The cannabidiol market could grow from $3.5 billion in 2021 to $13.4 billion in 2028. More people are recognizing how CBD might benefit their health. It could even help you accomplish your fitness goals.
What’s the connection between CBD and exercise? How can the benefits of CBD support your workout routine? Keep reading to find out!
In this guide, we’ll review everything you need to know about CBD for recovery and fitness. Then, you can make an informed decision before exploring different CBD products for yourself.
Potentially enhance your workout routine! Read on to learn more.
WHAT IS CBD?
Before we dive into the connection between CBD and exercise, let’s go over the basics. What is CBD, exactly?
CBD is a chemical compound, or phytocannabinoid. It’s found in the Cannabis sativa plant, which is known as hemp or marijuana.
Unlike one of the better-known phytocannabinoids, THC, CBD doesn’t have psychoactive properties. One of the benefits of CBD is that it won’t get you high. You won’t feel altered or sedated after using CBD.
While there’s not a lot of research on CBD, many of the current study results appear promising. So far, it appears that CBD could help ease pain and inflammation. It might also help:
- Relieve anxiety and depression
- Alleviate cancer treatment symptoms (nausea, pain, lack of appetite)
- Stop the spread of aggressive cancer cells
- Reduce sebum production and acne
- Offer neuroprotective properties (for patients with epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s)
- Benefit the heart and circulatory system, lower high blood pressure, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular issues
- Offer antipsychotic effects (for patients with schizophrenia and other mental disorders)
- With substance abuse treatment (reducing morphine dependence and heroin-seeking behavior)
- Prevent diabetes
More research is needed to confirm these potential benefits of CBD, though.
While CBD is usually well-tolerated, and therefore considered safe, there are a few potential side effects. For example, CBD might interact with any medications you’re taking. It could also cause fatigue, changes in appetite and weight, or diarrhea.
Everyone reacts to CBD a little differently. Keep that in mind before trying different CBD products.
HOW DOES CBD AFFECT THE BODY?
In order to understand the link between CBD and exercise, you need to know how CBD affects your entire body.
The body contains a complex cell-signaling system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system was named with cannabinoids in mind (since THC was discovered first).
The ECS is associated with different bodily functions, including your:
- Muscle formation
- Bone remodeling and growth
- Appetite and digestion
- Metabolism
- Chronic pain
- Inflammation
- Learning and memory
- Mood
- Sleep
- Cardiovascular system function
- Liver function
- Stress
- Skin and nerve function
- Reproductive system function
- Motor control
Your ECS tries to keep your body in a state of homeostasis, or balance. If an outside force, like injury, occurs, your ECS tries to help.
For example, if you’re experiencing muscle fatigue after an intense workout, your ECS might help.
ECS Components
The ECS is made up of three main components.
Your endocannabinoids are produced as needed to ensure internal functions run smoothly.
Endocannabinoid receptors bind with your endocannabinoids, signaling them to take action. These receptors are found throughout your body. CB1 receptors are primarily in the central nervous system.
CB2 receptors are primarily in the peripheral nervous system.
Enzymes break down endocannabinoids once they’ve completed their function. Enzymes ensure the ECS doesn’t go overboard.
Phytocannabinoids like THC and CBD can interact with your ECS. For example, THC binds to both CB1 and CB2 receptors to cause paranoia or reduce pain.
CBD doesn’t bind with your receptors. Instead, scientists believe it works by preventing endocannabinoids from breaking down. This could allow endocannabinoids to have a prolonged effect on the body.
POTENTIAL EXERCISE BENEFITS
Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of CBD, let’s dig into CBD and exercise. Here are a few potential benefits of CBD oil you might experience after a workout.
Muscle Recovery
An intense, rigorous workout could cause tiny tears in your muscle tissue. You’ll need to give your body the chance to recover before working out again. Otherwise, you might not give the damaged tissue a chance to repair and heal.
You’ll struggle to build stronger muscles as a result.
These little tears cause the after-workout aches you experience as lactic acid builds in your tissues.
You can sometimes alleviate lactic acid buildup with a proper diet and warm-up exercises. That’s not always enough, though.
Meanwhile, your joints might take a beating during high-impact exercises, too.
Taking CBD for recovery might help.
Remember, your ECS regulates muscle formation. Taking CBD might help heal the tiny tears in your muscles. The faster these tears heal, the sooner you can get back to working out!
