How Does CBD Affect Exercise?

Exercise is a practice done by many people to keep fit and healthy. CBD is used during exercise. It provides health benefits and keeps one more fit. The article highlights the association between exercise and CBD by explaining the following; is CBD legal? How does CBD enhance exercise?

CBD is an active, healthy chemical compound derived from the cannabis plant, which contains over 100 other active compounds. It is mostly derived from the hemp plant, which contains a low level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD is non-psychoactive compared to THC; rather, it highlights various properties like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and many more, making it the best supplement for workouts. Cannabidiol (CBD) has its benefits in exercise and fitness. The compound promotes performance by enhancing muscle growth and recovery, giving energy, reducing worry before exercise, and many more. In addition, CBD has limited side effects when used properly and has no dependency or addiction to its users.

Is CBD Legal?

CBD is legal. Most herbal remedies used during training exercises for the major competition are illegal. Many can be identified in the drug test and also show some addictions, including marijuana and Kratom among others. Crossland et al. (2022) explained that no matter how much CBD you consume, it has no negative psychological effects and rarely shows in sports drug tests. In 2018 farm bill signed by the former USA president legalized the growth, distribution, and selling of CBD-infused products. This prompted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to remove CBD from prohibited substances during sports training and competitions.

How to Use CBD for Exercise

There are various forms of CBD available in the market; however, since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the selling of these products, it is important to choose high-quality products for exercise. To ensure you have the best product consider the following:

• Brand reputation : choose a reputable brand
• Has the product undergone third-party testing?
• Go organic; ensure the source of CBD is from cannabis plant cultivated trough organic methods.
• Choose a highly potent product.
• Consider the THC level of the product, which should be less than 0.3%

As the CBD market grows, various CBD products are available online or in shops used differently for exercise; most suited include CBD topicals, CBD edibles, and CBD oil tinctures. CBD topicals involve applying CBD directly to the skin, where it does not enter the bloodstream but interacts with skin receptors to provide the desired effects. It can take around 90 minutes to feel the effects. CBD edibles involve infusing CBD into foods, gummies, and drinks, allowing you to harvest the power of the compound with a delicious flavor. However, since the compound passes through digestion and metabolic process, it may take around 2 to 3 hours to feel the effects. Lastly, CBD oil tinctures are taken by dropping a few drops of CBD oil under the tongue and holding it for around 60 seconds to allow the product to diffuse through the soft membranes of the mouth to the bloodstream. Its effects manifest within 2 to 5 minutes.

Benefits of CBD to Exercises

Atalay et al. (2020) stated that CBD has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-seizures which make it a good remedy for exercise fatigue and injuries. Depending on your preference, you can take CBD before or after exercise. Therefore their benefits can be split into two ways; after and before.

Before Exercises

Reduces Anxiety and Stress

Before an exercise, you may feel nervous due to fear of getting injured or lack of confidence. Spinella et al. (2021) explained that CBD interacts with the cannabinoid receptors, reducing how you perceive emotions, and inducing a relaxing effect. Additionally, exercise is one way to cure stress; however, it requires additional aid. Stress reduces muscle growth; therefore, it is important to tame them by taking CBD to reduce the production of a stress hormone called cortisol.

Provides a Quality Sleep

Sleep prepares your body for extreme exercises. CBD provides a relaxing effect that enables one to fall asleep faster and deeper. Moreover, during the day, it keeps you fresh, active, and alert for exercises, improving your overall performance.

Increases body energy and mobility

You may feel lazy for workouts due to joint stiffness and low energy level. CBD increases the glucose level in the body by interacting with the Endocannabinoid system, converting body fat to glucose. It means more glucose is converted into energy. Nonetheless, converting fat to glucose means staying fit and having good body flexibility.

After Exercise

Reduces Inflammation and pain

During hard workouts, the body's immune system sounds an alarm, increasing oxidative cell activities and inflammation—excessive inflammation results in muscle injuries and pains. Peyravian et al. (2022) said that CBD is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant; therefore, it reduces these activities after a workout by interacting with body receptors. Any reduction of inflammation results in pain reduction

Improves Muscle Injuries Recovery

Muscle soreness and musculoskeletal injuries are very common during workouts. Muscles may experience microscopic tissue tears, which normally the body produces antibodies that recover the lost tissue, but sometimes the body requires assistance. CBD helps in cell production because it is enriched with omega 3 and 6, which helps tissue repair.

It Helps in Muscle Growth

Most products that tackle inflammation inhibit muscle growth. CBD is exceptional since it treats the imbalance and increases muscle growth by tackling the inhibitors of muscle enlargement. CBD has anti-catabolic properties that control the production of the hormone cortisol. Additionally, it increases the conversion of body stored fat into muscles by increasing the body's demand for energy.

Conclusion

CBD is available in various forms for people's workouts, from CBD topicals like lotion, balm, cream and salve oil, gummies, edibles, softgels, and CBD capsules. CBD products are convenient and efficient methods of adding the supplements into your daily exercise to harness CBD’s anti-inflammation, increasing energy and mobility, reducing anxiety and stress, reducing muscle recovery, providing good quality sleep, and increasing muscle growth. According to WADA, CBD is legal in all sports; however, it is important to consider factors like manufacturer reputation, THC level, third-party testing, and CBD source before purchasing it for exercise.

References

Atalay, S., Jarocka-Karpowicz, I., & Skrzydlewska, E. (2020). Antioxidative and anti-            inflammatory properties of cannabidiol. Anti-oxidants, 9(1), 21.

Crossland, B. W., Rigby, B. R., Duplanty, A. A., King, G. A., Juma, S., Levine, N. A., ... &             Varone, N. L. (2022, June). Acute Supplementation with Cannabidiol Does Not Attenuate Inflammation or Improve Measures of Performance following Strenuous    Exercise. In Healthcare (Vol. 10, No. 6, p. 1133). MDPI.

Peyravian, N., Deo, S., Daunert, S., & Jimenez, J. J. (2022). The Anti-Inflammatory             Effects of Cannabidiol (CBD) on Acne. Journal of Inflammation Research, 15, 2795.

Spinella, T. C., Stewart, S. H., Naugler, J., Yakovenko, I., & Barrett, S. P. (2021).      Evaluating cannabidiol (CBD) expectancy effects on acute stress and anxiety in             healthy adults: a randomized crossover study. Psychopharmacology, 238(7), 1965-     1977.