Professional sports have been invaded by CBD. Everyone from NHL players recovering from an on-ice brawl to runners cooling their muscles after a race has touted the benefits of the cannabinoid. CBD will not get you high, but its anti-inflammatory effects might help your body recover after a strenuous workout.
“I enjoyed a 10-year playing career [1981-1990]. I have taken more pain pills in that time than most people have in their lifetime. I wish I had known about the benefits of CBD much earlier,” David Ahrens, a retired NFL linebacker and current advocate for Athletes for Care, told Men’s Health magazine.
“All the doctors ever gave us was codeine, Tylenol-Codeine No. 3, and other stuff… In the beginning of my career, it was handed out like candy. We had to play. There was no care about player health—only your performance was important.”
CBD’s potential as a replacement for pharmaceutical painkillers is especially attractive. When exercising, muscle fibers become damaged, triggering inflammation. This condition is known as Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). Evidence shows that CBD can fight inflammation.
“Broadly speaking, it does decrease inflammation when it’s rubbed on muscles as an ointment or taken orally,” explained Dr. Perry Solomon, a founding member of HelloMD.
After a tough workout, ingesting CBD or applying it topically may provide relief to your aching muscles. There are also other reputed benefits beyond its anti-inflammatory effects that may be beneficial. For instance, many people report sleeping better after consuming. Adequate rest is critical for muscle growth.
Because the exact benefits are still being determined, if you want to add CBD to your workout regimen, you need to be willing to experiment. Try consuming a tincture, or nibble on an edible. You’re the only person who can decide what method, if any, is right for your body.
Image source: Cannabis Info
