If you’re a regular at the gym, it’s likely that you’ve heard your friends rave about CBD and its various health benefits. In recent years CBD usage has grown among fitness enthusiasts and gym aficionados, becoming an important part of their daily regimen. And it’s not just amateurs pumping iron who swear by it, but sportspeople and athletes also endorse CBD for its benefits. In fact, for many of them it is their go-to product as far as health and wellness are concerned.
So, if you’re somebody who, despite your friends urging you to jump on the bandwagon, is ambivalent about trying the product for yourself, read on and you’ll soon find out why CBD is all the rage in the wellness community at the moment.
What is CBD?
CBD – or cannabidiol – is a cannabinoid, a compound found in industrial hemp and cannabis. But unlike THC, it is a non-psychoactive compound, meaning that ingesting it doesn’t give you a ‘high’ feeling. The interesting fact is that our body also produces its own cannabinoids called endocannabinoids. The human body, in fact, houses an entire network of neurotransmitters (endocannabinoids) and receptors known as the endocannabinoid system. This system plays a significant role in many physiological processes such as metabolism, appetite, pain sensation, stress, mood, memory, etc. CBD boosts the endocannabinoid system so that it’s firing on all cylinders and functioning at its optimum level. Endocannabinoid deficiency has been linked to many disorders.
Weight training and CBD
Getting the body that’s the envy of your peers doesn’t happen by accident. You have to put in a lot of hard work at the gym; eat healthy; and cut back on habits that don’t agree with your fitness goals. You may also have to consider your choice of supplements more carefully as it may affect the end result of your fitness routine. The reason CBD is a no-brainer choice among weightlifters is because it augments nicely the many benefits of weight training; it boosts muscle growth, for example. And since it is known to have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, it also helps the body in post-workout recovery. In short it is the whole package.
1. CBD helps relieve pain and inflammation
Post-workout muscle ache and soreness are pretty common among weight trainers. They are caused by microscopic damage to the muscle tissue. To alleviate the pain and the accompanying inflammation a daily sip of CBD oil is what you need. As mentioned already, CBD has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps the body recover naturally and doesn’t lead to dependence-related problems caused by more traditional opioid-based pain-relievers. Whether you want to use CBD vape oil, or just drop some CBD under your tongue, CBD can help with pain and inflammation.
2. CBD boosts muscle growth
If you’re somebody who grinds it out daily in the gym but the kind of results you hope for elude you, it could be because of cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland in response to stress. Rigorous workout routines like weight training could send the gland into overdrive, overwhelming the bloodstream with cortisol. The hormone has well-known catabolic activity, meaning that it breaks down muscle tissue. It also causes blood pressure to soar and lowers bone density. CBD, in conjunction with the body’s endocannabinoid system, balances cortisol secretion and thus promotes muscle growth. You could try applying CBD balm directly to the muscles. Popping a CBD capsule pre-workout could be good thinking!
3. CBD helps with sleep
The therapeutic value of a good night’s sleep is beyond dispute. It is while you’re asleep that the body begins repairing and healing itself, something a fitness coach never will never tire of reminding you. It is no coincidence that during the night the cortisol levels naturally dip; it’s body’s time to go into recuperation mode. But given the stressful lives we lead, getting a good amount of shut-eye is not always as straightforward as hitting the sack. Insomnia is on the rise. According to various studies more and more people are struggling to achieve deep REM cycle. Luckily, CBD’s got you covered on this one as well. People using CBD regularly report it helping them both fall and stay asleep over longer durations of time than was previously possible for them.
4. CBD helps control appetite
One of the side-effects of using marijuana for getting high is that you end up putting on weight. It is because THC stimulates CB1 receptors in the brain, giving you the feeling of being hungry. On the other hand, CBD is a known CB1 blocker. Also, it helps suppress appetite by increasing levels of leptin in the blood, which is a hormone secreted by the hypothalamus that gives you the feeling being full. CBD is also understood to help the body burn fat. So, if you are struggling with your weight, CBD is worth a shot.
5. CBD boosts performance
Research shows that CBD boosts performance by activating the body’s adenosine receptors. Also, CBD strengthens the immune system so you are less likely to come down with a pesky infection. Furthermore, CBD helps keep stress and anxiety-related problems at bay. Many people claim experiencing a sense of calm after taking CBD, which, needless to say, translates into better performance.
Conclusion
If you have made it to the end of this post, you’re probably sold on CBD. The only thing left to do now is get your hands on the stuff and find out for real why everyone at the gym is gushing about it. CBD comes in various shapes and forms: oil, balm, tincture, soft gel, etc. You can choose whatever suits your need best. You can’t go wrong with any of them.
BIO
Sabina King is an entrepreneur and a global nomad. She has guided her family on a journey across multiple countries educating her children through experience, flexibility and joy. Sabina is a yogi, biohacker, and lover of all things fitness and health. Sabina founded Hempure CBD after she experienced firsthand the dramatic difference a healthy endocannabinoid system can make on the mind and body.
