New Year, New Me, and the 75-day challenge have filled January and when it comes to finding new ways to stay healthy and get the most out of your workouts, you might want to consider CBD oil as a way to contribute to optimal health and ultimate well-being.
While you might be aware that CBD can help in areas such as sleep and its new worthy impact on specific medical conditions, not much has been discussed about how it can be used for working out. Take your gym days and recovery days to the next level.
Overall, CBD can have a positive impact on your long-term health, giving you the motivation, energy, and strength you not only need for this fast-paced modern lifestyle we all adhere to but also a perfect boost we all need right before a workout. This might be the solution for people who ‘can’t get into the gym’ and can’t find the motivation to go longer than two weeks.
This article is here to answer all the questions you might have about whether CBD can improve your exercise experience.
What is CBD Oil?
Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is a cannabinoid extracted from the cannabis plant. CBD has been shown to have a variety of therapeutic applications without the psychoactive effects associated with other THC products. CBD oil, rather than altering a person’s mental state, causes changes in the body that may unlock or enhance a variety of health benefits.
CBD is extracted through different methods and is typically derived from industrial hemp. Once extracted, the CBD extract is combined with a carrier oil to create CBD oil.
What Are The Facts?
A study of 42 runners found that using cannabis before exercise improves mood and enjoyment. The study found that both THC and CBD can improve the exercise experience, with CBD outperforming THC in some cases.
However, THC can make exercise feel more difficult due to an increased heart rate. While cannabis may increase enjoyment, it is not considered a performance-enhancing drug and should be used with caution.
Key Facts:
- Cannabis, both THC and CBD, can improve enjoyment and mood during exercise, potentially increasing its appeal.
- CBD, in particular, demonstrated significant benefits in improving exercise experience while avoiding the impairment associated with THC.
- THC can raise the heart rate, making exercise feel more difficult, and it is not recommended for performance improvement.
What Are The General Benefits of CBD?
Here are some of the most talked about or notable benefits of adding CBD to your daily life:
Excellent Natural Sleep Aid
CBD oil has been a go-to for those who are suffering from insomnia and either have had no luck with over-the-counter tablets or want to try something natural that works.
Sleep is a lot more important than people think. It can be the difference between a good and bad day but if you want to get the most out of your workouts and overall health,. As CBD helps you get a full night’s sleep, your body can recover from a workout, meaning CBD can directly impact your exercise the following day and make the experience a lot more enjoyable, so you will be able to push yourself more, and those gains will shortly follow.
Help Treat Psychological Disorders
As CBD has become more popular, many people have and still use it to treat and ease symptoms associated with a range of psychological disorders. For example, CBD is thought to help with PSTD and depression.
CBD oil is also used by people recovering from heroin addiction.
Used To Treat Neurological Disorders
CBD is commonly used to treat seizure disorders and other neurological conditions due to its effect on neuronal hyperactivity. Some CBD products, such as Epidiolex, have received FDA approval to treat childhood seizures, specifically Dravet syndrome and Lennox Gastaut syndrome.
This substance contained 98% CBD and less than 0.15% THC, limiting its psychoactive effects to address the potentially harmful effects of childhood seizures.
Eases Chronic Panic
Adults suffering from chronic pain often use CBD supplements to ease pain and try to enjoy life without extreme symptoms. One study showed that CBD is a promising alternative to using opioids in chronic pain treatment because of its non-intoxicating properties, while other clinical trials are underway to better understand and evaluate if CBD can lessen severe pain.
Contributing To a Healthy Heart
Some research indicates that CBD is good for the heart and can aid with various health conditions, such as high blood pressure. CBD influences contractions in the heart muscle, widening blood vessels and reducing high blood pressure.
Other research is needed to solidify this claim but it’s good to know that CBD doesn’t contribute to any negative effects on the heart.
Helps With Anxiety
Various studies suggest that CBD oil helps with anxiety symptoms, making it a popular and accessible supplement for a lot of people struggling with anxiety. This means that for people who suffer from anxiety, going to the gym can break out of that with the healthy use of CBD oil and it’s a viable option for a multitude of people.
One study discovered that CBD treatment before public speaking resulted in significantly lower anxiety, cognitive impairment, and discomfort during speech. Furthermore, the study found a significantly lower change in anticipatory speech compared to the placebo group.
How Can CBD Improve Exercise Experience?
So to answer the question of how exactly CBD can improve your exercise experience in more detail, here are the ways we’ve found to be more effective.
Post-Workout Soreness
While you might love a good gym session, the soreness that hits your body is enough to set you back at least two days from returning to the gym, and sometimes the pain is that much and, in some cases, puts people off.
Though soreness is a reality of working hard and pushing yourself to reach goals and gains, it is also one of the downsides of working out, especially at the beginning of your fitness journey, it can prevent progress and return visits.
Research suggests that CBD can effectively manage pain and muscle aches, making the healing process seamless. If it can help you sleep and manage pain, then your body has the tools to recover and heal faster.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
CBD can reduce inflammation, which is essential for proper workout recovery. Inflammation causes stiff, uncomfortable joints and raises the risk of injury, making it a major concern for many athletes and recreational exercisers.
CBD Enhances Mobility
CBD can help people with mobility issues, particularly those caused by arthritis, multiple sclerosis, tremors, and other conditions.
CBD supplements have been shown in studies to reduce fatigue, muscle spasticity, and pain associated with this condition, allowing you to move more freely during your workout and get on with your daily activities. This can in turn motivate you to start making healthier choices in your life and provide that choice back to people.
How Can CBD Oil Directly Impact Your Workout?
CBD can also improve your daily workout routine for a more productive, proactive fitness journey, which I can say most people want but struggle to achieve for several reasons. Some of the most notable ways that CBD can impact your workout include:
Give Confidence
One of the main reasons why a lot of people don’t even attend the gym is because of anxiety and fear of entering a place where you don’t know what to do or which machines do what, which I am most definitely guilty of. CBD oil can help with all these pre-jitters and give you the confidence to start your fitness journey without anxiety getting in the way.
Improves Oxygen Level
A successful gym session can benefit from improved oxygen circulation, which CBD contributes to, as shown by the research mentioned above. The supplement can improve oxygen delivery throughout the body, allowing for a less strenuous but still effective workout. This will be extremely beneficial for those who like cardio, HIIT or sports.
Energy Boost
Many athletes have reported that CBD has given them a much-needed boost of energy to confidently navigate through their workout without losing steam or cutting it short. While more research is needed, it is still new on the market, so only time will tell. Health professionals need to be prompted to do regular tests and answer the questions that need answering. According to studies, the body’s endocannabinoid system helps regulate energy intake and storage.
Final Thoughts
Overall, there are a range of health benefits that come with taking CBD oil. If it sounds like it could help with your health beyond the fitness world, then I would recommend it hands down. While there isn’t much research proving its effectiveness, there are enough case studies to show there isn’t any harm in trying. CBD should be partnered with many things to get the most out of it. For example, your oxygen levels aren’t going to increase if you are smoking or vaping, so lifestyle changes to things like nicopods are necessary and you should do your part to make the most of CBD oil.