The worlds of sports and cannabidiol (CBD) are becoming increasingly intertwined, and it makes sense given that more people are utilizing CBD and realizing its incredible potential benefits. Exercise can put significant physical and mental strain on the body, and professional athletes may face even higher risks. Athletes strive for quick recovery from training sessions across all sports. Hemp products, like CBD, seem to have the potential to greatly aid in recovery and performance. People claim it helps with everything from pain relief and muscular exhaustion to calming down and improving sleep. Because of the numerous health advantages of CBD, athletes from a wide range of sporting disciplines are endorsing its use. From MMA to football, CBD covers all areas of the sporting realm.
What Is CBD?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of over 500 naturally occurring compounds found in the hemp plant. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of the plant that produces a "high," CBD is non-psychoactive and does not induce the “high” or other intoxication symptoms often associated with cannabis. Instead, CBD interacts with our endocannabinoid system (ECS) and influences its CB1 and CB2 receptors to regulate several cognitive and physical functions.
The Benefits of CBD for Sport and Fitness
To Relieve Pain:
Everyone has a cell-signaling system known as the Endocannabinoid System. Research suggests that CBD interacts with a core component of the ECS, endocannabinoid receptors, in the brain and immune system. When CBD interacts with these receptors, it creates anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects that help with pain management. Some scientific and anecdotal evidence suggests that it can also help people manage chronic pain in various contexts.
Alternative to NSAIDs:
Athletes often take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) to help with pain management. However, over time, NSAIDs can cause headaches, constipation, upset stomach, and are highly addictive—none of which are desirable. This is where CBD enters the arena as a possible substitute for other pain medications.
Athletes have been consuming NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) for decades, but they may not be as safe as once thought. Ultradistance athletes, in particular, are typically advised to avoid NSAIDs during long training sessions and events due to increased risk of renal damage. But even if your workouts and events are short, long-term or frequent use of NSAIDs may increase your risk for heart attack and stroke.
Some athletes have found that the pain-relieving effect of CBD can reduce or eliminate their use of NSAIDs for exercise-related pain, with minimal side effects.
According to The Essentials of Pain Medicine, Fourth Ed., “There are no documented deaths from cannabis or cannabinoid-based products. In a systemic review of studies of oral and oral-mucosal cannabis for various medical conditions, the majority of adverse events reports were considered non-serious (96.6%).”
Alternative to Opioids:
According to the CDC, in 2016 opioids were involved in more than 42,000 deaths in the US. Opioid pain medications (i.e., morphine, codeine, oxycontin) are highly effective for pain management but carry a significant risk of addiction and death by overdose. Cannabinoids are not as effective as opioids for relieving acute, high-intensity pain but may be effective for long-term pain management – either alone or in conjunction with other medications – with far less risk of dependence or accidental death.
To Reduce Inflammation, Speed Up Recovery, and Decrease Swelling from Sports:
Swelling of the muscles, joints, and tendons is a common occurrence among athletes, especially in heavy-contact sports like football, hockey, and rugby. This discomfort often results from inflammation of tendons due to overuse and overloading the body. CBD is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties, making it ideal for athletes. Every time you work out, your body breaks itself down to rebuild. This process can leave you feeling tired and sore. Inflammation after exercise is common, but CBD can help. Through its interaction with CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system, CBD has a potent anti-inflammatory effect by decreasing the body's production of cytokines and chemokines and increasing T-regulatory cells.
Inflammation in the small and large intestines causes a lot of discomforts, and GI distress is one of the leading reasons endurance athletes drop out of races. CBD won’t solve stomach problems from dehydration and overheating (two major causes for athletes), but if you have underlying inflammation issues that contribute to gut problems during or after exercise, CBD may be effective in reducing your symptoms. There are CB1 and CB2 receptors in the colon. Colitis symptoms were inhibited (in mice) when CB1 and CB2 receptors were activated.
In cases of swelling and inflammation, we receive great feedback from customers who've tried Flora Fusion CBD Bio oil. We also get great feedback from our CBD Topical Patches, which can be directly placed on the affected area.
To Improve Sleep Quality:
Getting good-quality sleep is extremely important for people to heal, rejuvenate, and replenish. Adequate sleep has been proven to aid in motivation to stick to training routines, while a lack of sleep makes exercise feel harder and reduces endurance performance.
