As you know, athletes tend to put their bodies through a lot of stress, which can have both positive and negative effects. Training stimulates increased performance, however, physical trauma and wear and tear can lead to injuries and a lot of pain. The methods for managing pain are effective, but they might not be for all. In this article, you will be able to read about CBD products and their benefits for athletes. Let’s take a look:
Is CBD legal for athletes?
CBD products are legal for athletes. At the beginning of 2018, the WADA removed CBD from the list of forbidden substances, USADA also did the same thing. Keep in mind that ONLY CBD products have been removed from the list, the psychoactive part THC is still prohibited.
CBD Basics
Athletes can consume CBD products, however, what is it, what does it do, and why should you consume it? To start with, CBD is already present in our bodies, but, unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive. As someone who trains, you might put your body through a lot of stress which can lead to inflammation and pain that you cannot handle. Well, adding exogenous CBD can help you with managing pain and inflammation. So, now that you know that is legal and safe to use CBD, are you wondering what the benefits of it are? Read on to find out the benefits.
The Benefits of CBD for Athletes
1. It relieves pain
Various studies suggest that CBD can help with effectively reducing pain, including muscle and bone pain from exercising, as well as joints. Despite not having a lot of hard evidence, CBD does appear to help with pain management.
2. Alternative to NSAIDs
Athletes have consumed anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) like Advil for decades, however, these medications might not be safe as they were once considered to be. For example, ultradistance athletes are advised to avoid NSAIDs during events and long training since there is an increased risk of renal damage. Some people even found that the pain-relieving effect of CBD can eliminate or reduce their use of NSAIDs with minimal side effects.
3. It reduces inflammation
Inflammation can actually be good for athletes some times since it helps stimulate positive training adaptations. But, too much inflammation can obstruct recovery and hurt their performance. According to the experts from Gear Patrol, CBD will help with dialing down the response when your immune system turns on the alarm after a hard workout, hence, you will be able to reduce inflammation caused by exercising for longer periods of time.
Conclusion
The emergence of CBD is a big turning point in how sportsmen recover from training stress and it can also manage chronic and occasional pain caused by extensive training and exercise. It is a pain reliever, battles inflammation, and it can help you improve your athletic performance. Also, one of the best benefits to it is that it can reduce athletes dependence on NSAIDs, opioids, and medicine for sleeping, which makes it even more beneficial.
