Fitness and Hemp — Can CBD Really Up Your Gains?

cbd muscle gains

The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp and its derivatives from being classified as restricted under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The passage of this bill was facilitated by the fact that hemp contains a high amount of cannabidiol (CBD) and lesser than 0.3 percent of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Neither hemp nor CBD can make you high, and it's also rare to overdose on either. In addition to its non-psychoactive property, CBD has been discovered to offer numerous health benefits including anti-seizure and anti-cancer.

The fitness industry is not left out when it comes to the medical benefits of CBD. When deeply analyzed, fitness is a science and the use of CBD can help you more than you can possibly imagine. Below are some proven benefits athletes and/or regular individuals working on their physique/fitness can derive from CBD.

Reduction of Pain and Inflammation

Do you know that pain is a feedback from the brain? The brain tells us how we feel. Extensive studies on the subject show that CBD acts on brain receptors, such that they relay lesser pain-feel. A recent work of research that was aimed at observing the effectiveness of CBD in alleviating pain reported that 15 out of the 18 subjects demonstrated significant pain reduction.

Also contributing to this pain reduction activity is the anti-inflammatory effect of CBD. A 2016 study revealed CBD can help reduce joint swelling. During workouts, athletes are more likely to have bruises or swollen joints, what better to use for treatment than CBD. It should be noted that recent studies show that no significant side effects are evident when CBD is used for these conditions.

Quick Muscle Recovery and Bone Healing

Whether you are a professional athlete, an amateur working out in your backyard or retired athlete who isn't quite as strong as you used to be, CBD can help.

A 2018 scientific review of 132 studies reported CBD to indeed be effective as an antioxidative and anti-inflammatory. A review published in Sports Medicine also noted that CBD is effective in maintaining healthy bones and healing injuries.

During a workout, although the muscle is naturally built to withstand rigorous exercise, it has its limit. Whenever it's stressed beyond its limit, there may be some tiny tears which would eventually result in inflammation. To restore the muscle to its normal state, the body immune system kicks into action to help repair the damaged tissues and this may take some time to complete.

CBD anti-inflammatory property speeds up the recovery process. Hence, your muscle heals quicker and also become stronger. Its effect is faster than most products you can get in the market. Since it is no longer labelled illegal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), professional athletes can make use of it without fear of being suspended.

Reduction of Muscle Spasms

Both the skeletal and smooth muscles of the body can be affected by muscle spasms. Skeletal muscle spasms are most frequent when the muscle is overstretched during a rigorous workout or activity.

Spasms are usually short-term pain and may be reduced by gently stretching the affected area. The use of CBD can also help to reduce this. Scientific studies conducted on the subject show that cannabinoids can help reduce muscle spasms. CBD is one of these compounds, as a matter of fact, it is the second most abundant cannabinoid after tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It can also be used to relieve spasms that occur in smooth muscles notably within our visceral organs such as the colon.

Uniform muscle buildup

The reason you are not building muscle despite your long hours in the gym might be because of catabolic hormones. Imbalance in the regulation of these hormones such as cortisol may affect muscle mass increase.

CBD can regulate catabolic hormones including adrenaline, cortisol and glucagon; thus reducing your muscle breakdown. Although this same effect can be achieved with the use of anabolic supplements, CBD is preferable because it presents no side effects including those associated with anabolic supplements such as quick breakdown of muscle mass if you don’t exercise on a routine basis.

Enhances weight loss

Aside from athletes, a typical person in the gym is most likely there to maintain his/her physique. You probably know of some friends who made signing up for the gym part of their new year resolution but give up due to the inability to keep up. Losing weight can be really tough however, with determination and the right plan you can do it. Based on reports from studies and firsthand accounts of users CBD can help with weight loss. It increases your metabolism and at the same time reduces your cravings for edibles.

To cap it all, CBD encourages the production of more brown fat in the body. Brown fats are burn by the body to generate heat.

Relieves Stress and Anxiety

A study conducted in 2019 showed that anxiety negatively impacts Powerlifting athletes’ performance. Anxiety is a serious issue that shouldn't be taken lightly. Luckily, fitness training is not only meant to improve physique, it also helps your mental health. CBD interacts with the brain by binding with the CB1 and CB2 receptors. The CB1 receptors have been linked with stress and anxiety. It is the receptor for serotonin, a chemical in the brain which plays an important role in defining our emotions. It should be noted that low amounts of serotonin in the brain can result in depression and anxiety.

CBD helps to maintain a balance of this chemical in the brain and thus reduce anxiety athletes may experience prior to a performance.

Improves Sleep

Sleep is an essential component of our well-being. It significantly affects our physical and mental health. Asides from that, it also enhances quick recovery from injury/inflammation sustained during workout/training.

Many surveys conducted have discovered that athletes do not get the recommended duration of sleep. This has also been reported to affect their performance and make them more vulnerable to injury.

Do you know that CBD has been shown to improve sleep duration and relaxation? High levels of cortisol (also called stress hormone) can inhibit sleep. CBD has been reported to be effective in reducing this hormone in the body thus promoting a calm, relaxed mood.