Reduce Inflammation and Pain
CBD could help relieve pain and inflammation after an intense workout, too.
Inflammation is meant to help your body heal after pain, injury, or illness. Unfortunately, too much inflammation can have a negative impact on your health.
Excessive inflammation is associated with a number of health concerns, including:
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Psoriasis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Allergies
- Arthritis and joint diseases
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Pain and fatigue are common symptoms of inflammation, along with loss of function, swelling, and redness.
The microscopic damage you cause to your muscles and tissues can trigger inflammation. You might experience strains and pain. Some people find it difficult to work out in light of their pain symptoms.
CBD might help. Some people use CBD for recovery and start easing inflammation.
As your inflammation subsides, your aches and pains will as well. Your workout recovery time will improve, making it easier for you to get back to it!
Improved Sleep Quality
Your body needs sleep in order to heal after a rigorous workout. Think of sleep as a reset button. You can start the day feeling renewed and refreshed.
Without sleep, your body might struggle to heal properly. You might find it difficult to focus on a workout if you’re exhausted, too.
Sleep promotes muscle recovery. Without it, you might feel too much pain to work out the next day.
A full night’s rest also helps your body load up on the human growth hormone. Without enough of this vital hormone, muscle recovery and development might not occur. You need good muscle recovery, whether you’re lifting weights or running.
In fact, a lack of sleep could result in decreased muscle mass. it might encourage injuries and issues associated with muscle atrophy, too.
You need a good night’s sleep to continue experiencing muscle development and growth.
Consider trying CBD for sleep. Remember, the ECS regulates your ability to sleep. If you’re experiencing insomnia, it might help.
CBD could help balance your ECS, allowing you to relax. Getting a full night’s result will increase your muscle recovery and growth.
You’ll have an easier time with your next workout session if you’re refreshed after a full night of sleep.
Reduced Stress and Anxiety
It’s normal for anyone to experience stress and anxiety throughout the day. Many athletes experience anxiety before a big game or competition as well. Your stress hormone, cortisol, could rise as a result.
Common symptoms associated with chronic stress and cortisol include:
- Muscle weakness
- High blood pressure
- Rapid weight gain
- Increased thirst and frequency of urination
- Mood swings (irritability, depression, anxiety)
- Changes to your skin (including bruises)
- Osteoporosis
- Intestinal problems (constipation, diarrhea, bloating)
- Low libido
- Poor sleep
- Headaches
You might experience difficulty recovering from a rigorous workout as well. In fact, cortisol levels tend to increase during intense workouts. It could lower your bone density and impact your muscle tissue.
Remember, your ECS regulates your stress levels. Consider using CBD to ease your anxiety. Reducing your cortisol levels could give your muscles the chance to heal.
You can use CBD for recovery and get back to working out.
Increased Endurance
In order to survive an intense workout, you’ll need to kick up your stamina.
CBD could help you experience the high most people call a “runner’s high.” CBD impacts anandamide levels, which is a natural compound. Anandamide triggers the euphoric sensation associated with a runner’s high.
It can also help you feel pain-free.
Boosting your anandamide levels could increase your endurance and ensure pain doesn’t slow you down.
A Better Mood
CBD’s ability to ease anxiety could boost your mood, too. In fact, your ECS regulates your mood as well.
First, CBD can calm your mind to ensure you get enough sleep each night. It can also boost your energy levels during the day. You’ll feel more alert, helping you focus on your workouts.
Make More Muscle
CBD could help regulate your blood sugar levels. Your body will store less insulin as a result. Less insulin often means less fat storage.
Once your body starts storing less fat, it stays in an anti-catabolic mode. Your body could find it easier to produce more muscle as a result.
Help Your Gut
If you’re experiencing gastrointestinal issues, you might find it difficult to work out.
CBD might help reduce nausea and other gut problems. You’ll have an easier time working out as a result.
CBD AND EXERCISE: YOUR POTENTIAL SECRET WEAPON
To recap, what’s the link between CBD and exercise? CBD could help regulate your ECS. Your ECS is involved in systems like muscle formation, pain and inflammation, and sleep.
Regulating your ECS could make it easier for you to recover from intense workouts.Interested in trying CBD for recovery for yourself? Explore our different CBD products today to get started!
