It is quite obvious that the demand for CBD is increasing continuously. This cannabis plant’s ingredient has the ability to do miracles in many ways. And while the health and wellness industries have it as their main compound for the future of many products, the growth does not stop. In fact, CBD is increasing in all possible branches of our life, from sleeping, to eating healthy, to sports. That is right, CBD is spreading massively in the sports world. The reason behind all this buzz is simple, Cannabidiol or CBD has plenty of beneficial effects for the body.
But being a cannabis plant’s ingredient was not easy for CBD to strike through and shine. It is a fact that CBD is one of the hundreds of cannabinoids present in these plants, just like THC. But what are the differences and how come CBD products are safe to use and legal while THC products are not. And more importantly what are some of the benefits of using CBD being an athlete.
Understanding CBD in sports and its benefits
First things first, CBD does not resemble THC which is responsible for the psychoactive effects on users. So, THC is the one ingredient that causes addiction or gets users “high”. But not all cannabis plants have THC as their main ingredient. Hemp, for instance, as a Cannabis Sativa variety may only contain less than 0.3% THC. In addition to that, hemp can produce more than 20% CBD, making it the perfect plant to obtain cannabidiol. The less than 0.3% THC rule is enough proof of the safety of a plant. In most countries in the world, this rule decides legality, with some exceptions.
Switzerland, for instance, is the country that achieved the most regarding the legality and quality of CBD. This country worked really hard to prepare the laws and make sure the Swiss CBD products are the best out there. CBD oils and extracts of Swiss quality are the most wanted in the market. Keep in mind that Switzerland allows up to 1% CBD in these products, be it CBD-containing oils, creams, etc.
The research on the field of hemp and CBD come up with enough evidence proving the many benefits of this medicinal compound. We are sure that some of your relatives, your friends, or even colleagues, have used or are using CBD products. Their opinion and experience may help a lot in convincing yourself to take a step and try it. The list of benefits of taking CBD daily is very large but we will make sure to mention the most important below.
What are the policies of using CBD in sports?
Considering the many beneficial effects that CBD has on the athlete’s body, the anti-doping agency removed CBD from the list of prohibited substances. Keep in mind that it is impossible to extract 100% CBD as a pure. Most of the CBD products contain other cannabinoids and as a result, contain a mixture of several ingredients.
If you are a professional athlete that takes regular anti-doping checks, we recommend you stop taking CBD products while on a competition. As an alternative to pass any kind of test, make sure you only use CBD-based products with no THC at all.
Benefits and usage tips of CBD in sports
You can take CBD in many different ways including droplets, creams, lotion, capsules, etc. Athletes used it as a useful nutritional supplement and now use it to increase performance. In addition to that, they use it to speed up the body’s recovery process and optimize muscle functions.
Here is a small list of all the benefits of using CBD being an athlete:
- CBD helps to strengthen the immune system and as a result, makes the body more resistant.
- Cannabidiol reduces stress and anxiety which comes from intense training or competition stress.
- The anti-inflammatory effect of CBD helps to speed up recovery in case of injuries.
- CBD helps relieve pain that comes from training or exercising hard.
- Cannabidiol plays a massive role in a better sleeping experience and relaxation.
- CBD helps athletes control their weight.
- And in addition to recovery speeding, CBD helps gain muscles.
In conclusion, as athletes, you most probably have professional staff around, including doctors. Do not hesitate to ask them for more information, especially if you are using other medications. We say that because mixing CBD as an all-natural compound with other compounds will not guarantee benefits.
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