CBD is linked to improving sleep quality by making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Anecdotally, athletes who consume CBD report greater ease going to sleep and a more restful night's sleep.
This is thought to be because CBD inhibits the reuptake of adenosine. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) breaks down as your body burns carbohydrates for energy, and adenosine gradually accumulates in the brain. As the levels of adenosine rise, it binds to neurons and inhibits the release of neurotransmitters, which slows down brain activity, helps you feel calmer, and induces sleep. Your body metabolizes adenosine as you sleep, and sometime later, low concentrations of adenosine help you wake up, and the process starts again.
To Reduce Stress and Anxiety:
Pre-event stress and performance anxiety can be managed with CBD. In both human and animal studies, physiological (such as an increased heart rate) and behavioral symptoms of anxiety were reduced with CBD use.
CBD has a lot of anecdotal evidence relating to the reduction of stress and anxiety in athletes and non-athletes alike. Athletes commonly suffer from performance anxiety; they are in the match to win it, and their subconscious brain knows it. It acts the same way every human being does when we anticipate future performance. Rising endogenous chemicals, heightened senses, increased heart rate, and laser focus are all common stressors for an athlete to manage. Early-stage clinical studies suggest that CBD might be able to reduce anxiousness in “stress-inducing” situations, including participants with SAD.
CBD has shown potential to reduce hyper-stimulation of an athlete's pre-match function. Balancing chemicals and reducing hyperstimulation are all potentials of responsible CBD use.
Conclusion:
As the synergy between sports and cannabidiol (CBD) continues to strengthen, it's clear why more athletes are incorporating CBD into their training and recovery regimens. The physical and mental demands of exercise, especially at the professional level, require effective recovery solutions. CBD offers promising benefits for pain relief, reduced inflammation, and enhanced sleep quality, all of which are crucial for optimal athletic performance.
Unlike traditional pain medications such as NSAIDs and opioids, CBD provides a safer alternative with minimal side effects, reducing the risk of dependency and severe health issues. Its ability to interact with the body's endocannabinoid system allows for a natural approach to managing pain and inflammation, key concerns for athletes across various sports disciplines.
Furthermore, the calming effects of CBD can help athletes manage pre-competition anxiety, promoting a more focused and balanced mental state. This comprehensive range of benefits, supported by both scientific research and anecdotal evidence, underscores the growing popularity of CBD in the sports community.
As more athletes from diverse sports—from MMA to football—endorse the use of CBD, it becomes increasingly apparent that this natural compound could play a pivotal role in the future of sports medicine and athlete care. Whether for pain management, inflammation reduction, sleep improvement, or stress relief, CBD is emerging as a valuable tool in enhancing athletic performance and recovery.
Recommended Products
Flora Fusion Bio is a water-soluble product, specially formulated for ease of delivery. The high-quality compounds infuse into the water and then simply consumed. This has proven attractive to beginner or repeat customers alike of Flora Fusion CBD products. As one of our best sellers, this low strength yet extremely effective product is here and is making a big impact for a small package in many peoples lives.
Available in 10ml (400mg) and 20ml (800mg).
CBD patches are an alternative for CBD oil, capsules, CBD isolate and other consumption methods. Each topical patch contains 15mg CBD from organically cultivated hemp and 0% THC – which totals 450mg CBD in a pack with 30 patches!
The available CBD is slow-released over the course of at least 12 and up to 36 hours. Considering the high bioavailability of transdermal CBD, these patches are extremely effective.
Powered by all-natural organic ingredients, our balm contains a blend of nourishing and soothing natural oils. The balms healing properties make it ideal for sensitive skin types and suitable for scars and other problem areas. Ideal for directly targeting specific areas of the body quickly. It can be applied to painful, inflamed, or irritated skin and joints or used as a muscle rub. Simply massage a small amount of balm into the affected areas twice daily, or more frequently as required.
At Flora Fusion, we have offered 5-star service since our inception in 2016. We are 100% committed to re-educating consumers about cannabis-based products.
It is our objective to increase public awareness of the ongoing research supporting the wide range of potential benefits that this incredible plant has to offer.
We look forward to helping you, your family, and your pets on your CBD journey. if you have any questions or queries on our amazing range of products please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Tel: 01333 278422
Email: info@flora-fusion.com
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