You’ve been riding the fitness train for quite some time. Now, it’s time to up your game. If you’re looking to maximize your workouts and improve post-workout recovery, Cannabis just might be the answer.

If you’re serious about fitness and have been working out for some time, your training results will peak and then level off. When this happens, you’re not getting the optimal results since you’ve reached a plateau. Cannabis can help you reach your goals.

We all should know by now that Cannabis is beneficial to relieve anxiety and pain. Those with epilepsy are also using it. Now, serious athletes are using cannabidiol to improve their workouts with powerful results.

What is Cannabis?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of more than 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis or hemp plant. THC is another cannabinoid found in cannabis. While both cannabinoids interact with the human endocannabinoid system to produce a wide array of health benefits, such as pain relief, inflammation reduction, and relief from anxiety, it’s only CBD that doesn’t cause the well-known “high” of marijuana. Cannabidiol that comes from hemp has less THC than if it comes from cannabis. One compound of cannabidiol from hemp has less than 0.3 percent THC.

How is Cannabis Used?

Cannabidiol comes in various forms, including oils, capsules, tinctures, salves, and balms. It’s available online and in local holistic shops, dispensaries, grocery stores, and even gas stations. When you buy CBD, always be sure you’re getting products that are effective and safe. Researching and shopping online in stores like NuLeaf Naturals makes buying CBD products quick and efficient.

The following are six benefits of CBD for athletes:

1. Reduces Inflammation

Cannabis, or marijuana, has powerful and natural anti-inflammatory properties. For inflammation, CBD can be ingested or applied topically. CBD is a naturopathic treatment commonly used for chronic conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia. Since it’s safe and effective for these conditions, amateur and professional athletes are using CBD to reduce inflammation, enabling them to recover from workouts faster. Whilst some people may be wary of taking CBD, it does have a lot of benefits, however, they can always look into supplements for inflammation first to see what else is available if they need a variety to choose from.

2. Reduces Pain

Cannabidiol is used to treat a variety of hard-to-ease pain conditions, including fibromyalgia, muscle spasms, arthritis, and neuralgia. For these reasons, athletes are turning to CBD to reduce pain caused by strenuous exercise.

CBD works for pain as it intercepts the transmission of pain signals and muffles pain receptors in the brain. It also stops the absorption of anandamide, a pain regulation compound that manages surface symptoms and inhibits overactive pain receptors in the brain.

Using rats as subjects, a study in 2016 indicated CBD that was used on the skin helped reduce pain and inflammation caused by arthritis. According to the study, if cannabidiol works for chronic pain conditions like arthritis, then it should work for musculoskeletal pain due to strenuous exercise as well. In a narrative review of cannabidiol and sports performance, researchers concluded that many physiological, biochemical, and psychological effects could benefit athletes in muscle recovery and pain.

3. Improves Mind-Muscle Connection

Amateur and professional athletes know that it takes more than exercise and movement for optimal results from fitness. You also need to focus and concentrate. You need to stay motivated, especially if you hit a plateau. CBD can help keep you focused and motivated so you can focus more effectively on your workouts and achieve the best results. It does this by increasing cell production in many regions of the brain.

A 2018 trial on the long term use of cannabidiol for cognitive functioning indicated that CBD could improve cognitive functioning, including focus, concentration, and motivation. Twenty frequent marijuana users were the subjects. All were allowed to continue using marijuana. This is because the study analyzed if CBD could offset the decrease in cognitive functioning associated with THC. The participants were given 200 mg of CBD per day for ten weeks. The subjects showed improvements in attentional switching, verbal learning, and memory. Attention control was associated with increased plasma CBD concentrations.

4. Helps with Digestion

Following a nutritious diet plan is essential for optimal health. A diet rich in vitamins and minerals is helpful in the digestion process. But, sometimes the body needs a little assistance with digestion due to digestive tract inflammation and bloating. Fortunately, CBD has anti-inflammatory properties that can treat these digestive issues. Plus, it can assist digestion by controlling meal portions with greater satiety from your foods. That is, your body will be able to digest your food correctly, thereby allowing for greater absorption of nutrients. This helps prevent overeating.

5. Boosts Mood

Strenuous workouts can take a toll on your body, both physically and mentally. When you exercise, your body goes through tremendous stress, which can make you feel sleepless and anxious. CBD can help with all of this. It can improve your mood and make you sleep better by boosting dopamine absorption in your body, alleviating your sleeplessness by decreasing REM, and improving your sleep cycle.

6. Offers Easier Workout Recovery

Have you ever experienced delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which shows up 24-48 hours after a tough workout session? If you work out hard, then you probably have experienced it. So, you know that it’s difficult to recover when your muscles are tight and sore. However, CBD can help with this, too. Taking CBD will improve your workout recoveries, making them less intense and shorter.

Additionally, CBD can help eliminate the use of pain medications for post-workout recovery. Athletes commonly use NSAIDs and opioids to control pain. By using cannabidiol, athletes can avoid liver damage and addiction caused by these pain medications.

CBD has many health benefits, including pain relief, reduced inflammation, relief from anxiety, improved mood, and easier natural workout recovery. All of these benefits are essential to performance. However, before you start taking CBD or any other nutritional supplements, it’s always essential to consult with your doctor or a medical professional.