results vary from one person to another, which means it may work with optimal results to some, while others may not experience any improvement.

If you’re new to CBD, start with a low dose and don’t use it before an athletic competition or workout. When you grow comfortable with its effects, you can start to use higher doses and consider taking it before or even during physical activity.

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