CBD is becoming a popular supplement among fitness enthusiasts for its potential benefits in managing pain and inflammation. But what exactly is CBD? And how can it help you achieve your fitness goals? This blog post will answer those questions and more. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about CBD and fitness.
What is CBD?
If you have just stumbled across the wonder drug CBD, you are probably full of questions, but the best place to start is with what CBD is. First and foremost, CBD isn’t a wonder drug, but it can be used as a supplement and has a few benefits that athletes can use.
Secondly, CBD is also known as cannabidiol, the second most active cannabinoid within the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, CBD has no intoxicating effects, so it won’t get you high. However, it does offer many of the benefits that THC offers. What makes CBD different from THC? Well, it mainly interacts with the body, which is also how it can provide the benefits it does.
How is it Usually Consumed?
As an athlete or someone generally interested in fitness, you must be careful about what you put in your body to stay healthy. The good news is that there are plenty of healthy ways to consume CBD, and some of the healthiest methods are also the most effective.
Of course, you could use a vaporizer, a popular method of consuming CBD. However, if you want to be very healthy, some of the best procedures available on this page include edibles, tinctures, capsules, and transdermal patches. These methods don’t require you to vape or smoke anything, so you don’t have to worry about lung damage.
How Does CBD Interact With the Body?
When you consume CBD, the cannabinoid loosely attaches itself to your CB1 receptors, primarily found within your central nervous system. Once it attaches itself, it acts as a kind of modulator; in other words, it either blocks or stimulates the receptors, leading to a decrease or amplification in the ability of the receptor to transmit signals.
The result of this is an increase in the natural levels of anandamide within the body, leading to the CB receptors becoming even more sensitive to the already present endocannabinoids within your body. Your mood increases when consuming CBD, and the reduction of symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. More importantly, it allows CBD to reduce the experience of pain.
How Much Needs To Be Consumed?
As mentioned above, the method you use to consume CBD will affect its effectiveness. It is because different consumption methods allow you to consume varying amounts of CBD, which means that if you are consuming CBD to treat something specific, you will need to know how much CBD to consume.
Unfortunately, the dosage required for effectiveness varies from person to person. The general guidelines are something like for a 5’9” male. You should consume 10 milligrams a day. Other experts recommend consuming around 30 milligrams a day if you are in pain, while some suggest starting as low as 5. In other words, it’s a matter of trial and error and figuring out what dosage works best for you for varying amounts of pain.
Benefits of Working Out
Finally, the last thing you should be aware of would be the benefits CBD offers for someone working out, such as yourself. Firstly, one of the most influential aspects of exercising is getting enough sleep; without enough sleep, your athletic performance will suffer. As such, the first benefit is that CBD improves the quality of sleep, allowing you to train hard and recover faster.
The primary benefit of CBD is that it can help you recover after an intense workout session. Why? Because CBD has pain-relieving properties and acts as an anti-inflammatory, your swollen muscles won’t be as sore, which allows you to recover faster and train harder.