CBD is benefiting people across society and athletes and sports people are right up there with those who are really seeing positives from using CBD. Here’s how.

Relieve Pain

The latest studies reveal that the main components of cannabis (THC and CBD) are highly effective in reducing pain. Even though more research needs to be done on how cannabis helps reduce musculoskeletal pain from exercise and stiff joints, anecdotal evidence is the best way to test the effectiveness of cannabis in reducing pain until research catches up. In fact, CBD is said to effectively relieve pain for many athletes despite the lack of hard evidence. Many favor using a vaporizer to get the full benefits of CBD, purchase one here.

Alternative to NSAIDs

Athletes have been taking OTC NSAIDs or over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen sodium (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil) for many decades. But these drugs may not be as safe as people used to think. Athletes who train for long hours are advised to avoid NSAIDs due to the increased risk of renal damage. On the other hand, even if your workouts or events are short, you should refrain from frequent use of NSAIDs since they can increase your risk of strokes and heart attacks.

Most athletes say that the effective pain-relieving properties of CBD have helped them eliminate the use of NSAIDS for exercise-related pain. The best thing about CBD is it doesn't have any notable side effects. The Essentials of Pain Medicine (Fourth Edition) states that there have not been any documented deaths from cannabis or cannabinoid-based products so far. On the other hand, a systemic review of studies of oral-mucosal cannabis for numerous conditions states that the majority of adverse effects reported for cannabis were non-serious. 

Alternative to Opioids

The CDC states that there were more than 42,000 opioid-related deaths in the United States in 2016. In fact, opioid pain medications including codeine, oxycontin, and morphine are highly effective for pain management, but these medications come with a significant risk of addiction and death due to overdose. Even though cannabinoids are not as effective as opioids for relieving high-intensity and acute pain, they are effective for long-term pain management. They can be used alone or in conjunction with other medications. It reduces addiction and accidental death.

Reduce Inflammation

A little bit of inflammation is okay for athletes since it helps stimulate positive training adaptations. But too much inflammation isn't good since it hurts your performance by hindering recovery. The brain and periphery have CB2 receptors. But these receptors are more concentrated in immune tissues. In fact, cannabinoids that bind to CB2 receptors have anti-inflammatory effects by reducing cytokine or cell messenger production. For example, CBD that binds to CB2 receptors helps dial down the response when the immune system sounds an alarm after a hard workout.  

Settle Your Gut

Inflammation in the large and small intestines usually causes GI distress and discomfort, which is one of the leading causes for athletes to drop out of races. Even though CBD doesn't solve stomach issues resulting from overheating and dehydration (two causes that reduce the performance of an athlete), it can resolve any underlying inflammation that may contribute to gut issues during or after workouts. In fact, CBD is highly effective in reducing your symptoms. There are plenty of CB1 and CB2 receptors in the colon. Once CB1 and CB2 receptors were activated in mice, colitis symptoms were significantly inhibited in them.   

Improve Sleep Quality

Athletes need quality sleep to perform better the next day. Quality sleep helps you achieve greater training gains. Anecdotal evidence shows that athletes who consume CBD go to sleep with greater ease. They are more restful at night. One important reason for this is that CBD inhibits the reuptake of adenosine.

ATP or adenosine triphosphate breaks down as the brain burns carbohydrates for energy. Adenosine will gradually accumulate in the brain as a result. This will inhibit the release of neurotransmitters and slow down brain activity. It helps you feel calmer and sleep better at night. 

CBD binds to the same receptors that adenosine binds to. CBD helps inhibit adenosine reuptake to make you feel sleepy sooner. CBD also has anti-anxiety effects for some people. It helps them get to sleep sooner and have a more restful sleep. In some cases CBD gummies can be combined with melatonin to give even more enhanced sleep.