CBD for Athletic Recovery Benefits More Than Muscles

Good things come to those who sweat. Exercise is essential for improving mental health, managing weight, strengthening bones and muscles, and reducing the risk of disease. A great workout makes you feel invincible, right? At least until the next morning when Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) makes it difficult to move.

Although most athletes are resilient, they’re not resistant to muscle overexertion and injuries.

Lately, pro athletes and weekend warriors are turning to CBD products for faster athletic recovery. You’ve heard the saying, “No pain, no gain,” but with the help of cannabidiol, athletes at all levels can gain without pain. Honest.

A daily regimen of CBD products keeps muscle and joint soreness at bay. Plus, CBD benefits more than just muscles, which helps athletes get back to their respective workouts faster and stronger.

How Does CBD Boost Athletic Performance and Recovery?

CBD is one of over 100 cannabinoids found in the hemp plant. The compound interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that helps regulate many vital bodily functions such as pain control, inflammatory response, sleep quality, and emotional processing.

A daily regimen of CBD products—tinctures, softgels, gummies, topicals, and energy mix—helps the ECS maintain homeostasis (balance) throughout the body by positively impacting the following:

• Pain

• Inflammation

• Sleep

• Stress

Basically, cannabidiol helps the body and mind achieve peak wellness, which every athlete needs to boost their athletic performance and recovery.

Here’s how it works:

CBD Alleviates Joint & Muscle Aches and Pain

All athletes, pro or not, are familiar with muscle and joint soreness (or possible injury?) after an intense game, gym workout, or outdoor run. The Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s your body’s natural response to getting stronger.

Working out a specific muscle causes muscular stress, which leads to damaged muscle fibers. After the workout, your immune system repairs the impaired muscle, making it stronger for the next workout. In short, the more often you stress the muscle, the more often it heals and strengthens.

When muscle strain or injury occurs, the body releases endocannabinoids that attach to various CB1 receptors throughout the body—immune cells, nerve cells, and cells responsible for tissue regeneration. Once the attachment takes place, the healing process begins, which reduces muscle and joint soreness, spasms, and pain.

CBD inhibits the breakdown of these endocannabinoids essential for athletic recovery.

Famous athletes are increasingly turning to cannabidiol products, especially CBD topicals, for natural, pre and post-workout pain relief. The cannabinoid’s healing properties are known for reducing muscle soreness, body aches, and inflammation. No risky NSAIDS required.

What Are the Benefits of CBD Topicals for Faster Sports Recovery?

• CBD topicals (creams, salves, and balms) absorb into the skin, providing localized relief without entering the bloodstream.

• CBD creams quickly relieve muscle discomfort and strain, which promotes faster healing and athletic recovery.

• Athletes can use CBD topicals before, during, and after workouts for safe, consistent relief.

There’s no need to suffer.

CBD Reduces Inflammation

Inflammation is a common (and frustrating) fact of life for pro athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and gym goers. Remember, the body’s immune system repairs damaged muscle fibers after intense exercise. The increased swelling occurs during repair as blood rushes to the affected area to heal the sore muscle.

As the inflammation increases, the immune system works harder to clean out cellular debris and fix the damaged area. So, inflammation is a good thing—sort of—as long as you manage the discomfort before it spoils your fitness goals.

Studies have shown CBD acts as an anti-inflammatory by inhibiting the enzyme COX2. CBD also affects cytokines—the molecules essential for reducing inflammation.

Taking CBD pre and post-workout allows athletes to push their bodies to the limit without worrying about prolonged muscle and joint soreness.

When taken sublingually (under the tongue), CBD tinctures deliver potent, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic benefits within 15 minutes that last for four or more hours.

Did you get all that? There will be a small quiz at the end. JK.

CBD Promotes a Good Night’s Sleep

A good night’s sleep is essential for faster sports recovery. Athletes who overtrain and overexert themselves without proper rest between workout sessions often suffer from sleep disorders that keep them awake all night.

There’s more to restful sleep than rest. The body repairs itself in many ways while you sleep:

• Balances hormones

• Repairs damaged muscle fibers

• Replenishes low energy

• Produces extra insulin growth factor (IFG) for building muscles

• Reduces cortisol (stress) levels which cause muscles to break down

CBD helps stimulate the endocannabinoid system that regulates sleep disorders and sleep-wake cycles.

CBD Melatonin Softgels promote a sounder sleep by controlling sleep-wake cycles. The combination of cannabidiol and melatonin supports healthier sleep stages, so you’ll get tired at the right time, feel awake at the right time, and get a better night’s sleep overall.

So, taking CBD before bedtime helps athletes fall asleep and stay asleep.

CBD Relieves Stress

Athletes often get stressed out before a game or event or from an active life in general. For some, stress acts as an accelerator that psyches them up to improve their game or workout. For others, stress feels overwhelming and has an adverse effect on their sports performance.

Mental health issues such as social anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and plain, old stress can cause debilitating symptoms that completely derail a healthy lifestyle, including fitness goals.

Cannabidiol is a safe, natural alternative to OTC meds that helps athletes stay calm and focused. Taking CBD products (pre and post-workout) delivers consistent stress-busting relief all day.

Conclusion

CBD supports athletic recovery as a pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, sleep aid, and stress reducer.

“Life’s a stage and you only get one performance. Make it a good one.”