CBD is still hailed as the new ‘go to’ supplement for a myriad of reasons – including making your workouts better. But what is it and how can it help? Personal trainer and journalist Lucy Gornall reports
CBD has risen in popularity over recent years and is increasingly becoming a household name.
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of the naturally occurring compounds found in the cannabis plant.
Although they belong to the same family, CBD oil sourced from hemp plants, is very different from CBD sourced from marijuana.
Despite cannabis igniting a ‘high’, CBD doesn’t contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound that produces this ‘high’.
CBD is in the limelight after extensive scientific research in America has shown that the ingredient could be beneficial to health and wellbeing. It’s been said to help with sleep, anxiety and even pain relief.
In fact, if you’re a gym goer, you could reap several benefits from CBD, to make your workouts, work harder!
Typically found in oil form, CBD is also sold in balms, capsules and even gummies. Here’s why CBD could be your new go-to exercise aid…
#1 Helps to beat muscle soreness and boost recovery
Sore after a workout? DOMs for days? CBD is renowned for its anti-inflammatory effects and when applied directly to a sore area, it can help to beat aching muscles and joints.
Inflammation occurs after a tough workout, which leads to pain, so any inflammatory actions can allow you to keep going through life, pain free.
CBD hemp extracts are antioxidant rich and have anti-inflammatory effects on joints, to help improve pain and stiffness.
CBD hemp extracts are antioxidant rich and have anti-inflammatory effects on joints
You can take CBD oil in addition to other joint supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, turmeric or omega-3 for additional pain relief.
While many clinical studies on CBD oil and joint pain are on animals, the authors of a report on CBD oil and joint pain published in 2017 in the journal Clinical Experimental Rheumatology concluded that ‘…the preclinical and human data that do exist indicate that the use of CBD should be taken seriously as a potential treatment of joint pain’.
Puresport Muscle and Joint Balm contains 1000mg of CBD as well as other natural ingredients which promote relaxation including lavender, lemongrass and peppermint.
#2 Improves sleep and provides energy
Sleep is the glue that holds us together, and without enough of it, you won’t have the energy to really give your workouts everything you’ve got.
One study showed how sleep scores among a group of 72 adults improved within just the first month of taking CBD. Try taking 30mg of CBD 30 minutes before bed, to help you drift off into a peaceful slumber.
CBD is a popular treatment for insomnia and promotes refreshing REM sleep to help reduce excessive daytime sleepiness.
CBD is a popular treatment for insomnia and promotes refreshing REM sleep
REM sleep means ‘Rapid Eye Movement’ and is essentially a term for refreshing sleep. When you dream you experience REM sleep, and this is the kind of sleep you hope to get into several times during your nightly sleep cycle because it helps process emotions and memories and is essential to long-term wellbeing.
CBD is also particularly helpful for sleep disorders in people with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, a small but significant study published in 2014 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacological Therapies found.
Although it’s still debated as to whether CBD oil can actually provide energy and therefore enhance performance, there has been a study which has found how small amounts could be somewhat stimulating.
This tends to occur when 15mg or less is taken.
#3 Beat stress
Most of us will have experienced stress at some point in our lives. In fact, a 2018 UK survey found that 74 per cent of people had felt so stressed that they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.
What’s more, 12 million adults in the UK see their GP with mental health problems each year, research from the The Mental Health Foundation has found.
Most of these suffer from anxiety and depression and much of this is stress-related. A shocking 13.3 million working days are lost per year due to stress alone.
CBD is believed to enhance the effects of your natural brain chemicals
Whilst there are a number of ways to relieve stress, CBD has been found to be a useful aid.
CBD is believed to enhance the effects of your natural brain chemicals and receptors within the body’s own endocannabinoid system (a collection of cell receptors related to mood).
In one study, 37.5 per cent of respondents said they used CBD for perceived stress, whilst 92.2 per cent said they experienced less stress when using CBD.
Puresport Clarity Oil is specifically designed to relieve stress, reduce brain fog and boost concentration thanks to a mix of 1500mg of CBD, Ashwagandha, Vitamin D and Ginkgo Biloba.
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