Exercise often goes hand in hand with a healthy lifestyle. A balanced diet, taking dietary supplements, and cryotherapy to improve recovery—the examples are numerous.
This might come as a surprise to many, but CBD is also said to be a great ally for your workouts—both before and after exercise. From its anti-inflammatory properties to increased energy, improved focus, and optimized muscle recovery, here’s everything you need to know about the benefits athletes are said to gain from using CBD!
What is CBD?
Since its legalization in France, CBD has become increasingly popular, for reasons as varied as the individual profiles of each consumer. But what some consumers may not realize is that CBD comes from the hemp plant, which makes it a cannabinoid.
CBD and THC are both cannabinoids found in the well-known hemp plant, also known as “Cannabis sativa.” However, their similarities end there. Unlike THC, which is classified as a narcotic and poses significant health risks, CBD is a completely legal substance. This is because its use poses no health risks or risk of addiction, and because it is believed to offer a wide range of benefits for the body. Some of these benefits are particularly beneficial before and after a workout.
By interacting with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in our endocannabinoid system (ECS), cannabidiol molecules appear to alter our perceptions of well-being and happiness, as well as those related to stress and pain.
CBC, anti-inflammatory properties, and muscle mass gain
All physical activities have one rather obvious thing in common: they work our muscles, to a greater or lesser extent. However, this muscle stimulation causes both muscle growth and an internal inflammatory response.
Let's get into the details. When you work out, a kind of acute inflammation occurs in your body. This inflammation helps you build muscle mass while eliminating foreign substances. And that is precisely what causes post-workout muscle soreness.
What is the benefit of CBD in this context? Well, it is believed that CBD use may have potential anti-inflammatory properties. These properties could help reduce muscle soreness while still promoting muscle growth.
The muscle soreness that typically follows your workouts would thus be relieved, without affecting your muscle growth, and—most importantly—without any side effects to worry about.
CBD Before Exercise: The Benefits
It is helpful to distinguish between the potential benefits of CBD before a workout and after a workout.
First, let’s take a look at the benefits of taking CBD before exercising. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a competitive athlete, play tennis, ride a bike, practice Krav Maga, or lift weights at the gym. Your general needs will be the same, namely:
- a high level of energy,
- good concentration during exercise,
- and, finally, coordination of movements.
To ensure a successful workout—regardless of the sport—you can prepare for your performance in advance. And this is where CBD can come in handy. Very handy, in fact. It’s said to check all the boxes mentioned earlier: energy levels, concentration during exercise, and coordination of movements would all be optimized.
CBD After Exercise: For Better Muscle Recovery
It’s not enough to just take dietary supplements, give it your all during your workout, and then go home, waiting to see the physical changes you want. Far from it. Many professional athletes advise not to neglect the phase that follows a workout—that is, the recovery phase.
Once again, CBD may be beneficial for muscle recovery. During a workout, our muscle fibers are stressed and sustain micro-tears. Thanks to its purported relaxing and anti-inflammatory effects, CBD may thus be able to accelerate the regeneration of our muscle fibers, thereby improving the recovery process overall and preparing our bodies for the next workout.
What about using CBD to lose weight?
Of course, whenever the topic of sports comes up, so does the topic of weight loss is never far behind. Whether your goal is to lose weight in general or to get lean, taking cannabidiol can help with what’s known as fat browning.
"Fat browning" refers to the process by which poor-quality white fat is converted into healthy brown fat. While white fat is simply stored in our bodies, brown fat is essential for properly nourishing our muscles and ensuring their development.
Thus, taking CBD may indirectly help with weight loss and cutting, as well as support muscle health and improve digestive function—all without any unpleasant surprises in the form of side effects or addiction.
