You would have to live pretty far outside of civilisation these days, not to have noticed the growing popularity of CBD products available on the health and wellness market. Today, the usage of CBD is no stranger even to the sports industry. Everyday gym-goers to professional athletes opt to use CBD to help perform better when doing arduous workouts. How is CBD a great addition to CrossFit workouts? Find out below.
CrossFit is a fusion of a high-intensity fitness program with several elements from other sports such as weightlifting and gymnastics. Simply put, CrossFit is a modern strength and conditioning workout that incorporates different types of exercises. Due to the challenging nature of the activity, even fitness experts find these functional movements taxing. That said, the human body experiences minor tears and muscle inflammation, which are natural after performing heavy workouts. This is where CBD does its magic – it aids in recovery and relieves the soreness swiftly. So, what is CBD, and how does CBD can improve your CrossFit performance?
What Is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or known more popularly as “CBD” these days, is a naturally found substance in, you guessed it: cannabis! More specifically, CBD traces are discovered in the cannabis’ resinous flower. The breeding and cultivation of cannabis have been all over history, from ancient China to the medieval Islamic world, have been using CBD extensively as a way to treat ailments. In recent history, CBD was discovered by Roger Adams, an American chemist whose research was responsible for finding Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC as well. Contrary to popular belief, not all cannabinoids cause a high sensation. CBD alone cannot trigger you to get “high” due to not having intoxicating elements.
CBD is thought to interfere with the molecular endocannabinoid system, which plays an essential role in regulating and balancing common processes in the body, including immune response, sleep, stress, inflammation, pain, mood, and many others. Through such an interaction, CBD is able to help reduce pain and chronic aches, relieve anxiety and stress, reduce inflammation, boost mood and energy, increase alertness, regulate sleep quality, etc.
What’s more, CBD comes in different formats like capsules, topicals, vapes, edibles, and drinks, all of which require specific methods of intake, provide various onset time and benefits. Therefore, it is crucial to purchase the right product that will suit your personal preferences and particular needs.
Is CBD Legal In Sports?
CBD products are normally used by athletes during recovery stages in replacement of other forms of pain relief, to improve energy and endurance, increase concentration, and promote quicker recuperation. However, you might be wondering: isn’t cannabis a banned substance in sports and, therefore, illegal?
Not exactly. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed CBD from the list of prohibited substances in 2018. However, the THC compound is still banned from the list. For drug testing purposes, taking CBD should not test positive for THC, especially if the product is CBD isolate.
Also, if you buy CBD oil infused with broad-spectrum CBD, this type of cannabidiol includes CBD along with cannabinoids, terpenes and phytonutrients with a zero percentage of THC compound. That’s why the purer the CBD is, the better. Pure CBD, on its own, has no intoxicating psychoactive elements, and therefore is recognised and legal in sports – a win-win for everyone.
How Can CBD Help In CrossFit?
CrossFitters and athletes use CBD oil to relax muscle spasms, ache, and pain and accelerate the recovery period. This way, no time is wasted, and CrossFitters can return to their workout faster. Research conducted on fitness athletes and sports performance anxiety (SPA), it was discovered that CBD reduced the feeling of nervousness and signs of cold feet among athletes before they went on to perform.
It doesn’t stop there. CBD works well for post-workout as well. It’s a known fact that when you use exercise, it is imperative that you are well rested to repair the torn muscles. Sleep helps restore balance and ensures you are packed with enough rest and energy to get through the day. What CBD does, it alleviates anxiety, which enables falling asleep even better. Aside from that, CBD has also shown to work for people that are subjected to insomnia by promoting restful sleep and helping to stay asleep longer.
Possible Side-Effects
Thankfully, it’s uncommon to experience negative physical reactions from taking CBD. However, some people might experience adverse side effects. Among the after-effects noted in studies are diet and weight changes, fatigue, and diarrhoea. It’s also known that CBD can react with medications in different ways. If you take any supplements or prescribed drugs which feature a ‘grapefruit warning,’ this is a particular reason for concern if taking CBD. That is because both CBD and grapefruit affect P450, which is a collection of enzymes that are instrumental for metabolising drugs. Either way, it’s important that you chat with your doctor prior to taking CBD oil if you are taking any prescribed medications.
A study with mice also showed that CBD might have a link to liver toxicity, although in this case, the mice had been force-fed very large doses of a marijuana extract that happened to contain a large quantity of CBD. Please avoid taking a high dose of CBD oil the first time you use it. Start with a smaller amount and then figure out whether you need a higher one or not afterwards.
