Does CBD Help with Workout Recovery?
After a long day at the gym, outdoors, or a studio session, your mind feels at its best. But what
about your body? As great as you might feel working out, there’s some potential that your body
will be struggling from some type of exhaustion. This, of course, can depend on several factors
including the type of physical movement, duration of movement, physical exertion, etc. Whatever
it may be, we are sure happy to have CBD.
CBD (cannabidiol) has demonstrated some pretty promising results, especially when used for
recovery and relaxation. Whether you’re starting a new fitness journey or a full-time athlete, the
touted therapeutic properties contained in CBD may be able to help you have a smoother, faster
and more comfortable recovery after physical movement. Today, we share how!
The Connection Between CBD and Muscle Recovery
Many people have started seeking out CBD to assist with healing naturally after intense physical
movement and workouts. Whether fast, long, intermediate, or easy, sometimes you can work
your muscles in ways they might not be used to. And, if not monitored, doing so has the potential
of causing some pretty uncomfortable soreness, stress and strain to your muscles, making simple
actions more painful than they ought to be. While this is normal for most people who are highly
active, you shouldn’t be battling constant debilitating soreness.
CBD Vs. Pain Medication
CBD is one compound that the pharmaceutical industry is working hard to capitalize on.
Because it’s all natural, CBD may be a great therapeutic substance for healing the body after
physical intensity. There is some potential that it may not get rid of your pain completely, but this
mostly depends on the delivery method and also dosage. In general, CBD works directly with the
endocannabinoid system (ECS), a resilient cell network found in the body, which helps regulate
pain, inflammation, relaxation and many others. When this system is out of whack, it can cause
the body to feel unwell and not function at optimal levels — think anxiety, stress, chronic pain,
inflammation, depression, sleeping issues and many others.
How CBD Brings Relief
As we mentioned, when it comes to physical recovery, CBD may be a useful and natural
alternative. More than just numbing you of the pain, the cannabinoid has been shown in research
to address the pain at its source, which may be able to provide relief to your muscles as well as
physical relaxation — it just might be able to go deeper than a regular ol’ heating pad.
There are numerous CBD products available, yet they all have their own way of getting the job
done. These mainly include ingestible’s, topicals, smokable’s, edibles, and sublingual — the
possibilities are endless, and the choices are up to you. Below, we explore what science has to
say.
Perception of Pain
Research has shown that CBD offers a natural way to address physical issues — and without
dangerous side effects. The cannabinoid seems to work in unison with other analgesic and pain-
relieving chemicals in the body for a therapeutic effect.
When it comes to pain, by inhibiting pain transmission through the regulation of certain receptors
found in the spinal cord and brain, pain intensity is reduced, causing your body not to react to
pain as strongly as it once did.
Muscle Tension
Science has found CBD to potentially address muscle tension throughout the body. Many people
have reported to look to CBD to promote physical relaxation. The cannabinoid has demonstrated
similar effects to that of traditional muscle relaxers. Due to its ability to work directly with
receptors in the central nervous system— known as GABA receptors.
Inflammation
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons a person feels uncomfortable after a workout is due to
inflammation of the muscles. Generally, one cannot grow their muscles without inflammation but
often it can be far more uncomfortable than it needs to be. Research shows that CBD contains
some pretty powerful anti-inflammatory properties that seem to target inflammation of the
muscles and joints directly — all while not hindering muscle growth or recovery time.
CBD for Fitness
CBD is typically derived from hemp plants and is an all-natural alternative that many are turning to
for relief. No matter if you’re just getting started on a fitness schedule or you’ve been an athlete
most of your life, CBD might be able to help assist your needs.
Keep in mind that the effectiveness of CBD varies from person-to-person and therefore will affect
everyone differently. It’s a highly personal experience and you should consult your primary care
doctor if you are new to CBD products.
So, drink plenty of water, eat healthy nutrient-dense meals, add CBD to your workout arsenal and live your best life on the road to faster recovery!
