cbd oil for athletes 1000x500 1

How Athletes Can Benefit From CBD Oil

If you’re a professional athlete or someone who engages in vigorous activity, you’ll know the importance of recovery. From hard training or actively participating, the goal to surpass your competition typically leads to sores and injuries. CBD has shown strong evidence to treat chronic pain and anxiety, helping athletes worldwide.

 

But what is CBD, and why has it suddenly become so mainstream? CBD or cannabidiol is a compound from Cannabis sativa plants. This natural substance is typically used in oils and other products to cause moods of relaxation. Furthermore, unlike THC, CBD isn’t psychoactive, meaning you won’t get the high typically smoked from marijuana. 

 

Although CBD still requires further research to provide anything concrete, there are signs that it can successfully treat pain. A pain reliever that is 100% natural is handy for athletes who play professional sports. As commissions today are stricter than ever on drug use to enhance performance, CBD offers a safe, natural alternative. Let’s briefly discuss CBD’s unique benefits for athletes:

 

CBD as a Way to Relief Athlete Pain

 

Although injuries are avoidable with good practice, soreness is always a part of the game. CBD’s primary benefit that’s highly sought after is its capacity to treat and alleviate pain from overexertion. CBD relieves chronic pain by interacting with your endocannabinoid system. By removing free-radicals and creating balance, athletes can reduce inflammation to boost performance.

 

While many use THC to achieve a similar effect, it can negatively impact performance by decreasing work capacity.

CBD also isn’t addictive – unlike other medications which create a dependency for regular use, CBD may even assist in treating drug addiction. Preliminary evidence indicates that CBD lowers the chance of users developing a fix for cocaine and methamphetamine.  

 

CBD Enhances Sleep and Relieves Anxiety

 

Anxiety is commonplace in sports, as pressure is ever-present to outdo your competition. Although you’ll typically see athletes excited before sports events, it’s common to feel extremely nervous. 

 

CBD provides a calmness that enables athletes to get a goodnight’s sleep. While sleep benefits are widely known, it’s essential for those striving for peak performance. CBD also energizes athletes after they wake up, improving overall mental well-being. Athletes can also use other similar natural products to relax, such as Blue Lotus at Zamnesia

 

Professional sportspeople who suffer from other anxieties can also improve their mental state. CBD has shown to alleviate anxiety for people who suffer from social anxiety disorder (SAD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A study conducted in 2011 showed anxiety levels drop for people suffering from SAD. Two groups participated, with one given an oral dose of 400 milligrams (mg) of CBD and the other a placebo. The group who applied the CBD treatment experienced an anxiety reduction. 

 

How Should CBD Be Applied?

 

As of now, there are no explicit instructions for CBD usage from healthcare professionals. Although dosing isn’t currently established, a 2019 study discovered that a 300-600 mg dose was sufficient to help anxiety in 57 male participants. 

 

CBD administration methods are of the following:

 

  • Capsules
  • Oil
  • Sublingual Spray
  • Edibles 
  • Cannabis flowers or Vaporized oil

 

Depending on which method you take determines how quickly cannabinoids work. CBD Orals like capsules, oils, and edibles begin to take effect anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Athletes smoking CBD meanwhile can feel results immediately. 

 

CBD topicals are also widely accessible, offering an excellent alternative to other administration methods. By directly applying recovery rubs or creams to your desired area, you can effectively treat pain relief. Targeted application is ideal as creams are easily absorbable through the skin. 

When selecting a company selling CBD topicals, it’s always worth-while to research further. To ensure a genuine product, check the following:

 

  • Check if products have engaged in third-party testing from an ISO 17025-compliant lab
  • Check that THC levels are below 0.3%
  • Ensure products are free from metals, molds, and pesticides. 

 

Will CBD Show Up On a Drug Test In Competition?

 

CBD is incredibly convenient for athletes as it doesn’t appear on a drug test. Unlike other PEDs used to aid in recovery, CBD provides an affordable and legal method for pain relief and inflammation. From the start of 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) took CBD off their banned substances. For athletes, this meant the application of CBD could be applied in and out of competition. 

 

Although CBD shouldn’t get you banned from a contest, trace amounts of THC may appear on a drug test. The allowance of THC will strictly depend on your sporting organization’s rules. We highly advise reading product labels and doing adequate research before purchasing CBD products because of this risk. When reading labels, pay particularly close attention to THC compound amounts. THC should always be lower than 0.3%, preventing users from getting a “high” from the product.