Many of us have felt a sense of dread halfway through a workout, knowing that our muscles will ache the next day.
Whether you’re a runner, swimmer, hiker, or an athlete, we’ve all experienced the discomfort that follows heavy exercise.
The older we get, the more we seem to suffer as a result of trying to do what’s best for our bodies and our overall fitness.
Thanks to CBD, muscle recovery can be alleviated thanks to its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
Back in 2018, Frontiers in Neurology published a review of 132 studies revealing that high-quality CBD can assist with reducing inflammation throughout the body. The review also stated that CBD could help to improve symptoms of pain and mobility in people living with multiple sclerosis.
The authors wrote:
“CBD is anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiemetic, antipsychotic, and neuroprotective.”
Sourced naturally from both marijuana and industrial hemp crops, CBD is one of over 100 cannabinoids that occur within cannabis plants.
Although it is a close cousin to THC, microscopic differences in genetic makeup mean that CBD has no psychoactive effects, meaning it won’t get users high.
Studies show that CBD could help both reduce cravings and relieve withdrawal effects in people who are addicted to marijuana. It can also mitigate some of THC’s psychoactive properties.
CBD is Ideal Before and After a Workout
Many people consider using CBD as a post-workout supplement to benefit from its muscle recovery properties.
However, some CBD users have found that taking CBD before they hit the gym provides a natural boost to their concentration and performance.
A pre-workout dose of CBD can provide a base for your post-exercise dose. However, make sure you leave enough time between doses for the CBD to stimulate your body’s endocannabinoid system.
A gap of sixty to ninety minutes between doses should be sufficient for most people.
CBD and the Endocannabinoid System
An additional benefit of CBD and muscle recovery is the impact that CBD supplementation has on the endocannabinoid system.
This system is a significant regulatory network inside the human body that helps to promote homeostasis and recovery throughout our organs and nervous systems.
When we consume high-quality CBD, the endocannabinoid system is stimulated, helping the body’s functions run more smoothly and efficiently. As we replenish compounds by taking CBD, we can boost immune function, concentration, metabolism, coordination, energy balance, and various other important bodily functions.
CBD’s Anti-Inflammatory Properties
When CBD is taken after a workout, many people use it as a natural anti-inflammatory to aid muscle recovery.
They are right to do so, CBD oil is idly regarded as one of the best natural anti-inflammatory supplements available today.
CBD helps muscles to heal faster and grow stronger by giving our bodies a natural boost while reducing recovery times and pain levels.
CBD could even help people to get a good night’s sleep, which further aids muscle recovery.
As we sleep, our bodies produce melatonin, which is a hormone that helps to facilitate muscle growth and recovery.
If we don’t get enough sleep because we can’t relax due to post-workout discomfort, our muscles cannot fully recover.
Is CBD Safe?
If you purchase CBD products that have been laboratory certified and are free from contaminants, they are very safe to use.
That said, we recommend that you always buy from a quality certified CBD provider.
If you’re unsure, ask them to provide a Certificate of Analysis (COA) from a third-party laboratory test.
Not only does this guarantee the quality of your CBD product, but it also helps you to track and set you dosage amounts and schedules.
When you use a certified CBD provider, you don’t have to worry about taking too much CBD by accident because the label differs from the contents of the product.
CBD Dosage
The exact dosage of CBD that people need varies from person to person. According to another Frontiers in Neurology report, doses as high as 1,500mg per day have been well-tolerated in humans.
That said, we always recommend starting low and going slow with CBD.
One safe way of working out your ideal dosage is to start by taking just 5-10mg a day and increasing the dose by 5-10mg daily until you feel relief.
How much CBD you require depends of body weight, age, diet, metabolism, genetics, and a host of other factors. There are no concrete specifications that will determine the correct CBD dose for one person.
If you’re taking CBD for muscle relief and recovery, we recommend scheduling your first dose on a regular training day rather than during a competition or an important training session.
Additionally, if you are currently taking any prescribed medications, we recommend speaking to your doctor before you start taking CBD.
This is because CBD may interfere with the way your body metabolises drugs. Although this is quite rare, we always recommend staying safe and putting your health first.
In conclusion, studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that CBD can be effective for muscle recovery after a workout and is safe to take pre and post-workout.
Indeed, CBD supplementation could provide a range of health benefits, both physical and mental.
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